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Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 2501, 10 August 1893, Page 2

GROUND

This matter, which has been creating a little interest for some time pafct, is to come befoie the public for discussion on Saturday evening. We understand the history of the matter is Bimply this : The Government set apart twenty acres in tbe Waihi Reserve as a recreation ground for Normanby, but it has been found that it is too far out of the way to be of practical advantage for the purpose. Even for sports meetings on act occasions it is too lar away, and for the greater part of the year no one would think of visiting it. The Domain Board, after considering tbe subject, decided that if an exchange could be arranged, so tbat a reserve within or very close to tbe Town District might be aeoured, it would be very advantageous. A committee w&s therefore appointed, and after several unsuccessful attempts to get suitable sites, approached Mr F. H. Brett. He waß willing to give at first five, then six, and after a great deal of pressure extended bis offer to seven acres of land, very convenient to the centre of the town, ra exchange for the twenty acres. The Domain Board communicated with the Government on the subject, and an officer was Bent up to report, and agreed, it is understood, that the preient reserve is unsuitable. Later on, a petition was signed by twenty five personß objecting to the proposed transfer or the terms of it, and forwarded to the Government. Tbe Domain Board, not knowing of this petition, subsequently wrote to the Government asking for a decisioD, and then the other day an offioer again came up to report, and mentioned that a petition had been sent in. Therefore tbe question now is, What is tbe wish of the people most concerned ? and to get at tbis a public meeting has been convened. Probably there will be no dissent on the proposition that it is desirable to get a reserve within or cloee to tbe town. The issue will be as to the terms of exchange, and tbe ratepayers and property owners in tbe district ought to be very good judges of what is lair. We muss say we should like to Bee the people of Normanby possessing both tbe seven acres and the twenty, and if tbe purchase money of the seven acres could by any means be arranged there ougltt to o« sufficient revenue from tbe reserve to pay interest and sinking fund. Assuming that the seven acres are worth £30 an acre, and the reserve would let for ;£25 or £20 per annum, — and we do not think these Sgureß are out of tbe way — the suggestion ought to be workable. However, that is a matter for tbe ratepayers to consider, aod we hope they will come to a practioally unanimous conclusion, for there is- very little cbance of anything being done unless they do.