PUNIU DOMAIN BOARD.

Waipa Post, Volume II, Issue 59, 7 November 1911, Page 3

PUNIU DOMAIN BOARD.

A meeting of the above Board was held in the new offices at Beckett's municipal buildings on Saturday afternoon. There were present: Messrs Bowden (chairman), J. B. Teasdale, A. S. V/aliace, F. Potts, and A. H. Storey. The minutes of the last meeting were read. A discussion ensued as to who was responsible for the grant being made, after which the minutes were duly confirmed. It was decided to have a gate erected and approaches made at the Teasdale street entrance of the Victoria Park. Messrs von Sturrner and Stewart waited upon the Board on behalf of the Bowling and Teunis Clubs, and asked if any authority could be given which would give the respective clubs the right to control the grounds. There was no danger of the greens or courts

suffering through the public , wantonly trespassing on them while wearing other' than the regulation footwear or in any way causing damage, but it would be advantageous to appoint the clubs as custodians over that part of the Board's property in possession of the respective clubs, which was only kept up to a high state of perfection at very considerable cost. The clubs fully recognised that no fixity of tenure could be given by the Board. The delegates only asked for such powers as would insure the proper protection of the grounds without in any way infringing on tae reasonable rights of the public. The question of fixing boundaries of the different club areas was next

brought forward, and it was suggested that the Board should _ meet delegates from the various on the ground and there define limitations. The question of water was next referred to, and it was pointed out that this matter was of vital importance to all concerned. The clubs must have water, as also must the grounds generally, including the running track and flower garden, iand as the Park would be the ■ resort of all classes at all times, it I was necessary that pure drinking

water should be always available in different parts of the ground. —The chairman favoured the requests, considering them reasonable and necessary, as much for the general good as for the clubs concerned. Mr Teasdale agreed that it would be desirable for each club to control its own playing space, but thought it would be better for the Board to be the controlling body, each club paying a per centage of its revenue to the Board, the latter undertaking all the labor. This the delegates agreed would be to the clubs' benefit, and would meet with their approval, but owing to the fact of the limited income of the Board it would be more satisfactory to all concerned —until the park was well established and properly supported by the public—that each club should be directly responsible for the full upkeep of that portion allotted to it. The clubs, in working out the matter of upkeep, had made the best interests of the Board their prime consideration. Knowing the cost of upkeep of the outside grounds would be heavy, it was suggested that this to a large extent could be met by the formation of an association or society (on the

lines of a Scenic Conservation or Beautifying Association, at a charge of say, 5s per annum for a family ticket, which would admit parents and all members under 18 to the grounds en those days when a legal charge could be made for admission. This would give a feeling of proprietorship to the public which would be of value to the Board and in the interests of the Park. The delegates here thanked the Board for the courtesy and consideration shown and withdrew. The Board resolved to concede the request of the delegates, and appoint the clubs the custodians of their respective areas, and also to meet them on the ground to define boundaries, and that the present arrangement of each club having its own cost of up-keep be continued until the end of the season. It was decided to ask Mr Warren to prepare plans and specifications of a concrete water tank and stand to cost say £6O and a 30ft windmill at a cost of say £40 —these to be forwarded to Wellington for approval.