THE BASIN RESERVE.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 5031, 31 July 1903, Page 7

THE BASIN RESERVE.

PROPOSAL TO RUX TRA.MLIXK THRU I'UK. -s ARROW LV If I - : PLATED AT THE CITY COUNCIL. At last night’s meeting of the City Council (Councillor Snntli presiding), ino question of miming tho tramway through thu Basin Reserve came under iiisciissKni on tho following report iiiim thu Baths and ( il.v Revives Committee: — ■ 1. Your CoimniUeo lias to report that it has considered tho question ol laying e. direct route for the new electoral tramway sv.-tem thiongh the Basin Rosorve, ami has consulted .Ur _V. right, cl, ctric.il engineer, on the subject. Alter hearing Air Wright's views, tin' Committee is of opinion that the tramway should ho taken through the reserve, both as n matter of economy in const.‘tuition and maintenance and for expedition in transit. It suggests that uu endeavour bo made to obtain the necessary legal powers to permit tho eonslruelioii of a seveuty-leol street through tlio Reserve to connect Cambridge terrace and Adolaido road; the. balance of the land on the cast side of ton proposed new vouto to ,ho utilised as a cricket ground for youths, and !lm portion on tho west side to he .laid out as a garden and reserved for women am! children. in the. meantime the Committee recommends tho Conned to make arrangements for cricket practice and matches. With this oh■i- it suggests that a new recreation ground ho formed at Russell terrace, rrlieia au area equal to that of the . -in Reserve can be obtained at a small cost. The Committee also recommends that power bn obtained to make a charge for admission for a. limited number of days both at tlio Nowtown Bark and the proposed new reserve at Russell terrace. ■‘2. Tho Committee further recommends that legislative authority be obtained, to lease certain portions of tlio Town Bell for building purposes with fan object of providing revenue for the development ami maintenance of recreation grounds. At present tho sec-

’.nu.i of Town Bolt aro leased for grazing purposes at small rentals, and in •inuiy coses aro in a, very bad condition, bring overgrown with gorso and scrub. Il power wero obtained to lease portions of tho Town Melt as suggested, tho sections might bo cut up into areas ot about ono aero, and conditions imposed allowing tenants to build only ono bouso on a section, tho balance of tlio land to be planted. By this moans tlio Town Bolt would bo much improved in appearance and return an increa-src] revenue. Should tho Council approyo these recommendations, tlio Committee vil! furnish a plan of tho sections most suitable for tho purpose. in proposing tho adoption of section L, Councillor Nathan, chairman of tho C-ominittco, said tho position had been carefully considered,' and tho Comuiibten real Led tho groat difficulties in the way of soiling any portion of tho Basin Besorvo. The Committee had como to tho conclusion that sooner or later tlio tramline must go through the Reserve. ith tho growth of Wellington, and considering tho great expense the Council was incurring in putting down olectno tramways, it was considered -;iev should save as much time as possible between ono end of tho town and ho other. To put tho tram through tno Deserve wotdd save probably a minute on each journey. He pointed out •U. under tim proposal of the Committee the existing roads around the Deserve wore not to bo interfered with nor would the playgrounds bo interfered with to any groat extent. Popuhition had increased so much around tho Resoivo that ho thought the ground could bo put to bettor nso than it had been in tho past. There would still bo room tor onckot practice, though, perhaps not for matches. At any rato tnero would be playground for -cnool bo.ys, ana also a recreation ground. The committoo did not sugtah° tho ground from tho cricketers without providing them with something bettor. There were man, i (Serves in this town which, with the little money could im n adt splendid recreation grounds. It was proposed that cricket matches should be played at Xewtown Park. Cucketors would not offer any opposition to the tramway being taken through the Reserve if they wore put in as good a position as before. At any rate, tho cricketers were only two hundred or three hundred, as against whom there was the whole population to bo considered, and the greatest number must rule. But Xewtown Park would bo a first-class cricket ground by next yoar._ The difficulty, without aii alteration in the law, was that cricketers would not ho able to charge for admission. It was proposed to form recreation grounds au Russell terrace and at Kolburno, while there would also be a very largo ground available at Kilbirulo. Mr Nathan said probably in no town in tbo colony was there as great a necessity as in Wellington for a corporate body to take up this position. Ho explained that tho committee suggested a road of seventy feet because tho existing roads wero not to bo interfered with. The scheme, he urged, must eventually be carried out. He did not think oricketers would offer much opposition, while the whole population at that end of tho town would bo very pleased. When the Reserve was first sot aside, there was littlo or no population in that quarter, but- since then it had greatly extended. The speaker pointed out that if tho report was adopted tho matter had still to run the gauntlet of inquiry and legislation.

