TYNE STREET RECREATION GROUND.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10783, 3 June 1911, Page 2

TYNE STREET RECREATION GROUND.

DEPUTATION TO THE BOROUGH COUNCIL. ADMINISTRATION OF THE RESERVE. ■ Matters in connection .villi the Tyne xtroot recreation ground proposal were advanced a further stage last night, when a deputation consisting of Messrs H. Newton, W. Waddcll, and W. Sumpter, representing the Coronation Memorial Committee, waited upon the Borough Council. Mr Newton said that the gentlemen present formed a portion of a committee appointed at a public meeting the other night. They were there for the purpose of asking the assistance of the Council towards the establishment and formation of a recreation ground and a pavilion. Mr Newton proceeded to detail the steps that had been taken at the public moctihg and subsequently, in the direction of securing the Government Coronation subsidy. They had come to the conclusion he said that the Government intended to grant them a subsidy of £ for £ towards the cost of the pavilion. They thought that £250 was the utmost that should be expended upon the building, therefore as the Government subsidy thereon would be £125, the subsidy, of £125 would remain. It was considered that the Government was practicallv pledged to grant that £125 towards the formation of the park; not that there was any legal obligation, but after the telegram which he had read there was no likelihood of the Government refusing the subsidy. With reference to the scheme for the establishment and formation of the park they came to the Council for assistance. They could_ look for Government assistance on £250 sooner or later. He did not intend to urge any consideration upon them with regard to the necessity for a park because he felt perfectly satisfied in his own mind that they were assured of that necessity in Oamaru; and any assistance they pould give they would. There were three requests which he wished to make to them. The first was that they have an estimate prepared at once of the probable cost of the formation of the park for athletic purposes. That meant levelling, fencing, etc. The cost of the pavilion, he presumed, would be limited to £250, so they de-sired an estimate of cost of forming the park apart from that. That was something which must be done immediately, as ' they would have to procure that part of the money which the Committee would require to find before June 22. There was :iu estimate prepared some time ago, he believed, but it was doubtful if that would meet their requirements. Secondly, ho would ask them to take the necessary steps at once to have tlio reserve vested in a body which would iiave the control over it necessary to enable it to be utilised lor the purposes named. He did not think that there was any doubt whatever of their ability under the Public Reserves and Domains Act, 1908, to change the purpose of the reserve to a domain by the simple means of an Order-in-Council. His third request was this: It had been thought that there was a difficulty in getting this reserve vested in any body so that admission could be charged for on more than'lo days in the year. That could be got over in this way. If made a domain it would be under the control ol' the Governor, and he could lease it to any person or persons for a consideration "provided it were not used for building purposes. Mr Newton believed that it was understood that the Gover-

