THE RAILWAY RESERVE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2456, 22 March 1909, Page 5

THE RAILWAY RESERVE.

CANNOT BE HANDED OVER TO BOROUGH COUNCIL.

His Worship the Mayor (Sir. W. D. Lysnar) on .Saturday received tlie following reply from the Hon. J. Carroll in regard to the petition that the railwav reserve at present leased by the Borough Council should be handed over to the Council: —Dear Sir, —I am just in receipt of the following communication from the Hon. Minister for Railways: ‘’With reference to your representations in. support of the petition signed by the' Mayor and citizens of Gisborne " and addressed to the Right Hon. the Prime Minister, urging that the portion of the railway reserve at present leased to the Borough Council on short tenure should be handed over absolutely to the Council, I have the honor to" inform you that it is a matter of very great difficulty to foretell the developments in railway traffic that may occur within a few years, and it is anticipated that when the Gisborne line is extended it will ultimately become a very important railway, and the probability" is that not only the land m question "but possibly additional land will be required for railway purposes, and if the land were given up now the Department would ultimately have to resume it at* considerable expense. In the circumstances I regret that, after giving the matter every consideration, 1 cannot see my way to alienate t.ie land as suggested by the petitioners, and I am of opinion that it would be as well for the Gisborne Borough Council and citizens to look in some other direction for recreation grounds before the population, becomes more congested, and the price of land higher.—J. A. Millar.”—l regret the contingency under mention has arisen, which seems to imperil' the proposal made by the citizens. No doubt the Hon. Mimstei for Railways, looking to the future, is deeply impressed as to the possibilities of great traffic development m connection with our railway, and equally in the public interest deems it prudent to conserve any public ground already taken for . that purpose.— lours, faithfully, J. Carroll. _________