CRACROFT HILL.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18920, 8 February 1927, Page 11

CRACROFT HILL.

'fj the Ktinoii or tub rnt?

Sir,-As one «.if the original promoters i.-t tho scheme i,ir nciiuiriii-: t larroH IIHI ito ;, ~u o| i (. 1( ., ( . ni . < though the idea .if .saving it from be- '.»« i>it Hi) an.! x,\,i i, JV building site=, lor whirl, , t l, il( j j.lrcn.lv b.cn si.rvcved. was c-iitu-oLv .Mr FJl*;,"] earm-tlv hope the tni.st.-f;, will | )c . 5 , K . tc ,.,|„| ,„ raising tho money they ;ire now :i '" tho public to iin.J in order to coin-1-lcto tho rest hoiisj and lav .ml the -rounds so that tho taking, at the tea rooms may finance tho upkeep of tho resenc in u maimer worthy 0 t it., wonpanoramic view. '1 he public of Christclnrch have been very slow to mark in any tangible innn- !'!;[ I ,nc ' ll ', appreciation of what Mr ''•II lias done, lor them in his no* almost lite-lon- service on theso lulls, sf.mctimos too, ui faee of imieh opposition and many JiHiculties that might well have disheai icnend anv less enthusiastic und determined worker, and 1 : '\"f M »? "° " lc '"""ial more pleasing to Mr LI I could be set; up to erown !ns hi hours than the cornnletion of this ■..udortaking. Some dav. n,j doubt a memorial in another 'form will 'be erected to this great public benefactor, and no more fitting Kite for such could !«.• selceted than the summit of Cracroft Hill: I may hero .surest to the trustees to consider whether thev .should not include it in their sthenic, for such should mako their appeal to the public all the .stronger. 1 am not, as a rule, much in favour of street collections, but I am mho manv less worthy causes are made the objects of such appeals; I mil also sure Unit manv young people and, indeed, old ones, too, not, perhaps in too affluent circum.staii.es, who have derived pleasure ami health from rambles on tho hills would gladly contributo their mites if some moans other than subscription lists at tho newspaper offices were uiado available to them.

I know that Mr Ell is not persona grata with everyone, but those whom I have heard coi.demn his methods of raising money for his work uro not amongst the most cheerful givers, while, on tho oilier hand, others who arc noted for their generosity in public causes express their approval, indirectly at least, by saying "no one else could have done it." In this connexion I may say it is nothing short of a scandal and disgrace on the part of the Tramway Hoard that oiio who has done such "splendid work in developing and opening up tho hills for the public, to the immense benefit of the tram service, should bo seen -paying his faro the same as any ordinary traveller thereby. I luivo personally, unknown to .Mr Ell, brought this matter to tho notice of the Hoard, but without result, and now that it is ventilated I trust the public who own tho tram* will insist on duo recognition of his work in the form of a freo pass on the Cashmere section of the service at least.

Ono other suggestion 1 would make, if not trespassing too far on your space, viz., that the trustees should approach the Heathcote County Council to allow of the formation on tho concrete dome of tho reservoir situated .in Crucroft Hills, adjoining the reserve, of a map or plan of the Canterbury Plains with lines radiating from ;: centre nnd pointing towards the various iwaks or tho Southern Alps, with tho names thereof shown at tho end of each lino and of the district through which the lino would pass marked along it. I think such a topographical plan would greatly add to the interest of visitors to tho reservo not already acquainted with the localities and landmarks of tho surrounding country, nnd I prcsumo tho domo is of sufficiently strong construction to carry ono or two or nioro observers. I cannot claim this ns an original idea, for I was informed by a friend some timo backthat such a map was to bo seen on a' somewhat similar structure—on the Continent, I think. If this suggestion should be deemed practicable anil come to fruition, t will be glad to contribute five pounds towards its tost. Thanking you in anticipation.—Yours, etc.. KDWn. G. LEVIXGE, MB. February Gth, .1027.