RETENTION OF FORBURY PARR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2840, 19 August 1908, Page 34

RETENTION OF FORBURY PARR.

DEPUTATION TO BON. R- M'NAB.

A deputation consisting of Lieut. -colonel Rtoneham, Lioutenant-eolonel Smith, Major Chalmer, and Captain M'Ara representing the Volunteer -defence force of Dunedm", v/aited upon the Hon. R. M'Nab on tWa north express on Saturday afternoon with reference to the importance to the I** I*l1 * 1 defence forceb of retaining Forbury Park in its present state. Mr A. R. Barclay, M.P.. introduced the deputation, and Mr T. K. Sidey, M.P., was also present. , Lieut. -colonel Stonoham. said it was absolutely impossible to do anything in the way of military -evolutions on -any- other ground in Dunedin, and if Forbury Park were lost the volunteers would haw to "■o out of town, which was practically inu possible. The corporation, -having a good many other financial concerns in hand, waschary about undertaking any more, and! could hardly be blamed. The deputation praposed that, either the Government or; the Defenes Dermrtmnt ehould euarantee a. certain proportion as rental, and the sports hodirs would, he believed, be willing tof contribute ard enable the council to do the rest. Tm an^wor to a question by the' Minister, Colonel Stoneham said he could! not speak /or iho corporation, but something lil«> a couple of hundred pounds aJ rear would perhaps do. If at any time it was uecessa.ry to send a. contingent away, from here there v.ould be no ground) on which Ihe men could encamp or manoeuvre. There was a big vote for defence purposes, and perhaps the amount could be taken from that.. Th« Volunteers had had various grounds^ but they had all be taken for building purpo-c?". Carisbrook was not big enough for -cxercisirur a. hatallion, let alone 4 brigade. Major Chalmer coinoided with the pre«vious speaker's remarks. The Minister said he was entirely iff sympathy with the movement. He knew^ of liw own topographical knowledge of Dunedin that Forbury must be the onljf Riound suitable for Volunteer purpose?, ,-md they could rest assured he would personally do his very best in the matter, but cou'd promise nothing. .

French iudgcs and judicial offwrs are -, forbidden by the etiquette of their profession to ride in an omnibus. ■ ■

There is an English brewing firm, whose - head is a well-known peer honoured by the* friendship of the Kin?, which pays away in freight charges to. railway companies £300,000 a year. For labels this companj pay.s what would be <o most of ua an infome «ilino-( beyond our wildcat imaginaiion—nauieh, between £4000 and 55000 « year.