SUBURBAN IMPROVEMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15387, 23 August 1913, Page 5

SUBURBAN IMPROVEMENT.

GREY LYNN'S WATERFRONT.

PARK AND BOAT HARBOUR.

SUCCESSFUL CONFERENCE.

A Grey Lynn improvement scheme, which, on completion, will greatly benefit future residents of that suburb, was placed upon a satisfactory basis yesterday, as tho result of a conference between a committee of the Borough Council and the chairman of tho Harbour Board (Mr. J. H. Gunson). The proposal in mind is the conversion of ,i Cox's Creek, and the -water bay fronting upon it, into a park and boat ' harbour ' respectively. Owing to a misunderstanding as to the extent of the board's jurisdiction over that particular part of the harbour the negotiations of the Borough Council have, so far, been conducted with the Marine Department. This misunderstanding was, however, completely removed yesterday. The committee of the council which I waited upon Mr. Gunson, consisted of the. ! Mayor (Mr. G. Baildon), Messrs. G. J. Garland, E. J. Carr, T. L. Thompson, and the town clerk (Mr. J. Y. Warren). Mr. Gunson explained that the board's jurisdiction extended over tho whole of the water area in the liarbour, though it? ownership was limited. Cox's Creek waa under its jurisdiction, arid hence the application of the council to the Department for a lease thereof had been referred to the board, which naturally wanted to know what the area was wanted for. The De-, partment had notified the board that the council required an area for salt water baths and boat slips, and this had already been approved by the board. The question now remaining to be cleared up was the) use tho council proposed to make of thq water area in the Cox's Creek bay. Mr. Baildon said the council desired to reclaim the creek abov<i the bridge, where it had 28 acres, and by the usa of a suc-tion-dredge deepen tho water area (about! 29 acres), so that it might be made into a boat and yacht harbour. The spoil from 'the latter would fill .in the former. It I was not intended to build a wall or shut jin the boat harbour in any way. Neither. ! would anyone's riparian rights be inter- , fered with.

The party visited Cox's Creek in tho Harbour Board's launch. Mr. Gunson then, stated that, having seen tlie place and learnt the attitude of the Grey Lynn Council, he. had come to the conclusion that the latter should be given the fee simple (the freehold tenure) of the whole area. He advised the council to apply to the Government for this, and to i-rsre the Government to include the necessary authority in its washing up" Bill this session, so that the area might be vested in tlie council at once, He would recommend the board to support such an application. Mr. Gunson pointed out that a lease would not be so satisfactory, as the council would not be able to spend money on land it did not own. As the body having jurisdiction, he would recom mend the board to surrender that jurisdiction, and so clear away the last obstacle' to the fruition of the council's scheme. It would benefit the public of the future. There would be a fine park on the foreshore, and a boat harbour with sft or 6ft of water at low tide.

Mr. BaiJdon conveyed to Mr, Gunsor* the thanks of the council for his public6piritednesr, and courtesy in so readily meeting that body's wishes. Representations would be made to the Government as suggested. "The public interests must be para-, mount," replied Mr. Gunson. " and yours is the body to administer that area!"