HARKINS' POINT AREA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18356, 23 March 1923, Page 11

HARKINS' POINT AREA.

NEW USE FOR PROPERTY.

HORSES TO BE BRED.

A scheme for putting to serviceable use the Harkins' Point area, at one time used in connection with the sanitary service, was adopted by the City Council last evening. The Works Committee submitted a report as the outcome of a visit it had paid to the property, which comprises 500 acres on the shore of the upper reaches of the. Waitemata Harbour, to which it has a frontage of 1£ miles. A road near the western end cuts off 84 acres. ,

The committee stated that 420 acres were in grass. Several paddocks were carrying a good! sole of grass, but others were poor. There was also a paddock in turnips and a stack of about 30 tons of hay. The report pointed out certain work required to be done in regard to top-dressing, fencing, shelter trees, water, supply, wharf repairs, etc. There were 31 horses resting from the city and 105 young cattle in good condition on | the property. Having considered the question of disposing of, or developing, the area, the .committee recommended that' !the 420 acres to the north-east of the road be retained and that the general improvement of the property be taken in hand. The council required the area for resting its horses, 'of which it. is at present working 102. The council purchased on an average 30 horses a year, and woula continue to requfre that number. The report farther stated that horses were becoming more difficult to obtain, as fewer were cc\v being bred. All required could be bred on this property by the council, and in four to five years the council need not purchase outside at all. The cost of buying 30 horses would be £21C0. The cost of breeding 30 horses to four years of ago would be £600, so ft savinz of £1500 per annum alone wan shown there. Further, the area could be profitably used for stock, which grew into money, and would further contribute, to sound returns. The property would further increase- in value, x The committee recommended that, the 74 acres bo sold as soon as practicable, but that in the meantime it receive all due attention in accordance with the policy for the main area. The recommendations of the committee were adopted, and provision for the reouired money will be made in the next estimates.