THE EXHIBITION GROUNDS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIX, Issue 14610, 18 February 1908, Page 3

THE EXHIBITION GROUNDS.

THE QUESTION OF RESTORATION. The question of the restoration of the Exhibition grounds, and the alleged neglect of the Exhibition authorities, to" make proper progress with the work, came before the Domain Board vesterday. The secretary having written to the Exhibition Commissioners in. December, asking for the payment oi the rent in. advance !or the coming quarter, in accordance with the established procedure, a reply was received stating that, although tha rent was not legally, due, the request would be acceded, to. subject to tlio Board making no further claim. • The chairman (Mr H. J. Beswick) said that as the grounds had not been handed over by the Commissioners to the Board they were still in the possession of the Commissioners, and the rent was still due. Mr H. G. Ell; M.P.. said that, on the understanding that the Board should ho recouped for any loss of rent due to the holding of the grounds by the Exhibition authorities, the rent should be paid until the ground was handed over. The chairman reported that on January 18 the Minister in charge, the Hon G*. Fowlds. had written, stating that ia regard to the fernery mound, it had been found necessary to return the earth from it to the site of the machinery hall, and it had been decided to bury the rocks. Those and the rubbish placed in the trenches hiid been buried carefully at such a depth as to do no injury. When the sowing of grass seed was finished the park would be in even better condition than before the Exhibition. The secretary had replied that the- Minister had been misinformed with regard to the burial of the rubbish and rocks, and it was time the ground was being ploughed for sowing, and fenced, to protect the young grass. If the Minister could visit the place he felt that an amicable settlement could be easily arrived at. On January 31 the Director of Finance had written, stating that the Minister would not be able to visit Christchurch before April. In order to arrive at a settlement of the matter, he was authorised to offer the Board, without prejudice, tho sum of £IOO, in full settlement of all claims against the Exhibition authorities." The secretary had replied stating that the offer had been submitted to the Executive Committee of the Board, which had resolved to decline the offer. He had stated that the work of putting the grounds in order should be commenced at once, or the season for sowing the graes would have gone by. Tho Board was, under the agreement, to bo recompensed for all loss of rents from lessees and sports grounds, and the grounds were to be handed back to the Board, as nearly as possible in their original condition. As the grounds had not yet been handed back, the rent must continue, j A further letter was received from the Director of Finance, stating that it would bo most, satisfactory to all parties if the Board would accept a reasonable amount and finish the restoration of the grounds to suit itself. He therefore asked what sum would be required for the purpose. It was resolved that the Board could not accept the rent offered as settlement in lull, as it held the Commissioners responsible till the grounds were banded over in accordance with the conditions agreed to. Mr Ell suggested that an expert estimate should be made of the cost of the remaining restoration, and that the Board should ask Mr T. W. Adams's opinion. A further suggestion was mado that the estimate should be arrived at by arbitration . On Mr Staples's motion, it was resolved that Mr Sbarpe, clerk to the Iliccarton Bead Board, and Mr Dawes, the Board's gardener, should make an estimate, and that they should, bo instructed to estimate the damage done by the burying of stones and rubbish in the grounds. The question of informing the Government as to the sum arrived at by the assessors was left in the hands of the executive, and it was decided that

the secretary should write stating that steps were being taken to make an accurate estimate.