THE RIVER BED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8303, 23 November 1915, Page 3

THE RIVER BED.

IMPROVEMENTS RECOMMENDED

PHOMENAD E PROPOSED

COUNCIL APPROACHES SCHEAJE WARILY.

At last night's mooting of the Borough Council the. Domain and lU>serves Committee made recommendations as follow:— < ■'.

(1). I hat a walk be formed along the riverside from the Traffic Bridge to Williams. Street by cutting, away broom and other undergrowth, and that the old.-ago pensioners' camp which blocks the bridge entrance he removed to a site .to be approved by tho■ committee; and (2) that no permits to occupy the. sites in the reserves bo granted.

' In moving the adoption of the report, Cr. Hefford -(chairman of the committee) said that the committee had made a complete inspection of the reserves at the river, and decided that the ; walk, would make. the locality attractive for picnic parties. One oldage pensioner had" blocked up the' track, and it was considered that tho whare could be removed to another convenient site.

Cr. McElrea, ' who seconded the motion, said the members of the committee Had been astonished at how attractive the avenue could be ni.-io He considered it would be a great "'asset to the town. The I. old-age pensioner had built a barrier, of timber across the track near the bridge to block people from going along. The old man was up in years, and should be in the Old Men's Home. However, the Council should do the fair thing by the old man.

Cr. Christian said to his mind it. was inopportune during tho war to talk of picnic grounds or walks. If it were going to cost only £5 or £10, th.nt money should be handed to tho Patriotic or Red Cross Funds. He moved, as an amendment, that tho •amount bo not expended, and tho money be given to the Patriotic Fund.

Cr. Ferriman supported Cr. Christian. He did not agree to shifting the old man in his declining years.

Cr. Andrews maintained that it would be an act of kindness to make the old man more comfortable, and by carrying out the recommendations they were doing the best, thing for him and also the public. The cost of. carrying out the work would be very small.

Cr. Buchanan' agreed with Cr. Christian that this -was not a time to spend money on the river bank. The committee had not given an estimate of the cost, which tho Council should have before coming to a decision. Cr. Orr said that, besides cloarinc away the undergrowth, they would require to level the walk, and he did not think tho expense would be so small. Ho agreed that this was not the time to expend the money. Cr.. Hefford said that Cr. Christian's remarks had the sting of jingoism about them. He contended that the track could be cleared for £5. Tho old.,man could be left there if necessary. The position was that the old maji had a broken-down house —not ill for habitation—and that he required a new whare. Ho Wiis 81 years ot age. and required better quarters. Cr. Orr stated that'll meant building a hut for a man who might die in a year or two. Cr. Hefford said that ho felt sore at, [the opposition to the recommendations made by the committee. On the. motion of Messrs Kerr and Lloyd, it was decided that the matter be referred back to the committee to provide an estimate of the cost. in regard to permits to camp on the reserves, Cr. Hefford, said it was customary to grant permits,'but the Council .should be careful in issuing further j permits. When persons Living there who came from other districts took ill, they bowmio a burden to the ratepayers." Be was quite in favour of _a]low- ' ing tho nieiLli¥JiiS--th«'e-.vts~;r<vma.in. Cr.*''TfcvKlix>a agreed that the time had arrived to discourage outsiders coining in and^anj.p^g.onjhft.j:gseryes. I Cr. Buchanan said that he did not rccojj w^_a ; ny_,.j)e£Jnjts. ...to camp having been applied" for* to the Council, ' His [■experience- was that , the men there I wen; law-abiding and decent old men. t l';ven if-old -men came from outside, did they do uny harm? Ho moved an amendment "That no person be allowed to occupy a site there without previously applying to the Council." In seconding the amendment, Cr. Ferriman pointed out the extreme difficulty of getting into the Old Men's Home. He could not understand why tho'recommendation was made. These old men had small gardens, and some' of them did a little work and relieved die pressure on the public purse. He also wanted to point .out that old men travelled to Ashburton thinking that tho door of that institution was open, and spent all their money in travelling. They allowed a mob of cattle to rest in tho'riverbed, and yet they wanted to shut out the old men Cr Andrews said that perhaps it the river came over to this side they would drown the whole lot. This side was subject to Hoods. If they were going to have a lot of old men there they should bo ' under proper supervision. The fact remained "that old men came here who should .not be here, and they were shouldered on to tho ratepayers. Old men could get into the Home easier now than they could in former rlays, and the Home was the proper place for many of them. . ' The Mayor said tnat tho amendment was on propel- lines. If an application v,™ e before the Council they would take care to see that the applicant was a. reputable man. Cr. Hefford said that the 'committee thourht that it would be better to "have t,heV old men out of the Borough if possible. Personally7"he did not mind .whether tho'report was adopted or the amendment was carried. • _ : The amendment was then carried.