KELBURNE PARK AGAIN.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4306, 15 March 1901, Page 2

KELBURNE PARK AGAIN.

SUGGESTION FOR SALE OF SITE.

MR PHARAZYN INCREASES HIS OFFER.

THE -MAYOR OPPOSES THE PROPOSAL.

Mr C. Phiarazyn wrote to the City Council last night as follows ; ‘‘To his Worship the Mayor of ‘Wellington.—Sir,—ln the interests of the city of Wellington, 1 beg to submit for your consideration and that of the City Council the folowing scheme; “ Site for Victoria College.—Let a Hill be promoted under which Kelhnrnc Park reserve can be sold to the college authorities at a fair price. It is publicly known that I have offered a donation (if £IOOO to the funds of the college on certain conditions. Since doing this, a friend has promised me to contribute a similar sum, on a condition that I am willing to comply with viz., that I increase my offer to £2OOO if the whole question is dealt with to my satisfaction—(the reading of this portion of the letter was greeted with laughter)— thus making a contribution of £3OOO. “I have little doubt that a further £2OOO at least can be obtained in Wellington for the purpose so as to make £SOOO in all. Any such substantial con. tributiou as this appears to mo to be of cousiderifola value in the case where the main difficulty,is likely to be one of money. “ Botanical Gardens.—Let ten acres or thereabouts in the gully south of tlio present gardens be purchased out of the amount received for Kelbume Park. This would be a splendid addition to the gardens. At Ihe bottom of the gully there is a splendid site, and plenty of water for an artificial lake.

“ By making a carriage drive from the Sydney street gates along the hill on the side of the gully until it joins one of the roads on the Upland estate, the whole of the gardens would ho opened out, and it would be a most attractive drive, more particularly for visitors to Wellington. Recreation ground.—The addition of about ten. acres to the gardens would make it easy to devote the hollow near Sydney street to the purpose of a recreation ground so long advocated by Oouncillor Anderson. ... I venture to submit to you the Consideration that this proposal is one which may have a very, great effect on the future of the city. I therefore trust that it will be dealt with in the spirit in which it is made. . . . Details of this scheme can be readily worked out if the general idea proves acceptable, as I trust it may be.”

The Mayor said they were very much indebted to Mr Pharazyn for his very liberal offer. He moved that the matter be referred to the Reserves Committee for a. report. He did not think, however, that it was the duty of the city to find a sit© for a University. It was purely a question for the Government, who should undertake it; then let Mr Pharazyn come along with his £2ot)o j for _ tho creation of scholarships or bur'saries. A great deal too much of the ■ reserves of Wellington had been taken I away already, and if there was a growing necessity in tins city it. was the provision. of recreation grounds for the 'young of tho city. Mr Pharazyn’s offer ! was an admirable on©; but if he made ' it l conditionally that the Government found a sit© it would be better. Ho agreed with the writer as to the necessity of converting Sydney street, resome other portion of the northern end of the town, into a recreation ground : i but to part with. Kelburnc Park would i be quite a mistake. | Councilor Luke agreed with the Mayor’s remarks. Kelburne Park had not been completed f<Jr want of funds, but he i was sure that the Council would be prepared when tho time came to make it into a proper recreation ground for the j (Councillor Anderson deplored the fact chat petitions from the ThorndoA ladies for a playground for their children had 1 been ignored. When the Duke of CornI wall came along ho would see our beautiful children, and would be told that they had not got a foot of playground, except in the gutter. He suggested that the Sydney street gully should he converted into “ Cornwall Park.’’

The Mayor’s motion was agreed to