BEACH PATROL AT SUMNER

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22591, 22 December 1938, Page 16

BEACH PATROL AT SUMNER

ACTION OF COUNCIL APPRECIATED

LETTER FROM HEADMASTER AT LEESTON

Appreciation of the council's helpfulness in arranging for the services of a beach patrol was expressed in a letter from Mr W. H. Cartwright, headmaster of the Leeston School, and read at last evening's meeting of the Sumner Borough Council. He asked the council to accepj: the committee-'s thanks for the fortunate arrangements the council was able to make in looking after the children on the day of the annual picnic.

Those present were: The Mayor (Mr J. E. Tait), Crs. F. T. Eldridge, I. J. Wilson, W. J. Duff, J. L. Gant, E. A. M. Roberts, E. T. Chitty, C. E. Claydon. Mr Kane, a hut owner at Boulder Bay, wrote protesting strongly against the increase in hut fees in Boulder Bay. He said that the increase as far as Boulder Bay was concerned was entirely unjustified. The bay did not benefit in the slightest from the amenities provided for Taylor's Mistake. The letter was received. Mr W. Wilson, one of a recent deputation from Taylor's Mistake hut owners, thanked the council for its cordial reception of the deputation. The Mayor said that the deputation had put the case against raising the fees and the council pointed out that improvements in the nature of road access, etc., had been made. The council also had evidence that huts had been leased far in excess of the amounts collected in annual licence fees. While he thought that some of the owners might be penalised by the increase he did not thjjik one shilling a week was very much. The huts at Giant's Eye and Boulder Bay were difficult of access.

In answer to a question from a councillor, the Mayor said that it would be possible to define an area if it was thought necessary to separate the outlying huts from those benefiting from recent improvements. • Cr. Eldridge moved that the works committee inspect the area concerned with power to act, with a view to arranging an equitable yearly rent.

ranging an equitable yearly rent. Alteration to Tram Tracks A letter was received from the Christchurcfi Tramways Board about proposed alterations to the tram tracks in the borough. It was decided to write thanking the board for its courtesy in getting in touch with the council, and to arrange a meeting with the board to discuss the whole position. some time in January. The Local Bodies Loans Board had authorised the raising of the loan for the Valley Sewage Loan, stated an adVice from the Loans Board.

Cr. Chitty said that confusion was caused to vjsiting motorists by the multiplicity of loops between Dyers road and Sumner. Frequently the guards and drivers of trams did not give" the "go-by" signal to motorists and he had had occasion to stop his car and ask the guard of a tram why he had failed to do this.

Cr. Chitty referred to the recent celebration of the 25 years representation of the Lyttelton electorate by the McCombs family. He moved that the council express its appreciation to Mr T. H. McCombs, M.P., of the services given by his father and mother and himself over a continuous period of 25 years. The council felt specially honoured that Mrs McCombs was the first woman member of Parliament, and was also a resident of the borough, he said. It was decided to write a letter of appeciation to Miss Kemp, who has left the staff of the Sumner Post Office after 16 yeafs'. service. Cr. I. J. Wilson suggested that as a means of making the borough look more attractive during the holidays more lights should be erected. It was decided to use coloured lamps and to utilise the yard-arm on the Cave Rock as in previous years. Cr. Gant asked if something could be done to improve the footpath between Sumner and Redcliffs. He also asked when it was proposed to open the new road under the cliffs near Shag Rock.

The Mayor said that the road must first be passed bv the Public Works Department, and if councillors knew the number of times the department had been written to and rung up they would realise that the delay was no fault of the council's.