Councillor Murdoch seconded the proposition. Ho had always thought tho better plan was to go through tho Basin Reserve, but he did not, fall in with tho idea of purchasing property on the eastern side. His idea was to go through tho Reserve, and keep the spots on either side as recreation, grounds for tho children. The electric trams would very shortly be running, and by adopting this route they would bo able to go to the Park in less time than it took them at present to go to tho Basin Reserve. Not only that, but very little more money would put the ICo'.burno Park into trim, and cricketers would hare nothing to complain of. They had gone so far now in regard to tho electric .trams that the trams must go around Sussex square, as it would take too much time to wait for tho other course. Under the new .arrangement the cricketers could have nothing to complain of. Councillor Godber was very sorry to bo forced to the conclusion that ultimately the road must go through the Reserve, and he would like to see it loft intact, if possible. Tho Council had to consider that tho majority of tho resident's of the city wore living on tho south side of tho Reserve, and as years wont on there would ho still more there. They would bo having the trams to Island Bay, Kilbirnio and Miramar, and it was essential there should bo as'.ittlo impediment in progress as possible. Hn did think it would have been possible to enlarge tho Reserve, but tho more experieuco they had in taking properties under the Public Works Act tho

more lie was satisfied that niich a course r.oma not be a.ts.rabi". xvehunie am. .W.MII Biu Us imgut ho pul in eruei and ma.te available lor c; .fuelers. am. bo si, sure iney annul not object, xi it was to be iiuuei.■ loo.i toot jv.'lbiirm Bara uas in b,, put m order for en.ckeier.s, m, v.unid support tim eumimuce's pri.nio.-ai. ,

Councillor Luke, as a South Wellington n-'llmlK, opposed the inoutu. Xx bad been a resaleal of )\ I'llingtou foi tinny years, and lie was surprised tha. I.oUneinor Nathan should -so far forge.

himself as a eitisi u of \\ uiUij'K.n----t iuig.it"rj—us to oprni a park like lid.-. Inn liinii hud ;iui yet arrived for CUB Ullg it up, ami Coiijiedlor Murdoch had, ho Uiougut, given the ease away tin the comimuee whan it-- -aid that it was not proposed to run the tramway through it at 1 -iio present lilim. Iho speaker referred to the popularity of tho R?servo at tlio present i line a.s a ji.acu of resort lor citizens v. ho, wished to enjoy a mouthful of fresh air, not to mention its utility as a playground for chUdreu. lie strongly oppo-ed thnpropo-a. to cut it up until a park of equal size and convemenco was available for the public; and he was supp„nea in his altitude by any of the people of .South Wellington null whom lie had cornu in contact.

