GRAFTON GULLY BUSH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20601, 27 June 1930, Page 15

GRAFTON GULLY BUSH.

ACQUISITION AS PARK. OBJECTION BY FOUR OWNERS. COUNCIL DECIDES TO PROCEED. In consequence of tie action o£ the City Council in taking steps under the Public Works Act to acquire certain areas of bush-covered private land near Beckham Place as an addition to the Grafton Gully reserve, formal objections were received at I the meeting of the council last evening from four property owners concerned. The majority of the councillors derided thai the council was justified in proceeding to acquire the land. Mr. J. Burton, in a letter, stated that if the portion of his property which the council desired to take were opened as a public park it was certain tc suffer at the hands of those who "did not appreciate native bush. It was also likely to become a resort of undesirables, who would be a menace to the neighbourhood. Mrs. E. C. Harvey forwarded objections under 12 headings. She had purposely acouired the land in order to study New Zealand trees, and for no other reason. If the land were taken for a park it would be frequented" by undesirables and she would be unable any longer to live alone in her house. The result would thus be to deprive her of her home.

Dr. W. E. Thomas submitted that the council had ample reserves and had no need to take any part of his property. The fourth objector was Mr. J. W. Bovver. The written representations were supported by a deputation. ilr. C. F. Bennett, speaking for two of the objectors, said that if, in spite of the owners' contentions, the council took the land it would be assuming a moral obligation to see that it was properly laid out as a scenic recreation area. Mr. T. Bloodworth said one of the objects of the council was to prevent the bush being ruined by subdivision of the land for building purpose*. The Mayor, ilr. G. Baiidon. said that under the control of the council the area was less likely to be the resort of undesirables than at present. The council had acquired more than half the desired area by private treaty, and it was necessary to know where they stood in regard to the balance. He moved that the objections be over-ruled and that the land be taken in the manner prescribed under the Public Works Act. Miss Melville, supporting the objections, said ii was only necessary tc lock at the so-called lush in tha Domain to realise that the bush in the gully would deteriorate tinder council ownership. ilr. B. L. Bacnall moved an amendment that the matter should be deferred for three months, to enable negotiations to be carried out with the owners. The Mayor contradicted the assertion that native bush the control of the council had been neglected. The amendment, which had been seconded by ilr. J. Donald, was lost by 7 vote 3 to 12, and the motion to proceed with steps to acq-aire the land was carried.