PEEL FOREST BOARD.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 164, 24 April 1935, Page 8

PEEL FOREST BOARD.

\ YEAR'S WORK REVIEWED. At the annual meeting of the Peel Forest Board there were present: ten £ lg f AcLd (chairman), Conimander G. Dennistoun, Messrs W. H. W O. J. Osman, W. A. Macphail and Mr Ellis (Chief Surveyor, Lands and Survey Department). The Board expressed regret at Mr H D Poland's indisposition and Hopes f SSSt the following representatives had been appointed :- Geraldine County Conned, Mr \S,. .A. Macphail; Ashburtou County Council Mr H. O. 13. Withell; Canterbuis Automobile Association, Mr \V. y>- «'• Osman: South Canterbury Automobile AsScia'tion, Mr W. H. Walton. A. welcome was extended to Mr J. A. Quinn, who succeeded Mr W. Stewart as Commissioner of Crown Lands on the Board. The tracks had been kept in good* order and noxious weeds and plants tnrougflout the park had been either cut or •rrubbed. During the season 160 opossums had been trapped and the skins sold at auction in Dunedm. There had been 44 parties of campers during the year, compared with 50 last year. Eight Sundav excursions had been arranged, the last being on Easter Sundav The numbers were approximately the same as last year. There had been no complaints and many complimentary remarks had been passed regarding the reserve and the facilities provided. Thanks were extended to the Geraldine and Ashburtou County Councils and to the Canterbury and South Canterbury Automobile Associations for annual grants of money to the Board and for their interest in the park; also to the secretary and ranger (Mr Evans) for his services to the Board and the care of the forest. At the ordinary meeting a letter was received from the Peel Forest Tennis Club stating that the club had gone fullv into the matter of the construction of a tennis court, and found that £3O would not meet the requirements. The club wished to know if the Board would consider putting down a new court if the club undertook to keep it in order. It was decided that the request be referred to the Grounds Committee to confer with representatives of the Tennis Club and report to a further meeting of the Board. It was resolved that the Hall Committee's lease bo extended for a further six months to October 1, 1935, and that the Grounds Committee confer with the Hall Committee in the matter of painting the building, secure ■ an estimate of the cost of the work,, and report to the next meeting of the Board. The South Canterbury Acelimatisa- ' Lion Society advised that the society was paying a royalty of one shilling a head for the destruction of German owls, and up to the present had been unable to devise any other means of i'ealing with them. Any suggestions that the Board might have to make at any time would be greatly appreciated, and carefully considered by the council of the society. The letter was received. On the motion of Commander Denyistoun and Mr Osman, the Grounds Committee was authorised to spend up to £3 10s on trees and labour in the replacement of trees which had died in plantation R-1554. Mr Ellis reported that the survey of tracks in the park had been completed. It was resolved that arrangements in connection with the printing of a booklet or maps showing the tracks be left in the hands of the chairman and Mr Ellis.