(Joiiucr’Jor Izard had no more sympathy with the proposal of thu conniintoo than he had with tho motion of Councillor Barber at tho last UK'elitig of the Cmurcii. As long ago a.s 1871 lim Basin Reserve wins vested in tim city for cricket and kindred sports, hut mu for football. Ik agreed with Councilor Luke that tile Reserve should be ke|V: intact until a ground equally suitable could be procured, lie imped i.ii:u Couiiei'. would never allow the Reserve to be sold or taken away from the people to whom it was dedicated by Act of Rarlkuuent a.s far hack as 1871. The committee proposed converting portion or the present Reserve' into a reserve for women and children. That seemed to him a most extraordinary proposal. Why, it there was only ono man in rue world and two women the man would be running after them. (Lang liter A Did the committoo intend to establish a mntrimouiiK market there? (Renewed laughter.) Ror women and children only! Why, it would bo ouo of tho sights of Wellington for strangers visiting the city. (Laughter.) Councillor Winder would iiko to see tim matter settled. Hu did not see what harm it would bo to run the tramway through tho Reserve as long as tho crieko.ers got another suitable ground. Ho wished to know was it proposed to shut up thu present sheets on the cast and west of the reserve ?

Councillor Nathan: No, jio. Councilor Winder: Because I would opjxiso anything that would shut up tho present streets on tho cast and west of tho Reserve.

Councillor Barber believed that the growth of the south of 'Wellington would demand that tho road should go.through tho Reserve, and the sooner tbo Council recognised that tho bettor. He hoped tho press would tako particular notice of Councillor Luke’s remark that he voiced the views of the inhabitants of South Wellington in opposing a road through tho Basin Reserve. Somo years ago they had imported a city engineer (Mr llounthwaitcb with good credentials, and lie pointed out tho foolishness of widening Adelaide road without going through tho Reserve. Then their electric tramway export from England, Mr Wright, was equally emphatic, and re,ailiscd that the lino must go through tho Reserve. At tho very lowest estimate thero were five thousand people living about Newtown who used the trams every day. At this computation fifteen days were wasted every duty in going through the Basin Reserve. Ho desired to give clerks and others a chance to got homo to their midday lAeal. Then the Council would nox have to block tho roads round tho Reserve, and that would bo a considerable saving. It was proposed to utilise Newtown Park and to construct a now reserve at Russell terrace. Tho reason the committee had not recommended the 'Duppa street site for a reserve was that it would ho costly to construct whereas the cost of a ground at Russell terrace would bo very little. As to Mr Luke’s suggestion that MiHall would sell land at Nowtown at a moderate price, Mr Barber thought ho would not bo likely to sell at less than £6(100 an acre. Even if they got that ground for nothing, it would bo better to construct a ground at Bussell terrace. The Basin Reserve when dry <uid fit for children to play upon was monopolised by cricketers, and was consequently unsafe. It was also IBin below tho level of the roads around it, and was very wet in winter. He considered ,-GhOOO would prepare a good reserve at Russell terrace, bat even if it cost £6OOO or £IO,OOO, they, would bo justified in spending it. He did not bolievo it would tako three years, as had been stated, to form a cricket ground, but at any rate the sooner it was started the sooner done. Councillor Devine said, with all respect to South Wellington, there were others to be considered. The woodpaving round tho Reserve would have to be done, as loan proposals had been carried on those terms. The cricketers, he claimed, numbered many hundreds, and the Reserve was given to tho cricketers. Ho could not understand why all at onco what had boon done in connection with Duppa street should be dropped. Ho pointed out that there was no other place than tho Basin Reserve for great demonstrations. On such occasions as, for instance, tho visit of tho Imperial troops, the Reserve had been more than taxed. To put a street through it would make it absolutely useless for such purposes in future. Every inch of the Reserve tvonld bo required as population increased. Te Aro was tho most congested portion of Now Zealand. It would, the speaker believed, bo absolutely useless applying to tho Legislature until they had shown that they had first provided for tho cricketers, because they hail a strong claim on the Reserve. The Mayor (who had entered tho room during tho discussion) said he did not wish to give a silent vote, but ho wished to saiy that if they proposed to bring in a Bill this session they '.wore too late, because next week *vould bo the last week it would bo possible to introduce a vote for the loan, of money. .Even if that objection did not arise, from what ho had seen of tho House, they wore never likely to carry this scheme ns it was now before thorn. Those who had had tho experience of tho House in tho Harbour Board debate would realise that. tV Councillor: Your Worship should give the result. 4 Tho Mayer: Tho result is in favour of tho "Harbour Board, because there was nothing on which you could hang your hat to bo urged against it. Continuing. tho speaker went on to say that three years ago ho was in favour of tho scheme then brought forward for taking tho tramway through tho Reserve. because provision was to be made for cricket. .Under tho present scheme they were going to cut it ::p at onco smtf nob provide for cricket for

