ANOTHER PARK FOR AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13294, 28 September 1906, Page 5

ANOTHER PARK FOR AUCKLAND.

LAND PURCHASED. AT COX'S CREEK. At the meeting of the Auckland City Council last evening, the Streets Commit- ] tee reported, in reference to the offer of ( ;, part of allotments 25 and 26. section 8, ad- , ' 'joining Cox's Creek, in the western part of . the city, and ' or which the owners had , declined an oiler of the Council of £1400, . that the matter had been left in the hands of the Mayor, with authority to purchase. | The Mayor said the wisdom of the Conn- 1 . cil in securing for the west of the city a. - " property which could be utilised as a. park • or breathing space for the increasing population could not be questioned when < the circumstances of the case were taken 1 into consideration. The area- acquired was i ,bout six acres, and had a gentle slope | from Cox's Bridge Road to Cox's (.'reek, I which had been vested in the Grey Lynn Borough Council as a recreation area, and ' which would in tin* near future be reclaim- i P d for that purpose. Consequently the two i parks adjoining one another would pro- » vide a very valuable area of 28 acres as a. < breathing space. » The land bad been i planted, and contained a number of fruit ' and ornamental trees it was well sheltered: was easily drained, and could be 1 utilised right away, while improvements • could be effected from time to time at, ! comparatively small cost. It was in the ] immediate vicinity of the Bayfield public school, which had far too little playground ] for the children, and would, therefore, be 1 of great public benefit from the children's - point of view. The land was recently surveyed, and it was the intention of the owner to subdivide it and sell for building purposes, from which, he confidently an- ' ticipated a much larger return than the price paid by the Council, viz., £1650, for about six acres of city land. The amount, first asked as the price of the property was £2500. With the Albert Park on the eastern side of the city, the Western and Victoria Turks in the central portion, and - the Bayfield Park at the western end. the distribution of open or breathing space was made more uniform, and brought more within the reach of all classes of the community. The Council was to be congratulated on. securing the land so advantageously. Mr. J. Court said they had been trying . to secure a park in the western end of the city for the past 10 or 12 years, and they had almost given up hopes of obtain- ' ing" it. On behalf of the Ponsonby residents he thanked the Council. The recommendation was adopted and the purchase approved. < —»—g— —■—