BETHUNE'S GULLY PROPERTY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15705, 6 March 1913, Page 4

BETHUNE'S GULLY PROPERTY

THE PURCHASE FAVOURED,

The special committee of the City. Council appointed in connection with the proposed purchase of the property at Bethnne's Gully reported that it had conferred, as instructed, with the Acclimatisation Society on tho subject of the proposed purchase of Bethuno's Gully, and as an outcome of such conference, an offer had been made to the society in the following terms—namely, " That upon payment of the sum of £500 by tho society the council be recommended ( to purchase Bethune's Gully property, and thereafter arrange with the society for such land, etc., as the latter may require; further, that, the society be given an assurance in writing of permanent occupancy, or, failing acceptance of this.by the society, the area to be allotted to it to be leased in the ordinary way for a period of years at a peppercorn rental." The report, continued : The society has now notified its acceptance o'f the -committee's offer, and is agreeable to acccpt either the council's assuranco as to right of occupation, or a lease for a term of years as may be arranged by the council later. The stipulated payment of £500 has also been made. The committee therefore now recommends that the agreement with the society as above set forth be now confirmed, and that authority bo granted to purchase the property at the price which the committee is informed by the society that it can be purchased for—namely, £2500, provided that satisfactory arrangements can be made with the mortgagees for financing the transaction." Tho Mayor said he would move the adoption of the report. In doing so he might my that although the council would not -feel disposed to purchase this property as an' ordinary reserve it was felt that it was the duty of' the council to endeavour to help tho society. It had. to be remembered that numbers of people would find recreation in visiting'the place, and inspecting'the fisheries and the deer. The sum; of £2500. was not a big sum for such a large number of acres, and he considered that the contribution of £500 from the society was sufficient to justify the council in agreeing to the purchase. ■ Cr Stewart said that while agreeing with the recommendation he thought the terms wero rather vague. If they adopted the report as it stood the council'did not know what area the society might require, and it might require the 1 whole, or the greater portion of it. He thought that the terms upon which the society was to hold the land should also be known before the council committed itself. Then the whole thing was conditional on a satisfactory arrangement being come to with the mortgagees. If they .adopted the report as it stood and could not make satisfactory arrangements with the mortgagees thfey would be in an awkward position. He moved as an amendment that before adopting the report steps be taken to define the boundaries of the area which the society was to occupy, and the terms of its lease, and also to ascertain whether satisfactory arrangements could be made with the mortgagees for financing the transaction. Tho Mayor suggested that if the report was adopted a further motion, that the details be referred to a committee to fix up, would meet the ease. Cr Clark seconded the amendment, and said he had evejy sympathy with the society, but ho did not think tho council was justified in spending the money until it was absolutely satisfied that the< public was going to get a certain portion' of the property. The Mayor, replying to a question, said that there were 200 acres in the property. Cr Menzies thought they should have a report not only from their officers but from others as to whether Frasei\'s Gully property would not be. quite as suitable. He would support the amendment. ,

Cr Todd thought, it would be advisable to accept Cr Stewart's amendment. He thought they might get their engineer to have the area, that the society required marked out with flags, and if members of the council went down there they could see what the area- was. He was strongly in favour of purchasing the property.

Cr Mai'low also expressed hims'alf as being in favour of purchasing the property, but said he did not see any objection to the amendment. He thought it would be a bad thing if they let the property go. The Mayor said he had brought the matter up as one of importance. At tho present time the trees were being cut down and the property would 1 soon bo denuded of bush. Cr Wilkinson mentioned that there was a property in Roslyn that might be -acquired, and he thought, the society, roigfyt be approached as to it. Cr M'Donald said he had the assurance of. the society that it would be impossible for fish to live in Eraser's Gully. Cr Wilkinson gave that a flat denial Cr Green said they had it. from melDbers of the society, that Eraser's Gully was most unsuitable for fish culture. The point lie made was that if the council acquired Betbune's property it would shut them off from acquiring a recreation ground for the north end of the city. But if the land wa3 to be acquired it should be acquired without delay, on account of the bush-felling. Cr Stewart said he would suggest that following the words in the report " be now confirmed" there should be added "subject to the society giving an undertaking th.at.it will agree to leave the matter of area and the terms of lease fto the final decision of the council." The Mayor said ho would accept this addition, and the amendment was then put and lost, and the report, with the additional words suggested by Cr Stewart,' carried.