Page 157 - KBHA BULLETIN 7

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Consolidation of the Police Reserve

The mortuary fell outside the boundary of the Police Reserve, and the Surveyor-
General advised the Commissioner of Police, in a letter on 18 March 1925, that

the land on which the mortuary was built, being unalienated Crown Land, vested

originally in the Kalk Bay Municipality, and after 1916 in the Cape Town City
Council per Section 1 of Act 26 of 1897. This land could be resumed by the

Government without compensation, except for improvements, vide Section 4 of
the above Act. This area had now to be fenced off and the Police Reserve

extended not only to cover the south side where the mortuary had been built, but
also the north side where a market place operated. (Fig. 4.5). This north side of

the Station was earmarked for a Post Office and a small portion of this area

(some 16 ft. x 16 ft.) was needed by the police as a garage for motorcycles.

It was also proposed to close the 20 ft. roadway (never used) and move it to the

extreme south of the Police Reserve alongside the house of Mr Coppenhagen, the
local postmaster. This Police Reserve would now extend from the new roadway

on the south side to the extreme edge of the market place on the north side. The
total area was to be fenced, and the addition of 2850 square roods to the Police

Reserve was confirmed by Exco Minute No. 1638 dated 5 June 1926.

The incorporation of the market place into the Police Reserve caused

considerable concern among many residents. The ground had been leased to the
Women of South African Party by the Cape Town City Council free of rental on

31 August 1922, provided it was kept neat and tidy to the satisfaction of the City
Engineer. The purpose of this market was to bring local farmers and market

gardeners into direct contact with the residents of Kalk Bay.

Captain Cameron-Swan of Strathmore Hotel led a campaign to try to stop the

closure of the market place by the Commissioner of Police, especially as the
requirement on this ground was only for a small garage of 16 ft. x 16 ft. running

up to the side of the police station for the undercover parking of the motor-cycles.