THE MAITAI AND THE NELSON PEOPLE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVI, Issue XLVI, 21 October 1911, Page 6

THE MAITAI AND THE NELSON PEOPLE.

RECENT ACTION OF THE GOVERNMENT. LETTER TO THE CITY COUNCIL. The appended letter has been sent to the City Council and the Waimea County Council by Mr R. T. Sadd, Commissioner of Crown Lands for Nelson. It is a letter of great importance. a«. it shows that the Government has cone back on an undertaking made 6ome months ago to assist in, the cost of purchasing a portion of the Maitai Valley for recreation purposes. The letter is as follows:

"I have the honour to inform you that I have received a letter from the Under-Secretary for Lands with reference to the survey of certain lands in the Maitai Valley, which it was proposed to take for recreation purposes under the Bubble Works Act. In that letter I am informed that unless the Nelson City Council or the Waimea County Council pass, a resolution authorising the taking of the lands in question under the Public Works Act, the survey should not- be proceeded with any further, and the pegs removed without delay; also, if the Councils are prepared to take the lands under the Public ,Works Act, and pay compensation) therefor, then the surveys may be completed, and plans, etc.j supplied to them; but not otherwise. "It appears, therefore, from the tread of this letter that the Government are not prepared to contribute towards the acquisition of the lands! required for recreation purposes. "This letter is the outcome of complaints made by Mrs Richardson personally to the Right Hon. the Premier, and Sir Arthur Guinness, that the survey pegs had been placed in cultivated lands leased to various tenants, and that these pegs were interfering with the cultivation of the land and planting operations. The District Surveyor, who made the survey, informs me that these pegs are riot causing any loss or inconvenience to the tenants at present; but will do so in the future when it is necessary •*•» plough up the land again. Will you please consult with your Council and the other local bodies, and decide what steps you propose to take in the matter, at your earliest convenience."

TO THE MAYOR.

-*- MASS MEETING TO BE HELD

A deputation waited on the Mayor (Mr T. A. H. Field) this morning to request him to call a public meeting to consider the new development. There were .present Crs. Hanrpscn' and Fell. Messrs F. G. Gibbs arid Rrß. Jackson .Mr Gibbs said that the letter showed"' that the, Government had receded from' the position previously taken up. and > was no longer willing to bear- a. proportion of the cost of acquiring the land. In view of the large sum spent by the Bridges Committee it was important •ihat the land should be acquired for the city, and the Mayor therefore was ask**i to call a public meeting of citizens to pass resolutions on the subject, and to take the 6teps necessary to ask the Government to reconsider its decision, and r *> carry out their undertaking contained ■n a previous letter, to bear a proportion *>f the cost... M r . Jackson said that the Government «*er-t airily should be urged to open up the <a.nd. The Beautifying. Society would •n time extend its beyond the "ity boundaries. ' x Or. Haprteson laid stress on the point that the Government had already done 'certain, survey, work ,and if something was not done immediately there was a danger of-the pegs being taken up. The n/ivernment should be asked to hold '•heir hand for a time Future' generations would cry shame if the jurisdiction of this part of the Maitai .was= allowed to pass out of the hards of the public. " Cr. Fell considered that at least- the Government should srive the Council a chance to take advantage ■*■£ -be Coronation grants.

The Mavor. said that he was quite willing to ca.l-1 a public meeting. The City Council, he said, was writing to th*" Government protesting asrains* th* withdrawal of the former proposal. He would call the meeting for Tuosdav evening next. rJL. the- Council Chamber. THE CITY COUNCIL'S REPLY. ..■.line following reply is being sent the Government. it was prepared by, Lue Mayor and Town, derk <>n the in--■truction. of the Works Committee, and will be despatched by this evening * steamer.. A reply is asked for by ! I'nesday evening, tor submission at th* p-uonc meeting ;—• •

"21st October, 1911. . .. "I am directed by the -Nelson City .- Council to lay before you the copies of correspondence which ha 6 taker . place between, the Council and the .Department of. Lands with reference the proposed acquisition of certain lands at the Maitai, Nelson, for pur- - posiß of public •recreation, and to re--.pt-ctfully- request that you will give tne matter your most earnest consideration. -The ]and s proposed ,to be ac - -quired have formed .the most popular and, in a measure, the only place in which the public,of Nelson 'have had an opportunity of obtaining fresh air and recreation for many years, extending back tojthe eariy days of the Dcoi.imcn; but tne owner has recently fenced and leased the lands,, thereby , precluding the public from their use. The copy of the letter which was sent by me to the Hon. R. McKenzie will explain the position .to. you in detail, and you will see further from the correspondence that in order to assist the .•Government in purchasing the land the Nelscn City Council ka s offered' to contribute £3CO out of its own fund's, and to endeavour also to obtain subscriptions from- the public. "It is a great surprise, therefore, to the Council to now learn from the Commissioner's letter of the 16th inst. that the Government intends to dc nothing . further in the matter, and the Council considers that the. course the Government is now pursuing is a distinct breach of faith after. the- assurances that have been given. 1 might also, mention that the letter from the Commissioner of the 27th, Mjarch last was written aft«>r and as the resuit of a visit of a. Special Commission from the Lands or Tourist Depart-ment,-which had been 'sent, over Jiert to make a full inquiry into th e mat ler. . • "The matter is one of most vita] - importance to th-c health and welfare of the inhabitants of this city, and I am therefore directed to request thai you will kindly take steps to carry out the undertaking already given to the citizens by the Government. "The Mayor, 'by request of representative citizens, is calling a. public meeting for Tuesday evening next to protest, against the withdrawal of the Government's promise, aaid he will esteem it a favour if you will kindly wire the Govei-nn:-ent's decision in time for him to make an announcement at that meeting. - "I have the honour to be. Sir, "Your obedient Eerva^it, '"&. A. EDMCtI-'DS. "Town Clerk." "The Ri. Hon. .Sir Joreph W.ard; Bart., •"Prime Minister,"Wellington." At the public meetimr Mr. A. T. Mag.'noity will l move arid.(Mir. T. Pettit (ex; Mayor) will' second a resolution affirming'

the desirableness of th© Maitai River bank being acquired loir public purposes, and urging the Government to take action on the lines in the previous letter to the City Council. The proposal referred to was thafl the Government shoulkf acquire the land and that the City' Council should pay a proportion of the compensation. (To the Editor.) Sir, —As the apparent failure of the Government to carry out itr. uttdei'taking to acquire the banks of the 'Maitai from the Richardson Esitate, provided the Council and and citizens found, a reasonable 'proportion of the cost, is likely to'be one of the; burning local questions at the forthcoming elections, 1 should be glad if you could inform us what the various candidates' views are on this question, especially the views of Mr. Maamahon. If I 'remember -rightly, the Waimea County Council, whilst sympathising with the movement, refused to contribute anv.thing towards the cost, leaving all contributions to ibe found bv the Gity Council and citizens. Did Air. Macmahon express any opinion on the matter at the .Council table? I am, etc., CITY VOTJfIK. Nelson, 21st October.