two or three years. Those amongst them uho Wilncs-.ca Uic game wuu me

,English cricketers last siiimuoi' I'eaused how lur boiiiucl they were in Unit iinignilicenl game; and if limy were io take from cue cricketx'i's Uto only ground on which tiny could practise Unit game, r.hey were going to ruin enckoa for years. Ho miUmtl that tho day might, and would, como when tlio road would have to ho taken through tlio Reserve, but ho thought they had belter set to ami provide a cricket ground within easy access oi rim city, aval then adt to bo allowed to make a road through tho Reserve. (Hoar, hear). . Councillor Evans was heartily in sympathy with tho committoo in the mam idea’+hat the road should go straight through tho Reserve, and that for many reasons, but tlio contract lor the completion of the tramways expired before tho Ist of April next; the work startl’d in October and ended in March, and the cricket season >vas contemporaneous with that period. Tho chairman of thu committee bad not convinced him nut it was possible for a. cricket ground to bo prepared in that time; and if here was no such ground they would bn doing a wrong to tho youth of .tho city in preventing them from practisig and playing that gnmo. It seemed to him, from what tlio Mayor hud stated, that they might throw the proposal out now. Councillor McLaren considered they were wasting their time in discussing what was absolutely futile. He was perfectly satisfied, from conversations ini had bad with members of t-nc House, that it was absolutely useless :r them to hope to get tho necessary ■gal powers this session. He agreed with Councillors Nathan ami Barber lint tho tramline would, ultimately, have to go through what was now the Basin Reserve; but ho thought there should bo a substantial commencement made with another recreation ground before tho Reserve was cut up. If steps wero taken for providing another recreation ground, lie should be prepared to support the proposal of the committee; not otherwise. Councillor Jorgensen did not think 1 bat three or four hundred cricketers should stand in tlio way of the welfare of t..e city. Xewtown Park, ho was sure, would bo fit for playing cricket, and ho was in favour of taking tho tramline through the Reserve, Councillor Wiltshire desired to ask Comic.'.!lor Barber did lie agree in what tlio Mayor bad _ stated regarding the prospects of legislation in the matter this session. Councillor Barber; The opposition to tho Harbour Board Bill to-day was an bitter as could bo, and it was possible to carry it, and I Relievo it would io possible to carry this also. Councillor Wiltshire: But tho time tor introducing it? Councillor Barber was understood to say that ho did not know about that. Councillor Wiltshire observed that ; t was perfectly absurd.

Councillor Izard pointed out that tbo tonus of tlio deed of gift of tho Reserve stipulated that no thoroughfare should at any time bo run through it Councillor Smith agreed that the tramway would ultimately go through Dio Ro-sorvo but at tho present time iio I no,, consider there was an absolute necessity for it to go through. The cricketers wero a very largo power in the land. Not only tho Wellington cricketers, but tho influence of all ciickotcrs of tho colony would bo biought to bear to prevent the outturn up ot a piece of ground which, thoimh Zen IT’ Pr obnl> '- v ' tllo host’in New Zcn.lnnd tor tho purpose. Councillor Nathan having replied a !! ?, "f 5 tnlscn with the following 're-sult..-—1 or tho adoption of tho committows report Councillors Barber. Tot doei, te n ’ Ivcene,’ M,,,-. dock, Rdtshiro and Winder S vinc? mn |'V~ Thß i la - yor ’ Councillors Dovino, Evans, TVor-vfc Ty-, rr l T I oLaren, and Smith-Y. “ J J k °’ «"S«S £rs£:. s ”"";' ■srutats" ■"“"■.'«