Cornwa Park.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVI, Issue XXIV, 15 June 1901, Page III (Supplement)

Cornwa Park.

Ou Tuesday afternoon Dr. J. Dogan Campbell, Mayor of Auckland, formally presented to the city the line park at One Tree Hill. This was the first business when the Royal visitors reached Government House shortly after three o'clock. The ceremony took place in the ball-room. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cornwall and York occupied a central position on the recessed dais at the end of the ball-room, where there were also Her Royal Highness the Duchess of York, His Excellency the Governor and the Conntess of Ranfurly, His Serene Highness Prince Alexander of Teck, Major Derrek-Kep-pel, the Hon. Mrs Derrek-Keppel. Lady Catherine Coke, Lady Mary l.ygon, Sir Arthur Bigge, Commander Sir Charles Cust, Sir Donald Mackenzie Wallace, and Lady Constance Knox.

Dr. J. Logan Campbell, approaching the distinguished visitors, said:—‘"Your Royal Highness having graciously permitted me approaching 1 have now humbly to pray you on behalf of the people of New Zealand to accept this my gift of a public park in commemoration of your presence in our midst on this auspicious occasion. Might 1 express the desire that Your Royal Highness names it the Cornwall Park?”

His Royal Highness, in accepting the deed of conveyance, said:—*T am pleased to accept this munificent gift, on behalf of the people of New Zealand.” The deeds, which will rn due course be lianded to the Trustees, state:—The said lands are and shall be held by the Trustees upon trust as a place of public recreation and enjoyment for the people of the colony of New Zealand, and also for such public purposes for the general benefit of the people of New Zealand in the way of affording them recreation, enjoyment, pleasure, and instruction, and other similar benefits and advantages of that nature as tile Trustees shall from time to time consider best. Tn addition to their other powers the Trustees may lay out. enclose and plant the said lands, or any of them, or build or erect any lodge, museum, art gallery, library, baths, ornamental or other public buildings which in the opinion of the Trustees may be in furtherance of the purposes and objects of the gift of the donor, the said .John Logan Campbell, and may purchase, erect, and set up statues or other works of art. The deed is dated the 10th day of June, one thousand nine hundred and one., and appoints as Trustees David Limond Murdoch, gentleman: Arthur Mielziner Myers, brewer; Robert Hal], farmer: and Alfred Seymour Bankart, accountant.; Mr Myers to be first chairman.

The following interesting document 1s appended:— “I sign this Deed of Gift on the 61st anniversary of the year I left the Maori village of Waiomu, on the shores of the Hauraki Gulf, and entered the primeval forest to carve with my axe the canoe in which afterwards I made my way to the Island of Motu Korea, my first home in the Waitemata. Since that day it has been my fortune to be at the foundation of the colony of New Zealand, to watch with deepening interest and affection the growth of my adopted country, and to share as well its struggles and its vicissitudes and its now well founded and increasing prosjierity. Superintendent of the Province of Auckland in 1855, member of the Ministry formed when a Responsible Government replaced the older system of provincial administration, to me now as Chief Magistrate of Auckland has fallen the honour of presenting our city’s welcome to His Royal Highness the Duke of Cornwall and York. Thus has my whole life been not merely co-extensive, but in closest association with the development, of this eity and colony. As an abiding memorial of the deep gratitude and warm affection I bear to this, the country of my adoption. T have therefore desired to present ‘Cornwall' Park to l>e a place of public resort for the recreation and enjoyment of the people of New Zealand. The visit of Their Royal Highnesses affords, I have thought, a fitting occasion for the presentation of this gift, which I now make with no other desire than that the park may be of real and lasting benefit to the people whose prosperity I have shared, amongst whom I have lived now for 61 years. (Signed) J. LOGAN CAMPBELL. “ 10th June, IDOL”