MEETING AT ISLAND BAY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4395, 28 June 1901, Page 7

MEETING AT ISLAND BAY.

PROPOSED RECREATION GROUND. A ,£20,000 LOAN MOOTED. A meeting of ratepayers was held at Island Bay last night to consider the best means of obtaining a recreation ground ior the ward. There was a fair attendance. Mr BrunskiU was voted to the chair. Mr BrunskiU opened tlio proceedings by reading the following letter; —'“To the Mayor and Councillors of the Borough ot Melrose.—Gentlemen—fin consideration of your taking the necessary steps at once to obtain the sanction of the ratepayers to your purchasing the property at island Bay known as the Island Bay racecourse, containing about 54 acres, recently purchased by me from Mr Jacob Joseph, 1 hereby place under offer to you irrevocably tor the term of three months from the date hereof the fee simple of tho said land for the sum of £19,500; or for a portion less about five acres in the south-west corner £ 18,000; to he paid, at the rate of 10 per cent., within three months of acceptance of the offer, and the lAilance on completion ox the transfer -within six months after such acceptance, including 5 per cent, interest to date. (Signed) R. Keen.” The chairman, in introducing the matter to the meeting, said they all recognised that a recreation ground for the Bay was a necessity. They had before them an offer which he thought should be considered by the ratepayers, although the price asked was, in his opinion, far too high. The land could bo so sub-divided that a reserve of twenty acres could be left in the centre and 108 chains of frontage obtained for sale, which at the low estimate of £2 10 per foot would give a return of =£lß,310, the twenty acre reserve thereby being obtained for nothing.. The price of =£19,500 was, however, too much to ask. The outside value of the land in its present. state was =£11,500 —what it brought in the open market six months ago. To get the increased price it would be necessary to spend a large sum of money in reading and draining. In answer to questions, the chairman said ho had the Mayor’s (Mr Frost’s) assurance that he would not move in the matter until lie had in his hand the resignation of Councillor Keen.

A desultory discussion ensued on the price of the land. It was resolved on the motion of Air Armit that the Alelrose Council be asked to offer .£15,000 for the ivliole property, and that in the event of such offer being refused, steps be taken to define the Council’s power to take the property under the Public Works Act and act accordingly. Councillor Crump said the thing to be considered was not what the price was to be, but whether it was a good thing to get the property for a recreation ground. The price was an after consideration. Councillor Nicol thought it was very necessary to know the lowest cost and whether there was any probability of the sums mentioned by .Mr Keen being reduced. The chairman was of opinion that .£IB,OOO was possibly not the lowest price that would be accepted. Air Petherick moved and Mr Blick seconded a motion that the meeting should do all that lay in its power to push forward the purchase of the racecourse.— This was carried with a few dissentients. Ah- Petersen thought the cost to each ratepayer in additional rates should be ascertained. They must not run away with the idea that they could buy to-day and sell to-morrow. There was sure to be a special rate to meet for a period of one, two or three years. He would like to know what the rate would he. The chairman was of opinion there would be little need for special taxes. The first year’s rates could be met out of the loan, and after that the sale of land not needed for recreation ground purposes would suffice to meet a large part of the coat. Air Oughton thought they could get a recreation ground on the foreshore sufficiently good for ordinary purposes. Councillor Crump said they should get a good ground while they were moving in tho matter; not a few miserable acres like the Basin Reserve in Wellington. Councillor Nicol considered it would be cheaper to buy the whole racecourse than it would be to buy only ten acres or so in the centre. However, he thought it would be as well to look round and inspect other possible sites for recreation grounds. Councillor Crump moved that a committee be appointed to seek out and purchase a piece of ground for recreation purposes at Island Bay. Councillor Nicol seconded the motion, which was carried unanimonsly. The conversation then reverted to the Island Bay racecourse. Air Hamlin doubted if the centre of the course would be the best part for a recreation ground/ It was pointed out that a lot of valuable frontages would be lost if tho land were otherwise sub-divided.

The meeting then adjourned with an understanding that the future steps, in the matter should be left to Mr Brunskil], who would circulate a petition in favour of the resolutions for signature by Island Bay ratepayers.