nor liad these powers, but that it was thought that he would not be likely to exercise them in t'avor of any private corporation. He himself did not think that tlie Governor would exercise his powers on behalf of a private corporation or society, but he suggested that he be asked to lease the domain to the •Corporation of Oamaru for a term of 21 years, limiting its uses to the purposes of recreation. After tliat was clone thfe Council would be able by subleasing it for athletic purposes, not only to make the ground self-supporting, but revenue-earning. This was merely altering the title of the reserve giving it to the Governor that he might lease it to the Council at a peppercorn rental, thereby getting rid of certain restrictions and enabling the town to make use of the ground in a way that would not otherwise be passible. The Council would be enabled to sublet the ground to various bodies. For instance, he believed that about £25 could be had from the liugbv Sub-Union, another £lO or £ls from' the cricket clubs. In granting these sub-leases the Council would reserve to itself the right to lease the ground on certain days when much larger fees could be obtained. He believed the Caledonian Society, for instance, had paid the A. and P. Society about £45. for the use of their ground for one day. Mr Newton proceeded to read a resolution he had drafted requesting the Government to change the purposes of the reserve and lease it to the Council with power to sub-let it for athletic purposes. If the scheme were to he carried through they would. 111 addition to these requests, have to ask the Council for financial assistance. They could not get the subsidy from the Government without showing that they had a similar amount in hand, and they looked to the Council to grant a subsidy equal to what would be given by the Government. As they could hardly hope to collect the necessary money before Coronation Day they looked to the Council to help them. It would merely be advancing the money temporarily, and the Council would be incurring no great risks. ' It would be placing itself in a revenue-earning position, for it would be found that this was a paying scheme as the Town Hall had proved to l>e. Mr "Waddell, referring to the proposed . issue of debentures, said that it was suggested that instead of the bonds being subscribed by private people they should be taken up by the Council. In the past the public had been very generous in supporting the Council's proposals—for instance, £IOOO had been subscribed towards the Town Hall, which was now revenue-producing. So that in asking the Council to take up tiie debentures they were only asking for some of their money back. They did not think that the public having supplied money for one revenue-produc-iug project should be asked to do the same for another. He hoped that the Council would look on the ground as being an object of public utility. This was the most suitable time of the year to commence work on the park, and if a start were made now they might hope to have the ground ready perhaps by the spring. When once a start was made the work of effecting further improvements would be easy. Hti asked them in the interests of the public good to help in providing this recreation ground for the town. Mr Newton further pointed out that it was understood that the Council in sub-letting the ground would protect itself bv providing that the public were not to be charged for admission except when matches were in progress. "Councillor Milligan asked what money it was thought would be subscribed by the public. Mr Newton replied that he was pretty sure of getting within a fortnight at least £3OO. They looked to the Council for £250 apart from this. In answer to further questions he explained that he looked upon this project as an alternative scheme for the benefit of the young people of Oamaru in place of the institute proposal, the latter having fallen through. He thought- that those people who supported the institute would support this when they found that they could not get the institute. _ 1 Councillor Milligan: I understand that your idea is that the Council should finance this scheme In view of the probable revenue. Mr Newton: Yes. Mr Newton further asked that the Council," if it approved their proposals, appoint a snl>-coniniitt©6 with whoni the Council could confer, that committee to have as great- powers as the Council could see its way to give it. He pointed out in connection with., the request to change the purpose of the reserve that even if the scheme fell through the Council would' only be obtaining increased powers to deal with one of its own reserves. Unless ' that _ power were obtained their scheme, to his mind, fell throughIn response to Councillor Grave, Mr

Newton amended the proposal he had drafted so that instead of asking the Government to change the purpose of the reserve the Council inquire whether there were any objections to this proposal. Tlie motion as amended was as follows: — " .. "That this Council requests the Government to- irform it whether there '

will be any objection to bringing the reserve known as Tyne Street Gardens in the town of Oamaru under the provisions of section 26 of the Public Reserves and Domains Act, 1908, by order in Council under the operation of and subject to the provisions of part- 2 of the said Act, with a view to having the same leased by the Governor to the Corporation of the Town of Oamaru under the provisions of section 34 of the said Act for the purpose of sports and athletic exercises and analogous purposes, such lease to reserve a nominal rental onlv, and to confer upon the Borough Council full powers of control over and management of the said reserve, especially power of sub-leasing the same for the purposes aforesaid." This did not satisfy Councillor Grave, who, though not wishing to appear in opposition to the project, thought they should proceed cautiously. He moved to the effect that the Government be approached with a view to ascertaining if there would he any objection to bringing the Tyne Street Gardens under the Public Domains Act. If that were carried he would move that a sub-com-mittee be set up to consider the matter. „ Mr Newton and Councillor Watson both pointed out that if the words "with a view to leasing it" were not added the information obtained would be of no use. Councillor Mitchell: There can be no objection to obtaining the information. We are not committing ourselves to any course. Councillor Grave's motion found no seconder, and Councillor Mitchell thereupon moved the resolution drafted by Mr Newton. He pointed out that it did not bind them in any way: They could consider any possible effects of the alteration after they had obtained the information. Councillor Watson seconded the motion, which was carried. Councillor Mitchell then' moved that the request of the deputation that an estimate of probable cost of formation of the reserve" for athletic purposes be granted. Councillor Ireland seconded. It was explained, in answer to questions, that the Borough Engineer would, be asked, to report, but the committee would' not be limited' to consultation with the Borough Engineer. Councillor Grave moved.' and Councillor Searle seconded, as an amendment. that the matter be referred to the Engineer to confer with the committee. The Chairman ruled that this was not an amendment, and, after some discussion Councillor Mitchell's motion was adopted, with the addition that the obtaining of the estimate be left in the hands of a committee appointed by the Council, the committee to consist of Councillors Milligan, Mitchell, and Grave. Councillor Grave moved that the committee take .into consideration the requests generally that had. been made by the deputation and. report to the Council. —Carried. Councillor Grave further suggested that the Council now consider the financial assistance it should give to the scheme. His idea was that whether it was a good or a bad scheme, the Council, by subsidising public contributions, would give so much aid as the public support warranted. He suggested that a subsidy of 4s in the £ be given. The Council decided to defer consideration of the financial question to a later meeting.

