DOMAIN BOARD

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14592, 16 February 1921, Page 5

DOMAIN BOARD

ORDINARY MEETING. The ordinary meeting of the Hamilton Domain Board, belli in fbe Council Chambers last night, was attended by Messrs A. Swarhrh’k (in the chair), J. R. Fow, H. Parr, D. Hay, and G. Boyes (secretary). Children’s Playing Grounds. Mr S. B. Sims reported on the. preliminary steps which should be taken to place sections 323 and 324, Pcinhioko street, in proper order for children's playing fields. The chairman said he had seen Mr a. E. Webb, and had expressed his sympathy with the appeal being made for funds for equipping playing grounds for children. The Board would do its utmost to work in with the committee. Mr Webb had stated his intention of interviewing the Board. Lotting of Grounds. Mr McMillan, on behalf of the Caledonian Park, asked for permission to charge for admission to Steele Park on Easier Monday for a sports gathering—Granted. The South Auckland Cricket Assoc alien was granted permission t.y charge for admission to Seddon Park on the occasion of Hie Australian-South Auckland, match. Tim Y.M.C.A. Cricket Club asked for the use of a wicket at Steele Park for the remainder of the season.—Granted. Annual Report. .. Tiie chairman presented the following annual report:—The position of Hie Beard during the past year has been entirely exceptional. From Hie I3th May till tiie end of tiie year there was no Board in legal existence, and during that time no work could be done except of a routine character, and tin improvement and development of out lands was practically at a standstill. At the beginning of the year, liowcvir, considerable work had been done and part of this work was continued by Hie Board’s workmen, as the Board had ceased to exist. In addition to the ordinary work of maintenance the following improvements have been made or paid for during Hie current year. The unsightly area at Hie junction of London and Hosslrovor streets nas ! Deen partly jilted in preparation for the j establishment of gardens and a pack on • this area, but Hie work was not 'continued, owing to Hie non-appointment o. Hie new Board. At the Lake the bathing sheds, constructed mainly at the end of the previous year, have been paid for, and a large amount of work lias been done in levelling and improving the road at the Lake. A considerable amount of tree-planting has also been clone at the Lake. The apparently large balance in hand is due to the fact that moneys which she ild nave been expended during the. year have been held over HU the present year. The Board lias now in contemplation an extensive and complete scheme for opening up and developing grounds for football, hockey, tennis and cricket, and il is also intended during the current year to make extensive a id.‘lions and improvements at Hie Lake Reserve, it is also intended, with Hi' assistance of the public, lo establish children’s playgrounds at one or more places in Hie town. The report was adopted. The Financial Position. The chairman presented a further report as follows:-—The form of accounts required by the Department is somewhat confusing, and for Hie information of members J may explain that tlic actual receipts of the Board during Hie past year were in round numbers £I2OO. Of this sum about £458 was expended in new works and improvements. The balance in band has been increased by a considerable sum owing to Hie fact that for upwards of seven months there was no Icgallyccnslituled Board, and therefore no new works could he undertaken and a large amount of accounts had to be held over till the present year. Of the balance in hand, £1029, £4ao is held in trust for the purchase of land; £l5O has already been expended in payment of accounts necessarily incurred by Hie old Board, and those accounts have been paid out of the current year's revenue. Furthermore, there are various heavy items of expenditure such as painting and repairs, which were not effected in due course owing to there being no Board. This work will have p. he done and paid for during the present year. On Hie whole the financial position of the Board at the end of Inst year was substantially Hie same as at Hie commencement of the year. The delay in reconstituting Hie Board has had a most disastrous effect upon our work. The opening up and development of our lands lias been delayed for fully a year, and it will take months before mailers arc once more satisfactorily in train. General. The chairman reported dial he had inspected the silc of Hie proposed bor- : ougli septic lank, and was ailogetliei favourable to the site being granted to Hie Borough Gouncil, as requested at last meeting.—The chairman’s action In granting Hie application was confirmed. The matter of dealing with Hie aero section adjoining the Whiliora School, which was valued at £IJSO, was left in Ihe hands of the legal edininiUec. '1 was considered that every effort should bp made to prevent the Education Board from taking Ibis land as il had taken another section of four acres. Messrs .MacDiarinid, Mears and Gray, on behalf of Mr .1. McFarlnne, asked for permission to ciq up his acre section. lot 389, Wellington street, am; obtain leases of Hie two half-acre secI'oiss. He was at present paying a rental of £ls.- Granted, on condition It,at applicant paid £ih for each see ■ j tain. Messrs Walls and Armstrong. ! on behalf of Messrs .1. iv Do! ter an 1 M. \V. Holler, asked for eonsenl to transfer of lease to Mr Harry Graham. Agreed to. The application of S Wallace for transfer of section to Hilda Million was also granted. The chairman remarked That he ha 1 been' much impressed by Hie. movement in domain lands. The enormous i number of transfers showed that Hie | lands were in great demand.”