LINWOOD PARK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12410, 30 August 1918, Page 6

LINWOOD PARK.

REWARD OF PERSEVERANCE. TUSSOCK TO DOMAIN. That Linwood possesses such a line, park to-day is duo to the unremitting efforts of the members of the. Borough Council from the middle 'nineties till their campaign was crowned with success in 1900. “Fine’' is Hie word that aptly describes Hie park of to-dav m the matter of its location--in Aldwtns Hoad, near tho Marlboroimli btreet eorner—aiul the level plaving field with its gently sloping terrace on the southern side, hut when further moneys have been allocated and expended in its improvement it will soon entei-into distiimtivo rivalry with older established domains. There is much to bo done yet, though, even as eoneyrns the present playing area, and especially so at the eastern end, which is still in a, rough ami somewhat primttne. state Much planting ], ns | )pp , n earned on , and there is a splendid shelter hell of pmus insignia mi Hio southern portion,, wbilo native shrubs and plants are conspicuous in mmiv horde-rings. A baud rotunda, of welldesignee) type, stands on a gently rising slope towards tbo centre of the ground, and affords opportunities for opon-air concerts in what has now becoiiio a very thickly populated area. Tim 11 ant of seats about tlio park is a noticeable lack, and this is one of the ma tors that should bo attended to immediately lands permit. A dressing f ted for members of competing teams i onlv.bttiWire on tho ground, but doubtless when in tho course of imo it has been transformed into an arena for higher grades of athletics, a proper pavilion will bo provided. Tho Canterbury Rugby Tfnion lias played bemor Cup fixtures at the park, and the members of teams have spoken yenappreciatively of the suitability of tbo ground for the game. The provision i good wickets there for cricketers should not be a, difficult task. Iho story of the negotiations and set-backs the Linwood Borough Council experienced before this ground was finally decided upon and obtained non hi make an interesting chapter in tho history,of Greater Christchurch, (t was in August, 1895. that Mr John Lotinal offered a portion of a rural section adjoining Aldwin'.s Road, containing 18 acres 3 roods, to the Linnood Borough Council for recreation purposes, for the sum of £I6OO. Tim was referred to a committee consisting ot Hie Mayor (.Mr J. R. Brunt) and Councillors J. O. Atkinson and F. J. Board. The committee later reported that it had held a meeting to consider Mr ConnaTs offer of land, but ns the \\oolston representative did not attend no decision was arrived at. Tho Mayor of Woolston was asked to be piosciit at the next nice ting, but he vas unable to attend. The committee then decided to ask tho Woolston Borougb Council it they were prepared to .loin with Linwood in purchasing the land, provided a substantial grant, in aid could be obtained from the Government. Woolston’s reply was to the effect that its finances.,were not in a sufficiently flourishing since to Tvnrmiiti it onterimr into Hie proposal then. The Linwood Knights of Labour—mention or whom brings back reminiscences of tho political development of the timo—ii rote to the Linwood Council .approving of its notion in trying t 0 get a reorcation ground for the borough. However, the proposition was dropped until Juno, 189", when Councillor Brunt again moved in the matter, and a committee consisting of Councillors Atkinson, Ayers, Board and Brunt sot to iiork onco more. There was a fresh ray of hopefulness at iho next meeting, when Councillor Horsley sintcd that he had a sum of money in hand—the balance from an entertainment m aid of tho public ball fund—which be wished to place in the hands of the council as a nucleus for the recreation ground. There was another lull till July, 1898. when Councillor _ Brunt asked what was the position concerning the proposed recreation ground on Church property, and requested that proceedings should be reopened. The Mayor stated that while in _ Wellington he. had waited on the Minister of Lands, and a letter was read from Mr W'. W. Tanner. enclosing the Minister’s reply to,tho council’s request for an endowment of land in aid 6f the purchase of ,r recreation ground, and suggesting that if any specified individual plot of lipid could bo fixed Lippn m might have a chance.’’ In answer to Councillor Bnmt, tlio Mayor said it was correct that a. sum of £IOO had been placed on the Parliamentary Estimates as a pound for pound subsidy towards the purchase of a recreation ground. flic Mayor and Councillor Ayers'wore appointed a further deputation to wait on the Minister of Lunds,

A setback to the council’s prospecting for a suitable recreation ground in the borough was occasioned subsequently, tv lien the Mayor reported that the Clmrcli property on the cast side of Limvoocl, out of which the council hoped to obtain a recreation ground, bad been sold, but he had obtained a, promise from olio ol the purchasers that the land the council wanted would

not bo cut up till after the next sossjon of Parliament, ami tho Recreation Committee was authorised to endeavour to obtain a section of tlio Church property. A special mooting of tho council was held on April 25, 1899, to consider Iho proposed-acquisition of a recreation ground. U, was reported that tlio laud nt the corner of Buckley s Road and the Canal Reserve, which tho .council desired, had been sold, ami tlio offer previously made was withdrawn. Another block of land (about 12$ acres) had been offered, with a frontage on the continuation of AVorcester Street, tho price being £.1550, loss a discount ol £2OO, a deposit of 10 per cent being required. The. Mayor was empowered to take steps to pay tho deposit and secure the land, but here another setback occurred, the deal having to he abandoned, on the council’s solicitor’s advice, that tlio council had no power to make the proposed arrangement to purchase a recreation ground. This opinion was backed up by the. AuditorGeneral. Tho Children’s Aid Society then came on Hie scone and asked what the council was doing in tho way of providing open spaces in the. borough. Another deputation went to Wellington, and the Premier, the Right Hon R. J. Seddon, said he thought the Government would give a pound for pound grant up to half the east of the. land. A local Bill, was drafted, and here. Councillor Brunt thought Woolston should join in the scheme, as Hie land desired was situated in that borough. The loan to bo raised was nob to exceed •S2OOO. The Woolston Council agreed to join with Liu wood in seen ring tho twenty-three acres of land mentioned, provided there was joint control. Mr John -Genual then wrote to tho Linwood Council, saying that although he was not prepared to renew his previous offer, yet if the council advised him of its requirements ho was prepared to consider the matter. Ayers and Son also made an offer of land. A conference between Woolston and Linwood delegates agreed to acquire “Mr ConnaTs land jointly, each borough to raise a. loan not exceeding £I2OO. In 1900 Linwood carried the recreation loan proposal at the poll, and 'the -Mayor said he had agreed with Mr Counal to purchase the land at. £IOO per .acre, Air Counal to contribute £IOO towards improvements. The committee arranged with Mr F. E. Wright to fake it)) tbo loan, and Hie Government granted a subsidy of £IOOO. the cost of tbo land being £2060. A Park Committee was formed and planting was proceeded with.

Woolston did not carry tbo loan proposal, and Linwood was consequently left. in solo negotiation. The park is just on tho boundary road between- the two districts, and naHirallv far out of the way of the bulk of Woolston. residents. Since tlio amalgamation with Grenier Christchurch the scene has steadily changed nlimit the grounds, and the Linwood Burgesses’ Association is ever on the watch to achieve further improvements. A maintenance of that doggedness which enabled the Borough Council to obtain a recreation ground, despite many obstacles, will achieve much in the end, and no better work can citizens devote themselves to than making gardens out of regions wild or naturally beautiful places fit ill more beautiful.