THE CITY GAINS

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12315, 9 December 1925, Page 11

THE CITY GAINS

NEW PARK PRESENTED TRANSFER OF TITLE YESTERDAY FUNCTION AT HAYWARDS The generosity of Mr W. H. George has given the city some new park land. The transfer of the title deeds of 144 acres at Haywards, to be known as Memorial l’ark, was made on the spot to the civic authority yesterday, the Mayor (Mr C, J. B. Norwood) receiving'them in person. The area directly leads to 10l acres of splendid bush, set aside for a Government scenic reserve, on the right bank of the Hutt river. To this the public previously had no access, and even the new land offered by Mr George lacked an approach and a legal frontage until he dedicated a small area, where the Pahautanui" road runs off from tire railway line towards Mount Cecil, as a common approach to the memorial park and some adjoining laud. Hence, though offered and accepted two years ago, it has taken time to effect the legal transfer. The Memorial Park is roughly in the shape of the letter V with the arms broadening towards the top. The westerly arm runs up a stream-bed in a valley, and after two miles is beautiful mixed bush. It is bounded on the west by the Haywards-Pahautanui road, and on the east by a fence on the skyline. The eastern anti extends front the skyline to the railway at the point where it turns off across the Hutt railway bridge, and, further north, to a small section tyhich separates it from an overflow channel of the river. This runs into the scenic reserve, and just at the spot where the two join an area of four acres has been presented to the Y.M.C.A. for use for camps and rallies. The new Haywards golf links are just below the park, and the famous swimming pool just north of it. Tpe park is dedicated to the memory _ of Keith George, who was killed in action in the Great War, and will hold a stone to hiß memory. For the transfer of the. land yesterday a large party of city councillors and corporation officials motored out to Haywards, and were the guests of Mr George.'

PLEASANT MEMORIES Mr George, presenting the certificate of title to the land given the Y ,M.C.A., said that it had been a camping ground for the boys of the institution for years. It had many happy associations, and had witnessed many gatherings from conferences to boy scout rallies. He and Mrs George had enjoyed these thoroughly, and hoped that in future the same physical, mental and spiritual stimulation would be experienced by those who used the ground. Mr J. Pierce Luke, president of the Wellington branch, anu member of the National Executive of the Y.M.C.A., accepted the gift. They had many recollections of Mr George s generosity to the Y.M.C.A., he said, and in making this magnificent gift Mr George had afforded another proof of it. He felt 'hat they themselves were not conscious of the great value which this block *f land would pe to the' future-witwens of Wellington.., Mr George then presented the Mayor with the title deeds to the Memorial Park. In placing the document m Mr Norwood’s hands, Mr George remarked that he performed this action on behalf of Mrs George and himself in memory of one who was very dear to them. So hoped that the land would remain in the possession of the city, and that it would he keptintact. The man who had sold it to him had considered it worth only £1 per acre, but he thought its value much higher. He had bought it for its beautiful scenery, the beauties of which _ were yet unexplored. He hoped that in the future it would bring pleasure to many of Wellington’s citizens who might not otherwise have the opportunity of seeing virgin hush. A COOL, GREEN SPOT Accepting the gift on behalf of the citizens, Mr C. J. 3. Norwood assured the donor that they appreciated very fully the spirit of the gift. They appreciated the fact that it commemorated one of the many brave_ men _ of this Country who bad made it possible for others to enjoy freedom, and asked that their thanks should be conveyed to Mrs George, who now might know that in New Zealand where her hey wfls horn and brought up, there was a snot (her gift) where the people were able to get inspiration and to get near nature. W herever Mr George had lived there had always been a garden, and with the growth of Wellington and tbe inevitable widening of the boundaries of the city, the Memorial Park would become.® place where citizens could get some fresh air and appreciate scenic beauties. It was not the 140 acres alone that counted. It was this plus the' lovely area along the Hutt river which now connected and should be maintained side by side. < They could not as a council promise any such work as would bring this land into more service for the city. But the advancement of Wellington would bring this about in time, and they might look forward to a period when this area, carefully roaded, •would be of full vet-vice to citizens and when tho young might enjoy its surroundings. TO AVOID CONFUSION They hoped, too, that Mr George would return to New Zealand, and that they would have his influence amongst, them again. In the matter of whether the land should be named the “Memorial Park,” or the ‘Keith George Memorial Park,” the hands of the council had been left entirely free. Tliev had recently had a gilt of another‘area vnich was named the Keith "Izard Memorial Park, and as it might complicate matters if the name of Keith George were adopted, ho trusted that Mr George would erect a stone hearing the reason for the gift. This done, he would recommend the council to name the area the Memorial Park, and those who used it would know the rest. The function concluded with a short exploration of the park grounds and afternoon tea at Manor Park House.

A Press message from Dunedin states that the South Otago Hospital Board has appointed Miss Margaret Shepard matron of tho new hospital at Balclutha. Miss Shepard was formerly a Bister at tho Southland Hospital, Invercargill, and latterly matron at Milton. The British Navy to-day costs ns £8,950,000 more than in 1914, although there is a decrease of 47,075 in the personnel. When mixinz blue in hard water, add a cupful of milk to a tub of blue water. This will prevent the linen from blueing usyavenly and becoming streakv-