NEWTON AREA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23488, 27 October 1939, Page 11

NEWTON AREA

NEED FOE, PLAYGROUND ACQUISITION OF LAND SUM OF OVER £SOOO INVOLVED Negotiations have been in progress for over a year for the acquisition of land and formation of a children's playground in the Newton district, and the City Council has been of one mind that the work should take precedence over all other playing grounds. A scheme for the acquisition of property in the Basque Road gully, between Exmouth Street and Newton Valley, valued at £5323. was considered by the council at its meeting last night. Many reports on the subject, dating back to September of last year, were submitted. They referred to the appalling lack of reserves in the older parts of the city, adding that in Newton children could only play in the mean, narrow streets. The area under consideration seemed to present one of the few possibilities of obtaining a playground for the neighbourhood, and besides being an asset to the community, the proposal would put waste land to a useful purpose. A plan was submitted by the city engineer, Mr. J. Tyler, indicating that the proposed area was nearly three acres, with gross dimensions of about live chains by four'chains. He favoured the proposal, adding that some 20 different property owners were involved. In ten cases there was land with buildings, and in the remaining cases only small pieces of land were required. The valuation of the property was £5323, but in one case the price asked was £2650. as against the valuation of £IO2O. On the recommendation of the Parks Committee, the scheme was adopted, and the chairman, the town clerk and j the city engineer were empowered to negotiate for the purchase of the land required on the best terms. STREET LIGHTING NEW WORK DELAYED WAR PERMITS REQUIRED Improvements to the lighting system in a number of city streets already approved by the City Council have been delayed, first by the operation of the import restrictions, which held up the delivery of lamps and materials and later by war regulations. The work is now to be put in hand. Reporting to the council last night, the city engineer, Mr. J. Tyler, said that last year's street lighting estimates provided for improved conditions in ,32 city streets, including Pitt and Hobson Streets from Karangahape Road to Fanshawe Street, and most of the streets on the eastern side of Hobson Street. Further provision was made in the current year's estimates for that part of Welleslev Street West from Hobson Street to Victoria Street West, HaLsey and Fanshawe Streets, and for the new extension of Nelson Street. Mr. Tyler said that last year's street lighting improvements had been considerably delayed owing to the import restrictions, and a further delay had occurred owing to the recent war legislation. which provided that all power boards throughout New Zealand must first procure a permit from the Government controller of electricity before proceeding with any new electrical work. However, permission had now been granted and the work would be proceeded with at an early date.