FREEMAN S BAY RECLAMATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9832, 29 May 1895, Page 6

FREEMAN S BAY RECLAMATION

~ DISCUSSION AT THE HARBOUR BOARD. At the meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board yesterday afternoon the question of selling the Freeman's Bay reclamation to the City Council for a recreation reserve was again discussed.

The following letter from Mr. E. T. i Dafaur, solicitor, was read : —" I understand j that a committee of your Board will bring before you to-day a recommendation as to the disposal of that portion of your endowments known as the Freeman's Bay reclamation. The recommendation which I understand will be submitted to you is that the Board dispose of the freehold of *his reclamation for the sum of £9000, the payment of which money to be extended over a number of years. I presume that your Board acting as trustees for the Auckland Harbour, if they are desirous of disposing of an endowment which they hold in trust for the general public, will endeavour as far as possible to obtain the highest price for the same, and I would, therefore, ask that the question be deferred for the present. Not long ago I was spoken to by some gentlemen who are now in England with a view to acquiring the endowment which it is now proposed to dispose of, and the price I was instructed to offer was certainly more advantageous than that which I understand your Board will be recommended to accept. I did not approach the Board on the matter as I had no idea they would listen to the proposal. I would therefore ask that you will postpone the question, say, for a period of six months, to enable me to communicate with my principals in England, and that in the meantime you will state in writing the price and the terms of payment, which you will be prepared to accept for the reclamation. 1 of coarse know that before an endowment of this nature can be dealt with you will have to obtain Parliamentary i sanction, and I understand that it is proI posed to introduce a measure to that effect at the coming session of Parliament, I would j suggest that in framing a measure of this description you will arrange to include full power to the Auckland Harbour Board to dispose of the land in question to the best , benefit to itself." Mr. Devose stated that the writer of the letter should be informed that the endowment was not for sale in the public market, and that the Board {only intended to deal with it in connection with another corporation and for the good of the public at large. Mr. Devore moved that the writer be informed " That the Board doe 3 not consider it expedient to entertain the suggestion made in the letter." He said he was sure the Board would not dream of disposing of the reclamation except for public purposes. The motion was carried. Later on the question again came up in the form of the following recommendation from the Finance and Leaal Committee:—"That Freeman's Bay be offered to the Auckland City Council on the following conditions : 1. That the Council pay the Board the sum of £&>¥). 2. That the Council complete the reclamation and open the same to tne public as a recreation reserve within five year- from date of legislative sanction. 3. That until such reclamation be completed and opened as a reserve the Board to have the right to deposit silt within the boundaries of the by. 4. That the Council accept the liability of the Board t<- the Auckland Gas Company, under agreement between the Board and the Company dated the 22ad day of May, ISSi 5. That this Board consent to transfer to the Council in fee simple the said reclamation on payment of the sum named, the necessary legislative sanction to be obtained by and at the cost of the Council." Mr. Niccor. mentioned that the committee thought the 'natter should be discussed by the Board in detail rather than by the committee. The committee were not unanimous as to th» various recommendations. Mr. Devore said he was in favour of allowing the Council to have the Bay, though he disagreed with some members as to the manner in which the transfer should be carried out. Taking everything into consideration the Bay had cost the Board some £12,01), but the actual cost had been £9,000, and that was why he had fixed upon that sum. He would prefer that the Council should pay the £9300 iu cash. Altogether the cost to the Council would be some £20,000, which sum the Council would have to borrow. The interest would amount to about £800 per annum, and their revenue from tne Bay would be what they could get. The £9,000, if paid in cash, would be extremely useful to the Board, and with this money at their disposal they might be able to buy conversion of their ior.u on advantageous terms. Mr. Devore then explained the various sections of his motion. The Boird decided to take the section! seriatim, and proceeded to discuss the preamble; stating that the reclamation be offered to the Council. Mr. Devore moved the adoption of the preamble. Mr. Kissling thought that the property referred to was not defined with sufficient clearness. He moved an amendment to the effect that the report be referred back to the committee to prepare the necessary plans. Besides, he said, the Board should retain the water frontage. Mr. Niccol said that the water frontage was ietained. but there should be a public road along the water frontage. Mr. Napier considered that the motion was not satisfactorily drawn up. As to the general question of handing the reclamation over to the Board on certain terms, he believed all members were agreed.' Mr. Bell seconded the amendment. He thought the whole question should be viewed from a utilitarian standpoint. They all, of course, liked to see beautiful parks and recreation grounds, but the future development of the port must be considered, and provision first made for that. Mr. Pars ell did not see the necessity for referring the report back. The boundaries might be affirmed by the Board at the present meeting. As to wharfage. Freeman's Bay could never be utilised for that purpose. The water was too shallow. Mr. Devore said it was quite clear v/hat was meant by Freeman's Bay. It had been defined over and over again in the minutes and other documents. He was in favour of a public road along the seaside as suggested. Mr. Kissling then altered his amendment to read as follows :—" That the report be referred back to the Legal aud Finance Committee, in order that a correct plan of the property to be sold be prepared, and that a road be reserved on the seaside of such property ; such plan also to show the area available for harbour purposes outside such road.' This was carried by six to five.