NOT A PUBLIC RESERVE.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20624, 13 August 1932, Page 19

NOT A PUBLIC RESERVE.

CRACROFT HILL

EXPLANATION BY COUNTY CHAIRMAN.

The fact that with the exception of half an acre—the reservoir croft Hill is private property and not a public reserve was mentioned by the chairman of the Heathcote County Council (Cr. 0. Mavell) during a further discussion last night on Mr H. G. Ell's wall. Cr. A. G. Williams declared that Mr Ell was allowed more liberty in the use of the unemployed than any other man in New Zealand, and urged that Mr Ell*s attempt to dictate to the council should not be tolerated.

"There have been quite a lot of letters in the paper, and we have a petition before us to-night regarding this now notorious wall on tho Hill," said Cr. t'lavell in his opening remarks to the council. "The people who write don't seem to realise the facts of the case. Cracroft Hill is not a public reserve. The only part of it that is a reserve is about half an acre, and this is the site of our reservoir. The people seem to think that the whole hill is a reserve. It is not; it is private property. ' •' Footpath. Intended. The chairman vrent on to say he did not think it right for the council to drive anyone on to private property. The council had always intended to put down a footpath. Tho work was held up when the loan money ran out, but as a guarantee of good faith the kerbing and channelling were put in. There was no intention to put flown a footpath on the opposite side of the road, since the Cashhiere Estate was not being cut up, and the site at present fornved a valuable parking-place for cars. He emphasised that from the very beginning the council had intended to put in a footpath. A. number of men were now at work on it, and the council hoped that the work would be accelerated.

"Again, people have been talking as though we were doing something wrong in taking tho stone," added Cr. Flavell. "Actually that stone cost the general account of the riding about £2OO to blast out, and thus we arc surely entitled to use it."

Cr. A. G. Williams: I,am very pleased to hear you make this explanation. Not 10 per cent, of the people knew that this was private property. Mr Ell has more liberty in using unemployed men than any other man in New Zealand. He is using them to improve private property, and on top of that; he wants tn go 16 feet out on to the road. "For him to turn round to the council and dictate what it should do with its footpaths is beyond my comprehension, and T' would not tolerate it for five minutes.

A Latter of Protest. A. letter was received from Mr F. M. Sharp, secretary to a committee formed at Cashmere, protesting against the removal of a stone wall erected by Mr H. G. Ell, and forwarding the following resolutions. — "(1) That this meeting is opposed to the removal of the stone wall which, runs along the south-west boundary of Cracroft Hill reserve, its removal being unnecessary, as there is a good pathway used by the public on the opposite sido of the road. "(2) That tHis meeting is of the opinion that the pathway through Cracroft Hill reserve, as proposed by Mr H. G. Ell, would not only be a public advantage, but would do away with the necessity of forming a pathway on the roadside of the reserve. '' (3) That this meeting considers the unexpended loan money should be used to make a permanent pathway on the outside of the' Dyer's Pass road, between points opposite Westenra tcrraca and the tram terminus." Miss M. £■. Douglas advised that she would hold herself at liberty to remove the whole ov any portion of the wall which it was proposed to erect in front of her property on Dyer's Pass road, as she might need to alter the entrance and erect a motor-garage. Both letters were received.