A SPLENDID GIFT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13278, 18 January 1911, Page 2

A SPLENDID GIFT.

A CHILDREN’S PARK. From Mr. David Poat to the Borough. The following letter was read from Mr David Peat’s solicitors at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council; The Mayor of 'Wanganui,— Mr David Peat, considering that the children .of the primary schools of Wanganui are without adequate provision in the matter of playgrounds, has decided to give for the use of the children for all time a block of land, comprising 13J acres, situated in the borough of Wauganui, on the Yirginia and Town Belt Road. The property is at present let to Mr Whibley at a rental of £llO per annum, but his tenancy terminates on September 23, 1911. Mr Peat desires that you, the councillors and burgesses of the borough of Wanganui should accept the position of trustees, and that your Council should manage the trust. Pursuant to Mr Peat’s instructions we have drafted a deed of trust, which we now submit for your Council’s approval. Should your Council decide to accept the gift, we should be glad to be so advised at your earliest Convenience, as Mr Peat is desirous of getting the matter settled without delay. We have instructions from him to draw the necessary transfer immediately on our being- advised of your Council’s acceptance of the trust.—Yours, etc.,,- ■

(Signed) COREY AND CUNNINGHAM,

The Mayor; in moving the acceptance of the gifti said it was one of the most magnificent ever made to a public body in New Zealand, the land being worth thousands of pounds. Mr Peat had not waited till his death to show his public spirit, and would have the satisfaction of seeing the new children’s park in uee in his life. The Mayor then moved ae follows:—■

That Mr Peat’s magnificent gift be gratefully accepted by the borough, and that the Council gladly undertake the duties of trustees; That the park be known as the “David Peat Park”; That the Reserves Committee he requested to consider a suitable permanent record of the borough’s appreciation of Mr Peat’s generosity. The motion was seconded by Cr. Holloway, who said that; so far as those people who were in a position to endow the borough were concerned. Mr Peat had broken the ice, and set an examine which might well bo followed. The rest of the Council also spoke in terras of warm appreciation of the gift, after which the motion was put and carried. ■

The “David Peat Park” is situated between the railway line and St. John’s Hill, and comprises that niece of ground embraced by the Halswell Street extension and the road which, bending at rivht angles from it, leads up St. John’s Hill past Mr Burnet’s property. The greater nart of the land is flat, and the rest sloping, it being admirably adapted for the purpose of a children’s park.