FINE INHERITANCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19764, 11 October 1927, Page 12

FINE INHERITANCE.

CORNWALL PARK'S FUTURE. POLICY OF THE TRUSTEES. PROVISION FOR PASTIMES. Considering what has appeared in the press lately on the subject of more play-ing-fields for the growing population of Auckland, many people may have been led to wonder why the broad pasturelands of Cornwall Park have not been turned to greater account for cricket, football and other games. The reasons for this were fully explained yesterday by the chairman of the Cornwall Park trustees. Mr. A. S Bankart, in describing the work recently done by the trust and the policy that is being pursued. The development of Sir John Logan Campbell's fine gift, said Mr. Bankart, could not be carried on more rapidly than the available finances allowed. The land given to the people of New Zealand by Sir John comprised 488 acres, of which 140 forming the northern and eastern fringes of the property, were an endowment for the upkeep of the remainder. The trustees were beneficiaries under the will of Sir John, whose death occurred in 1912, to the extent of £35,000. This had not been paid over, pending the termination of certain life interests in the estate, but the trust was receiving interest on it at the tate of 6g per cent., amounting to £2275 a year. Part of the endowment had ' been subdivided, and 154 sections out of 201 had been leased on the Glasgow system. These returned a rental of £3232 last year. The trustees had also leased to St. Cuthbert's College the area of 13 acres now occupied by it in Market Road. Twenty-one and ahalf acres of the Auckland Trotting Club's ground, and the Auckland Agricultural and Pastoral Association's Show Ground, comprising 16£ acres, were part of the park, and were returning revenue. Through Route Planned. The total income of the trust for 192627, said Mr. Bankart, was £6334. This included £2698 from the agricultural areas of the park. The expenditure on maintenance was £2416, leaving a surplus of £3918. In the#course of the year the trustees spent £11,014 on an important permanent improvement, the new road, or avenue, from the Campbell statue to Green Lane. This work had been carried out with the help of a lo%u from the Campbell trust, and at the end of the year £5600 was still owing to the latter. In the trustees' opinion the surplus revenue accruing each year must be devoted chiefly to opening up the park. When the present liability to the Campbell estate was cleared off they intended to continue the new road round the eastern side of One Tree Hill to connect with the upper end of Queen Street, Onehunga. This would make available to motorists and pedestrians a large part of -the park that was not readily accessible, and would be in conformity with the general scheme prepared for Sir John by Mr. Austin Strong about the year 1899. So tai as sports were concerned, the trust Lad not been inactive. A condition of the Show Ground lease was that the playing of football should be allowed on the property, and it and the clubs made full use of it. A large part of the Maungakiekie Golf Club's course was upon the park. When the new road had been run through the tennis courts in Green Lane, the board had granted the Campbell Tennis Club a new site further down the road and had itself laid down ten chip courts. For the newground the club was paying a rental of £IOO a year. A Duty to Athletics. When the opening-up of the park for the general public had been completed it would be the duty of the trustees to turn their attention to developing sports grounds. It was to be expected the revenue from endowments would increase as the district became more settled and more land could be subdivided and leased. The income available was not at the present time sufficient to enable the opening of the lands now let for grazing. To do so would mean that the trustees would lose nearly £3OOO a year in revenue, and would incur a liability for the upkeep of the land. A certain amount of levelling would be needed before the ground could be used for cricket or football, and a staff of men would have to be employed to keep the grass cut and do other maintenance work. It might be said, aded Mr Bankart. I that the trustees should lease portions !of the park to sports bodies. The obt jection to this was that the lessees would put up buildings and gradually obtain a vested interest, with the result that the trustees would find it difficult to regain possession if (he land were required for other purposes Later on. when more funds were available, the trust should be able to provide for athletic sports without losing control of its property in such a way as he had mentioned.