Letter, P S McLean
Maker
McLean, P S
Production date
17 Aug 1891
Object detail
Brief Description
Letter dated 17 August 1891 from P S McLean, President of Hawke's Bay Caledonian Society, to the Napier Harbour Board requesting the lease of land in Maraenui for a general sports ground (now Nelson Park).
The letter reads:
To the Secretary of the Napier Harbour Board
Dear Sir
I have been requested on behalf of the Hawke's Bay Caledonian Society and representatives of certain of the Athletic Clubs in Napier to ask whether your board would be disposed to lease in perpetuity, or if possible to sell a portion of the Whare-O-Maraenui Reserve, extending to twenty five or thirty acres for the purpose of a Park or Recreation Ground for the District of Hawke's Bay. If you can do so, the intention is in the meantime to reclaim and fill in to the depth of 12 to 18 inches an area of from twelve to fifteen acres, and to lay down the same in the best way adapted to the purposes of the various Athletic and Sporting Clubs of the district, and also to construct an embankment of such height as may be found necessary to secure the same against injury from floods.
The following Clubs have been informally approached and are disposed to join with the Caledonian Society in carrying out this scheme.
1 The Club forming the Hawke's Bay Rugby Union
2 The Cricket Club
3 The Athletic Club
4 The Recreation Ground Company
5 The Tennis Club
6th The Bicycle Club
It is expected that the Rowing Club would also join in the scheme if the ground were suitably situated, and it is also hoped that a bathing club will be established.
The opinion of those who have inspected the ground is that the portion lying between the Recreation Ground and the present Boatshed would be best adapted for the purposes of the scheme, but this is a matter for arrangement.
It is hoped that the Harbour Board will be able to give such a piece of ground at a nominal rent or price as the case may be, the Leasees on the other hand undertaking that the scheme will not be worked for the personal profit of anyone, and that all profits earned shall be utilised for the purpose of extending the Park or beautifying it. It is suggested that the title will be taken in the name of a number of persons representing the various clubs and societies interested who shall be Trustees and as such shall have the management of everything connected with the ground. It is estimated that the improvement of the portion now to be laid down will cost from £3000 to £4000, and those who are interesting themselves in the scheme think that they see their way to procure the necessary funds.
It is unnecessary that I should point out to you the advantage both to the District and to the Harbour Board of such a scheme if properly carried out. Your Board is already aware that there is great need for some such ground, the construction of such a Park would be a very great advantage not only to the members of the Clubs immediately concerned, but to the general public, and it is hoped that the Harbour Board will set aside a portion of their reserve adjoining the proposed Park and ultimately form the same into a public park to which the public will be admitted free of charge. It is hoped that your Board will also consider that the carrying out of the proposed scheme would result in a substantial advantage to the Board by so improving their Reserve as to lead private individuals to see it to be advantageous to take up other portions.
I shall be obliged if your Board will give this matter their careful consideration and I shall be pleased to furnish you with any further information that may be desired on any point connected with it.
I am Dear Sir
Yours Faithfully
P S McLean
President Hawke's Bay Caledonian Society
The letter reads:
To the Secretary of the Napier Harbour Board
Dear Sir
I have been requested on behalf of the Hawke's Bay Caledonian Society and representatives of certain of the Athletic Clubs in Napier to ask whether your board would be disposed to lease in perpetuity, or if possible to sell a portion of the Whare-O-Maraenui Reserve, extending to twenty five or thirty acres for the purpose of a Park or Recreation Ground for the District of Hawke's Bay. If you can do so, the intention is in the meantime to reclaim and fill in to the depth of 12 to 18 inches an area of from twelve to fifteen acres, and to lay down the same in the best way adapted to the purposes of the various Athletic and Sporting Clubs of the district, and also to construct an embankment of such height as may be found necessary to secure the same against injury from floods.
The following Clubs have been informally approached and are disposed to join with the Caledonian Society in carrying out this scheme.
1 The Club forming the Hawke's Bay Rugby Union
2 The Cricket Club
3 The Athletic Club
4 The Recreation Ground Company
5 The Tennis Club
6th The Bicycle Club
It is expected that the Rowing Club would also join in the scheme if the ground were suitably situated, and it is also hoped that a bathing club will be established.
The opinion of those who have inspected the ground is that the portion lying between the Recreation Ground and the present Boatshed would be best adapted for the purposes of the scheme, but this is a matter for arrangement.
It is hoped that the Harbour Board will be able to give such a piece of ground at a nominal rent or price as the case may be, the Leasees on the other hand undertaking that the scheme will not be worked for the personal profit of anyone, and that all profits earned shall be utilised for the purpose of extending the Park or beautifying it. It is suggested that the title will be taken in the name of a number of persons representing the various clubs and societies interested who shall be Trustees and as such shall have the management of everything connected with the ground. It is estimated that the improvement of the portion now to be laid down will cost from £3000 to £4000, and those who are interesting themselves in the scheme think that they see their way to procure the necessary funds.
It is unnecessary that I should point out to you the advantage both to the District and to the Harbour Board of such a scheme if properly carried out. Your Board is already aware that there is great need for some such ground, the construction of such a Park would be a very great advantage not only to the members of the Clubs immediately concerned, but to the general public, and it is hoped that the Harbour Board will set aside a portion of their reserve adjoining the proposed Park and ultimately form the same into a public park to which the public will be admitted free of charge. It is hoped that your Board will also consider that the carrying out of the proposed scheme would result in a substantial advantage to the Board by so improving their Reserve as to lead private individuals to see it to be advantageous to take up other portions.
I shall be obliged if your Board will give this matter their careful consideration and I shall be pleased to furnish you with any further information that may be desired on any point connected with it.
I am Dear Sir
Yours Faithfully
P S McLean
President Hawke's Bay Caledonian Society
Maker
Production date
17 Aug 1891
Production place
Production period
Production technique
Media/Materials description
Handwritten ink on paper
Media/Materials
Measurements
Height x Width: 205 x 260mm
Signature/Inscription
P S McLean, Signature, Handwritten
Classification terms
Subject person
Subject period
Subject date
17 Aug 1891
Other number(s)
m93/6, 77287
Public comments
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