HISTORICAL WAITANGI

Southland Times, Issue 21836, 13 October 1932, Page 5

HISTORICAL WAITANGI

GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S GIFT.

PLANS FOR DEVELOPMENT.

(Per United Press Association.) Wellington, October 12,

Tentative plans for the development of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi which Lord and Lady Bledisloe presented to the nation were outlined by the Governor-General in an address to the Victoria League to-day.

His Excellency made it clear that there was nothing definite about the proposals as the Bill concerning the gift had not yet come before Parliament.

After referring to the growth of “air mindedness,” his Excellency said that he and Lady Bledisloe had selected a spot as a landing ground for aeroplanes close to the old residency. Waitangi would thus be brought within a few hours of Wellington. Another thing which had been provisionally decided upon was the creation of an excellent golf course and the turning of an inlet of the sea into a lake of about 80 acres simply by putting up a small dam. There would be native bush at the head of the lake and it was hoped to get waterfowl and other rare birds to settle, converting the property into a bird sanctuary. The creation of a small museum within the Residency was also mentioned by Lord Bledisloe. He said it should contain a facsimile of the treaty which already had been presented, portraits of the principal people in the negotiation of the treaty and also suitable relics. People who possessed relics of the transaction might be persuaded to present them to this museum.