AFFAIRS OF THE CITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20601, 27 June 1930, Page 16

AFFAIRS OF THE CITY.

MOTUIHI ISLAND PARK. \ DRAFT OF SPECIAL BILL. FUTURE OF ORAKEI BASIN. . Regarding the Government's decision to vest the whole of Motuihi Island, except the quarantine station, in tho Auckland City Council as a public domain, the city solicitor submitted to the council last ovening a draft of a bill to confer upon tho council special powers not conferred by general legislation. These included tho right to make and enforce reasonable charges for persons landing on or using the domain, including additional charges for tho use of or admission to any building, structure or enclosure. The draft was approved. With regard to tho condition imposed by the council that it would not s : gn the agreement to leaso tho Orakei Basin from the Auckland Harbour Board for rocreation purposes unless the Railway Department indemnified it against any claims for loss of riparian rights, the town clerk reported that a search of the files revealed that the department- had declined to extinguish tho rights or indemnify the council against claims. The town clerk assumed, under tho circumstances, that the council did not desire to take further action to execute the lease. He mentioned that the city solicitor had said ho could see no objection to the council's signing the leaso as it stood. The matter was referred to the Finance Committee for a report.

Exchange ol Properties. A letter was received from the commissioner of Crown lands for North Auckland intimating that the Minister of Lands had approved of the proposed exchange of the council's reserve of 2415 acres at Punakitere, Bay of Islands, for 11 sections owned by the Government in the Orakei garden suburb. The commissioner stated that the Government had decided to waive a claim for £436 cash, and would accept the endowment as full value for the sections. Steps were being taken to complete the exchange. The Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, and Mr. J. Dempsey were appointed to represent the council before the commission appointed by the Government to consider the allocation of the cost of the new Whau Bridge. A notification was received from the commissioner, Mr. E. Bold, that the sittings would open in the Chamber of Commerce Hall on July 2. An amended zoning schemo for the Point Chevalier district, embodied in two reports by the city engineer, Mr. J. Tyler, was adopted on the recommendation of the Town Planning Committee. Proposed Reserve at Ponsonby.

The Town Planning Committee reported upon negotiations with the Auckland Transport Board respecting the purchase by thcJ council of two allotments at the corner of Wallace Street and Jervois Road, being part of the old Ponsonby tramway depot property, for a reserve. The committee recommended that the residents concerned be asked if they were prepared to contribute £IOOO, being half the price asked by the board, the council to provide £IOOO and to bear the cost of putting the land in order. It also recommended that the Transport Board be advised accordingly, and informed that the council adhered to its former decision that the property be zoned as a residential area.