LEASE OR FREEHOLD.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 135, 14 July 1914, Page 3

LEASE OR FREEHOLD.

THE TWIGGER ESTATE. CHARITABLE AID BOARD ADMINISTRATION. * , -Some years ago a block of land, nearly 200; aeries in area, was left' hi trust to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board by the late Mr John Twigger. The land is situated in the Hilhnorton district. Since the time of the bequest there has a considerable expansion in the suburban areas for residential purposes, and at various times the board has been urged to sell the land and apply the interest on. the.money received by the', sale towards its charitable purposes. The board has parted with some of,the.land, and it is now proposed to lease the remainder of the block for seven years for grazing purposes. . ...

Last evening a meeting of the residents of the Addington, Spreydou, and Hiljmorton districts was held un the BarKington Street schoolroom to protest against the course of action proposed by the board. • The chair was occupied by. Mr S. A.- Staples, who expressed the opiniou that if the property Was again bound up by a lease for* a long term the progress of settlement in the Hillmorton " district would be. blocked,- andthp general interests of the-district, s'eri-. ously affected. A strong protest should ' be made against the proposal of ' the board.

Mr D. Wan t <jh moved and Mr S. Garvin seconded:—"That this meeting of residents of Spreydon, Addington, and Hillmorton respectfully requests the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board to reconsider, its- proposal- to let, the Twigger Estate for a term of seven years, as by such action the district will suffer,: and such a lengthy lease will considerably hinder , the natural- progress of the district as a . residential area." .

A brief history of . the Twigger Estate since it had been left to the Charitable Aid. Board was given by Mr R. Nairn. Some five years ago the board decided to sell a portion of the land facing Lincoln Road, and in front of the trotting track. This land, had been leased for a number of years on short leases, on an average rental of about £3 to £4 per acre per annum. An agitation was started to protest against the- sale, but the people of the district so strongly supported the board that the protest failed, and a successful sale was held. A large portion of the block was sold at an average price of £550 per acre, and when the cost of roading and other expenses was taken out, the average was £SOO. This, at 5 per cent., would give the board a return of £25 per acre, instead of their previous return of from £3 to £4 for grazing leases. The board's policy had been thoroughly justified, and the district had been substantially 'improved by the erection of modern residences on the land which had been subdivided. The board now proposed to lease the land along Lincoln Road to Wright's Road, which extended back about twelve chains, and that was what the residents were objecting to. He contended that if the land were cut up into building sections each section would/ bring £IOO, and the interest on the money derived from the; sale would secure to the board a better! return than that derived from leases at £5 or .£7 per acre. The people wanted to see more settlement. The claims of Addington to consideration as a residential and industrial ceutre should receive more consideration. The business done at Addington station equalled the combined return of Kaiapoi and Rangiora, and ho believed that in the near future the district would be largely availed of for the establishment of manufactories and industries. There was no reason why tiie progress of the district should be blocked by land being held for grazing purposes, and the people should protest against the action of the board. After further slight, discussion the motion was carried unanimously, and it was resolved that Messrs Staples, Nairn, and I). Sykes should wait on the Finance Committee of the board and support the request made in the resolution.

A vote of thanks was passed to the Spreydon School Committee, which had postponed its meeting iu the interests of this gathering.