Deceased Persons' Estates. (Pen Press Association.) "Wellington, June 2. Tlie Commissioner of Stamps, during the month of May, certified to 285 deceased persons' estates, the largest being that- of the lata Hon. Richard Oliver, of Dunedin, which is set down at £103,537. The principal estates are the following: -—Wellington.— £ Christiana Higgie ... 9,651 •Tames Beard ... ... 6,829 John Glasgow ... ... 6,719 Wickham Flower ... 6,048 John Gaukrodger ... . 5,675 George M'llvride ... 4,343 Samuel H. Anion ... 4,004 Andrew Lang ... ... 2,949 Richard Clough ... 2,604 Eliza Roscoe 2,291 "Robert Nicliol ... ... 2,232 Voss Jorgen ... ... 2,140 John Mutter ... ... 2,017 John Riordan ... 1,986 Maurice R. Pcarcc ... 1,648 Thomas Blatchford ... 1,616 Ellen Macdonald ... 1,566 Janet Renner ... ... 1,472 James Holmes ... 1,286 Michael Dwyer ... 1,260 James Guscott ... 1,127 George Chapman ... 1,056 John Fitzgerald ... 1,018 —Auckland.— John Buchanan ... 8,807 Win. J. M'Gough ... 4,470 Maw Tuck 4,097 Thos. H. Mackley ... 3,945 . G. Wm. Tatton ... 3,147 Samuel Till 2,695 Elizabeth Burtt ... 2,084 Campbell Jackson ... 1,083 —Christchurch. — Robert Magson ... 14,542 Fulbert A. Archer ... 12,696 Kate E. Baines ••• 5,773 Margaret M'Cullocli ... 2,165 Jane Sattertliwaite ... 2,038 James Mair ... ... 1,581 Henry Teape 1,452 William Hunt 1,192 Fred. W. N. Anson ... 1jQ19 • —Dunedin. — Richard Oliver ... 103,537 John Robert Jofies ... 3,932 Robert Christie ... 2,202 Robert Robinson ... 2,121 Ralph Ewine 2,099 Henry Hamilton ••• 2,091 Alex. Henderson ... 1,395 Elizabeth Grubb ... .1,367 Robert Gordon ... 1j352 Jessie S. Kirkcaldy ... 1,256 —New Plymouth. — James C. Honeyfield ... 8,390 Francis B. Hutchison 1,733 Wray P. Fincli ... 1,300 Alexander Wan ... 1,183 —Nelson. — • Samuel G. Woods ••• 7,042 Thomas Ford 1)490 Walter Funnell ... 1,321 Emil V. Senn 1,100 —Southland. — Daniel Ryan 2,414 George H. Bennett ... 1,924 George Taylor 1,258 —Marlborough. — George H. Harris ... 6,201 Frederick Twenlow ... 6,024 —Hawke's Bay. — John Orr 16,099 John K. Goudy ... 1,205