MEETINGS AND SOCIALS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15112, 30 October 1914, Page 8

MEETINGS AND SOCIALS.

DIAMOND HAIIBOUR SCHEME. At the Excelsior Hall, Lyttelton, last night, Cr.'W. Kadc.il.-J r.ddresacd a meeting of the ratepayers on the uiumund Harbour Estate scheme-, .Mr J. T. Brice presiding over a .argo atte-ndance. Tue speaker adversely criticised tho Council's m-jthods in administering the estate, which had an acreage of about -100 acres. He cst.nia.ed *ho annual oarmng power of tho estate at about £750, rvery penny of which was lost to tho borough, us most of tho resources wero untouched. About 200 acres vl tho property were bringing in an annual rental of- lis 3d per acre, which was not equal to £i weekly. Cr. KiKlclifTe also spoke, strongly against the iietioti of the Council in planting potatoes on ground totally unlit for tho purpose*. In reply to questions, he stated that the scheme was resulting in an annual loss of about -WOOfs and that he btiioved that a high prioo had been 011-.rsd and refused for tho potato crop, which the Council would now be glad to got. It. was also a fact, he said, that only .612 10s had been spent in roading tho property, although £2000 had been set aside towards that end. H«; attributed the fact of st-ctions not being opc-ncd yet for public auction to variou3 causes, of which the war was tho principal. At tho conclusion' of the meeting, the following resolution, proposed by Mr J. Garrard and seconded by Dr. Newß.il. was carried:—"That this meeting thanks Mr Radcline for hj3 address, and views with alarm the serious financial position into which the Diamond Harb'ur scheme has drifted, and appoint a committee, consisting of Dr. No-wall, Messrs W. C. Cleary, S. R. VvV-bb. J. Young, and the mover, to approach thn Mayor for th/; purpose of obtaining information to submit to a public meeting."