THORNDON RECREATION GROUND.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 859, 17 August 1888, Page 20

THORNDON RECREATION GROUND.

The Thorndon Recreation Committee have drawn up the following report, which was to be read last nightat the meeting convened for the purpose .of discussing thf matter “ We visited all likely and ■unlikely places, and report m favour of a ground to be made in the Botanical Gardens, at the head of Sydney-street as being- for all reasons the most suitable. Among various sites discussed _ were the Wellington-Manawatu reclamation ground at Thorndon, but this could not be obtained, though very suitable for such a purpose. Another proposal was to exchange the long slip of esplanade for a .•square block from the Manawatu Railway Company. This could only be done, if done at all, with the consent of the Ministry to remove the Government railway nearer to the breastwork. The request was made to the Minister of Public Works, and was refused by him as it had been bv ' his predecessor —this proposal •was therefore impossible. Another proposal was to make a ground on the slopes of the Tinakori range, but after careful search no suitable site can be found Your Committee then visited and got information about various other grounds, hufc with no satisfactory results. All these negotiations involved ruuch trouble and work, and took a great deal time, in spite of the great desire of the Gom--snittee to begin the work quickly. Y°Ul 'Committee went carefully into the site .at ■the botanical reserve, and appointed Mr Marchant, C.E., to survey the land to see (1) what extent of land could be get.; (2) the probable cost. Mr Marchant then carefully surveyed the ground, and reported to the Committee to the effect that by filling »p the valley and •cutting away projecting spurs, a level •ground of about % acres could begot at a gstof filling and levelling for £ ■— The ‘Committee carefully discussed the Whote matter with Mr Marchant, and visited the site for themselves, and feel thoroughly satisfied with the proposal, with the price, .and the anticipated _ result Ihe proposed ground would consist of acres of flat land and a surrounding hilly elevated strip of an acre and a ‘half, from which spectators could view games, making in all a recreation ground of 7 acres. The ground, encircled by hills, is well sheltered and beautiful. It would be large enough for the children for ■every day in the week, and on Saturdays Tor football and cricket. Your Committee are satisfied that a most beautiful •ground could be obtained here at a very moderate cost, and after most careful and anxious consideration, can confidently recommend this to the dwellers in Thorndon and Lambton Wards. Nowhere else could a ground he got so cheaply. _ The land forming the proposed ground is a part ot the “public estate” of the city, part is in the trustees of the Church of England as a cemetery, part vested in the°trustees of the public cemetery, and part in the Domain Board, and as it will jigver be used as a cemetery it would re-

vert to the citizens, and could be put to no more useful purpose than a much needed recreation ground. The whole of this land is now used as a recreation around —our proposal is to flatten it. On all sides we learn, that the choice of this site meets with the warm and enthusiastic approval of the people of Thorndon and Lambton Wards, and if the matter is taken up energetically and pressed upon the City Council there is little doubt the site could be obtained. The work we were asked to do has been done ; the rest remains for our successors and the people generally. If the ground is to be made it can be done in one way, and one way only, viz., not by leaving it to the new Committee to carry out alone, but by the strong, steady, and publicly-expressed support of the people. A mere committee cannot do it unless they are backed by the people. If the people of these wards (upward of 10,000) insist they will have a "round they can get it. Other cities have insisted on this, and other cities have got "rounds. If the people resolutely back tip the new Committee, .after some time "trouble all difficulties can he surmounted, and Thorndon and Lambtonquay would then possess a really beautiful recreation ground. . „ (Signed) “ A. K. Newman, Chairman.