HAMILTON DOMAIN BOARD

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14715, 3 August 1921, Page 6

HAMILTON DOMAIN BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING,

THE PALLING LAKE. The monthly meeting of the Hamilton Domain Board was held last evening, when there were present: Messrs Swarbrick (chairman), Parr, Fow, McKinnon, and Boycs i secretary). The Hamilton Rugby League wrote asking for the use of Steele Park on August 13 and 27, and the Rugby ; Union applied for permission to charge admission on four more days this season. The opinion was voiced that the Rugby Union had prior right to the use of Steele Park, and it was decided to grant the League the use ot the ground on August 27 when they propose raising money for the Hamilton Municipal Band, and the Plunknt Society. This was to be the League’s last permit for the season. Committees composed as follows were set up:—Sports committee. Messrs Swarbrick, Fow, Hay; Parks committee, Messrs Fowler, Parr, and Swarbrick. The chairman submitted plans and outlined proposals for football grounds on the land situatel between Seddon Road and Mill Street. The meeting expressed approval of the proposal itself and of the plans. Accounts totalling £B9 13s 9d weic passed for payment. The secretary of the Hamilton Tennis Club wrote asking the Board to have the bad patch of blackberries on the Hosstrevor street side of the tennis court removed. —It was decided to advise the club that the work would be pushed on as soon as possible.

Report on the Lake.

The chairman made the following statement on the condition of the Hamilton Lake; — The condition of the Hamilton Lake demands the immediate attention of the Board. The water is being systematically drained oft and the surface of the Lake lowered. If the present slate of affairs is allowed to continue for a few years our beautiful Lake will become an area of mud banks and pools a nuisance instead of an attraction to the town. The Lake is a catchment area surrounded by low lulls, and the water accumulates in the winter and gradually falls in tile dry season. The cla> formation on the north-west portion, adjoining the drain reserve and the railway, is lower than the surface of the Lake. On this lower portion peat has been formed between the Lake and railway, and this peat formation serves to retain the water in the Lake so long as it is not artificially drained to draw off the water of the Lake. At the time, Mr Ellis was Mayor and

a member of this Board he entered into negotiations with the owner of the land, and the owner agreed to give a strip of land to preserve and beautify the Lake. Unfortunately, both these gentlemen are dead, and the land has passed into other hands. The present owners arc seeking to cut up the land for sale, and to convert Lire lower portion into building sites. The - surface of the soil is just about on a level with the Lake at its normal winter level. No amount of draining can make this land fit for human dwellings, and even to make the surface dry it is necessary to lower the level of the Lake. Drains have, therefore, been cut for the purpose of draining off the water, and further drainage works are in contemplation, the direct effect of which will be to gradually drain off the Lake. Alongside the land in question there is a drain reserve with a drain, through which the Railway Department

obtains water to pump 'into the railway tanks. As the land-owners lower the

Lake the Railway Department lowers its drain, thus continually lowering the water in the Lake. Unless this system of drainage is discontinued the Lake will be completely lost as a source of health and pleasure to the district. We should at once obtain the best legal advice, and, if necessary, seek the protection of the Supreme Court for our Lake. The protection of the Lake and its surroundings is the most important duty of the Board, and we should not hesitate, -if necessary, to spend the whole of our income in protecting it from being destroyed. We shall also need to approach the Government to prevent the Railway Department from unduly draining the water. In this matter I am sure we shall have the assistance of the Borough Council and the Waipa County Council. We are not for one moment seeking to prevent or impede any legitimate open-

ing up and development of the district

It is not in the interest of the district that dwelling houses should be erected on the low-lying portion of the land. There are 280 acres in the block, and it is only a very small portion of this which is affected by this question. Chairman’s Report.

The chairman, lin his monthly report, stated that since the last meeting of the Board the following works had been carried out, in addition to the ordinary maintenance and marking out of grounds for the sports bodies: — The trie planting for the season had been concluded. In addition to about 100 European and American trees, they had planted about 300 native trees and ferns, including kauris.

rimus, totaras, pohutukawas, native birch, and various kinds of Olearia and Pitlosporum. The Lake grounds were most difficult for tree planting, but experience now enabled them to select the trees which would grow in the ex-

posed positions, and they were gradually establishing a native plantation, which would in time add greatly to the beauty of this reserve. They had also done a considerable amount of clearing noxious weeds on these grounds, and their men were now engaged putting the drive in order for the summer season.

On the new football field in Mill Street they had done a considerable amount of work, draining and levelling the ground, and this was now ready

for cultivating and laying down in grass, which would be proceeded with as the weather permits. At Seddon Park one of the casement windows in the upper room had been destroyed. The persons using these rooms invariably left the windows open, and when the heavy winds arose great damage was done, tie himself had closed these windows on scores of occasions, -but failed to see this particular window in time to save it. As previously authorised by the Board, he was having these windows lilted and arranged so as to withstand the unfair treatment they receive. There were two urgent matters which he should like the Board to deal with at the meeting. The lowering of the Lake by adjacent land owners stilt continued, and unless active steps were at once taken, the Lake would be destroyed as a beauty spot fop Hamilton.

Jl was essential that the Bill promoted by the Board should be at once put in hand if it was to be dealt with by Parliament in the corning session. The meeting was unanimous in expressing strong disapproval of the lowering of the Lake, and it was resolved that a committee, composed ol the chairman, and Messrs Fow, McKinnon and Fowler, bo set up to go deeply into the matter of preserving the beauty spot.