PEEL FOREST BOARD

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21456, 24 April 1935, Page 6

PEEL FOREST BOARD

I ANNUAL MEETING WORK OP TEAR REVIEWED At the annual meeting of the Peel Forest Board there were present: Sir Hugh Acland (chairman), Commander G. Dennistoun, Messrs W. H. Walton, W. C. J. Osman, W. A. Macphail, and Mr Ellis, chief surveyor, Lands and Survey Department. The board expressed regret at Mr H. D. Acland's indisposition, and a hope for lv*_ speedy recovery. The chairman extended a welcome to Mr Ellis. The chairman presented the annual report of the operations of the board and balance-sheet for the year ended March 31, and the report and balancesheet were adopted. It was decided that the grounds committee be the same as last year, Commander Dennistoun to act as convener. . , i. The Peel Forest Tennis Club wrote stating that the club had gone fully 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 Peel Forest 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 club, and to report to a further meeting of the board. The chairman of the Peel Forest Hall Committee (Mr Foden) interviewed the board about the renewal of the lease, painting the hall, erecting an iron gate, putting In a culvert on the roadside, and felling a tree. Mr Foden said that the hall committee was prepared to pay a rental of £6 a year for the hall and grounds, and £5 towards the cost of painting the hall, on condition that the board found the balance of the cost of the painting. It was resolved that the hall committee's lease be extended for a further six months to October 1, 1935, and that the grounds committee confer with the hall committee about painting the building, secure an estimate of the cost of the work, and report to the next meeting of the board. The South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society advised that the society was paying a royalty of Is a head for the destruction of German owls, and up to the present had been unable to devise any other means of dealing with them. Any suggestions that the, board might have to make at any time would be greatly appreciated and carefully considered. The letter was received. 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 reserve 1554. Mr Ellis reported that the survey of tracks in the park had now been comoleted. It was resolved that arrangements for the printing of a booklet or maps showing the tracks be left to the chairman and Mr JEllis. The annual report stated that the following representatives had been appointed: Geraldine County Council 'Mr W. A. Macphail), Ashburton County Council (Mr H. C. B. Withell), Canterbury Automobile Association (Mr W. C. J. Osman), South Canterbury Automobile Association (Mr W. F Walton). During the year Mr W. Stewart, Commissioner of Crown Lands, Canterbury, had been promoted to the position of valuer-general and had therefore resigned from the board. The board congratulated Mr Stewart upon his well-deserved promotion, and expressed great appreciation of his services, so freely given, to the Peel Forest park since its inception. A welcome wan extended to Mr J. A. Quinn, who rucceeded Mr Stewart as Commissioner of Crown Lands, and took his place on the board.

Improvements to Park An iron shelter had been erected on the north boundary of Mills Bush and fixed seats and a table had been placed in the shelter, said the report. A track through Mills Bush, from the shelter to Mills Creek, had been formed. The fence had been removed from the east end of Te Wanahu Flat and re-erected at the rear of the shelter, thus enclosing the shelter in the Te Wanahu Flat area. A track had been cut parallel with the road to Tripps Folly, so that visitor? using this route in wet weather, might avoid rushes and tall cocksfoot. A track had been cut from Te Wanahu Flat in a westerly direction to the Blands-wood-Acland Falls track, thus making a short round trip via Acland Falls and a long round trip in the opposite direction, via Deer Spur. A direction notice had been placed at the Te Wanahu Flat end of this track. Tracks had been formed to give access to Ryan's Flat from the Mount Peel road, and other tracks had been cutlo the open spaces en the flat. The overflow channel at the tributary of Mills Creek had been extended a further 20 yards, and the stop banks had been strengthened. The entrance to the Blandswood shelter had been shingled, and was now satisfactory for cars. In September the grass had been cleared around the Douglas pine trees on reserve 1554. Some of these had done well, but others had shown little growth. Consideration would be given to further planting. The tracks had been kept in good order, and noxious weeds and plants throughout the park had been either cut or grubbed. During the season 160 opossums had been trapped and the skins sold at auction in Dunedin. Mr John Cain's lease of reserve 3786 had been renewed for a further term of one year as from February 1. There had been 44 parties of campers during the year, compared with 50 last year. Eight Sunday excursions had been arranged, the last being on Easter Sunday. The numbers were approximately the same as last year. There had been no complaints and many complimentary remarks had been ' passed about the reserve and the I facilities provided. The usual number