Basin Reserve.

The original lay-cut of the City of Wellington made no provision for public parks, other than the Town Belt. In February, 1857, however, a petition was presented to the Provincial Council requesting that the site of the Canal and Ship's Basin at Te Aro should be set aside for a public park, etc. The petition was granted, and in 1863 the draining of Te Aro swamp by prison labour, as a preliminary operation necessary for the formation of a recreation ground, was put in hand. In 1866 the then Town Board undertook the erection of fences and the planting of trees, also agreed to supplement any money raised by the public by £ 1 for £ 1 up to £ 50 for the purpose of improving the surface of the ground. The first cricket match was played on the 11th January, 1868, between the Wellington Volunteers and a team from H.M.S. “Falcon.” A year or two later the Caledonian Society erected the Grandstand, with living quarters for a carelaker attached. In 1881 extensive improvements were made by the City Council, the open drain being piped and covered in, and the whole area ploughed and sown with grass seed. In October, 1890, Mr. Edward Dixon presented a clock for the Grandstand. The foregoing gives a brief history of the Basin Reserve. All cricket and other sports, etc., of any importance are held here by Overseas teams, if the Reserve is available. A new Pavilion has been erected in reinforced concrete with steel-framed roof, which seats 1,300 people. Provision has been made for dressing-rooms, shower baths, etc., for players, also tea-rooms and kitchen. The clock has been transferred from the old to the new pavilion. (City Year Book, 1928.)