SEASIDE IMPROVEMENTS.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 17016, 13 December 1920, Page 7

SEASIDE IMPROVEMENTS.

1 PUBLIC MEETING AT SUMNER. A public meeting was held in Sunnier on Saturday evening, to consider tlio question of improving the waterfront: of tlio borough, in tho interests of the visitors from tho city and outiying dis- j tricts, particularly with a view to making the beaches moro comfortable and j beneficial to women and children, j Amongst those.present were: Mr J. W. Beanland, Deputy-Mayor of Christchurch, and Mr H. It. Smith, town clerk of the city. The Hon. J. Barr, M.L.C.. Mayor of Sumner, presided. Mr H. Buttle asked what the attitude of tlio Borough Council was. Tho Mayor stated that, in response to a request, the Council had dccided to call tho meeting, but it would not shoulder the responsibility of undertaking any big proposal such as, ho understood, was bcinjr thought of. The Council would assist, as it had done in the p st, but it looked to other units to voiunteer to push the matter through. Councillor G. B-liick said that the main object in view was to effect very necessary improvements on tho esplanade. It was hardly fair that Sumner, should be expected to find finances for, improvements on the beaches, when the' people who benefited most were the visitors who came from all parts of Canterbury. These should be given an : opportunity to share the akpense. All local bodies round tho city should feel; called upon to take an interest in the | movement, which comprehended the general improvement of the beaches. Mr G. F. Allen asked what the Council had dono in the past, and what it thought it might do in tho future in the interests of visitors? The Mayor stated that some improvements had been effected on the Clifton ■ beach, and the Council, with the Tram-i way Board, expected to do something in tho interests of visitors in the nature of a shelter at "the Nayland street terminus loop. But, ho could promise very little in that way. At the present ■ time the Sumner Council found the cost, of - maintaining the main road _ almostmore than it could bear. This road • was torn to pieces, not by local traffic, j but by motorists, who ran out to the j seaside. Whilst ( Sumner _ was in tho position which made them in some measure responsible to tho peoplo of Can-j terbury for one of the lungs of the; province, its means were so small that ho could not see how much more could be done, unless those who looked for/ beach comforts and entertainment were prepared to help to pay for them. Cr. T. E. Whitfield said it was high time something was done, I and he moved that a gala be held in I Sumner early in January for the pur-| pose of establishing a fund for beach \ ' improvements. This was seconded by j Cr. C. M. Roswell. J Cr. J. W. Beanland expressed hisi pleasure at being present on such an J occasion, and said there were certain ■' phases of the question that needed carefully looking into. If'the Christchurch City Council could do anything to assist the undertaking proposed, he was i sure it would do it, because it was in entire sympathy with Sumner's effort! to improve the waterfront by making' it of more benefit to the visitors. Un-j fortunately, like other bodies, it had | a hard job to make its finances go far) enough, and on that account he could not promise direct" financial support. The City Council had been able to assist other boroughs somewhat indirectly in tho past, and it might be able to offer similar assistance in this case. If the matter were taken up enthusiastically, no doubt good would come of it. He did not see why the City Council should not discuss it on Monday evening. Mr H. R. Smith apologised for tho unavoidable absence of the Mayor of Christchurch, and said that he thought both the Mayor and tho Council would bo sympathetic with the Sumner Borough in its attempt to provide improved facilities for the visitors. He was of opinion that the City Council would Fubsidise the amount raised if it had the money to do it. At this stage tho motion to make an effort to raise funds was carried, and the date of the gala fixed for January loth next. The Hon. J. Barr said that he was very glad to see the attitude expressed 1 by the visitors, and asked for nominations for the office of chairman. , Cr. W. G. Black was elected chair- . man. The following officials were appoint- ' ed: Patron, Lord Jellicoe, Governor- : General; president, the Hon. J. Bare, j < M.L.C.; vice-presidents, the Mayor of ] Christchurch, tho Mayors of boroughs ] outside the eitv, and Mr J. MeCombs, M.P. for Lyttelton district; secretaries, Messrs C. M. Rosswell and H. C. Jones; 1 treasurer, Mr W. V. Siddall; executive, 1 the chairman, the secretaries, and ' Messrs T. E. Whitfield, G. F. Allen, ] J. Wallace, and P. IHck; Musical Committee, Messrs T. M. Charters, J. Wallace, G. March, Major Row, C. S. Thomas, and Douglas Smith; decorations and illuminations, Messrs lllingworth, J. Carter, C. Wray, and Cheshire; Sports Committee; Messrs M. Bnllin, O. S. Thomas, J. H., Thomas, H. Buttle, P. Dick, A. J. T. Withers, G. A. Alexander. A large general committee of the 1 leading citiens of Sumner was elected. It was decided to call a meeting of > ladies to deal with the question of produce stall, surprise packets, treasure "j hunt, sweets, and tea. , i