CITY RESERVES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25344, 27 October 1945, Page 8

CITY RESERVES

EXTENSION SCHEME

AREAS IN THE SUBURBS A scheme to give Auckland more than 300 acres of additional park reserves and recreational areas will be placed before next week's meeting of the City Council. The areas suggested in a comprehensive report prepared by the city engineer, Mr A. J. Dickson, which has already been considered by the Parks Committee, include 20,| acres at Avondale, 36$ acres at Rem u era, 160.J acres at Tamaki, 21 acres at Parlicll, 2(5 acres at Point Chevalier, 18 acres at Archhill, 15i acres at Ponsonby and Herne Hay, 8 acres at lipsoin, and "j-acre at Grev Lynn. It i.s -estimated that to acquire the land a loan of £82,500 will have to be raised, while an additional £60,000 will bo needed to develop it. At first sight it would appear that the city was liberally supplied with reserves, states Mr Dickson in his report, but careful study would show that in many instances these reserves wore badly distributed, and a large proportion could not be effectively developed at reasonable cost. Of the total area which was suitable for development, amounting to 511 acres, only 140 had been developed and put into effective use. Only 6/0 acres of tlio 1 / 2<> available were used or capable of development for use for organised recreation for all age groups. This represented a potential '2J acres per 1000 of the estimated ultimate population, and was hopelessly inadequate for the future.

Meeting Varied Needs "The system resulting from the proposals contained in this report is not claimed to bo ideal.' savs Mr Dickson. "In an endeavour to obtain areas commensurate in tin l aggregate with the requirements of the population it is sometimes found necessary to select number of smaller dispersed areas, hut we have avoided this as far as possible. To bring the city's recreational facilities up to the needs of the community will inevitably involve considerable capital outlay and maintenance expenditure. Such outlay should, however, if judiciously incurred, bo regarded as a good investment for the community._ Tt calls for a bold policy, but it will bring good dividends in tho form of improved health standards and moral outlook, particularly among the younger people who have more leisure lime at their disdisposal than hitherto." Swimming Pools Commenting on the proposals yesterday, the deputy-mayor, Mr .1. L. ('oakley,'who is chairman of the Parks Committee. said that if the plan was adopted immediate, steps would be taken to place it before the Local Government Loans Board. Included in the loan which would, have to be raised would he provision for the acquisition of land for the Olympic swimming pool to bo built in Upper Queen Street, and also for the cost of investigations concerning a proposed further pool at- Point Chevalier. Provision would also be made for the development- of the former golf links at Glendowie as a botanic garden and recreation area. BUSHMAN ACQUITTED SHOOTING AFFRAY SEQUEL MURDER ATTEMPT CHARGE (0.C.) HAMILTON, Friday

The trial of Henry Reginald Edwards, aged 60, busliman. o) I'okoliu, near Kotorua (.Messrs W. J. Kins and .J. 1). .Davys), on a charge of attempting to murder Daniel Christopher McDonald 011 June 28, was concluded before Mr Justice Fair in Hamilton today. Alter a retirement of nearly five hours the jury returned a verdict of not guilty on all counts. When- the trial was resumed this morning Sergeant M. Farrell, of Whakatano, said accused bad discussed his daughter's action in living with McDonald with him on June 20. Witness told accused he could not interfere, but advised him to persuade the manpower authorities to transfer her to other work. McDonald, he said, was of a bad character. Edwards was a very well-behaved man. Giving evidence, accused said he had lived in the hush almost all his life. His family was happy until McDonald, a total stranger, arrived. Accused said he made several efforts to persuade his daughter to return to him without success.

Accused said he saw McDonald with a knife in the throwing position when he fired the shot which wounded McDonald. He alleged that McDonald threatened Mrs Edwards with a sledgehammer on June ID and lie then fired one shot at the ground to scare him. Mr King submitted that in the circumstances accused's action in using force was reasonable. McDonald had given him the impression that he would take advantage of any young girl. Elizabeth was a simple type of girl who had had little education.Counsel also pointed out that accused's visit to tho police was an indication of his concern for his daughter's welfare. Mr Gillies submitted that the references to McDonald's alleged violence were pure inventions. His Honor said the charge was a grave one, especially when firearms were used. There was no doubt Edwards wounded McDonald, but the Crown kid to prove that lie did not have the impression that his daughter Ada was in danger. CHAIR OF EDUCATION OTAGO APPOINTMENT (P.A.) .DUNEDIN, Friday Dr Frank Wyndham Mitchell, M.A., B.Sc. (Adelaide), Ph.D. (.London), has been appointed to fill the chair of education at tho University of Otago at present held by Professor K. Lawson, whose impending retirement has been announced. Dr Mitchell is at present lecturer at the Adelaide Teachers' College in charge of secondary course students, lecturer in charge of physical education, and assistant lecturer in Education in the University of Adelaide. He was born at East Adelaide in 1906 and is married, with two small sons. He is the author of a number of publications on educational, physical welfare and scouting subjects.