PLANTING OF RESERVE

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22802, 30 August 1939, Page 4

PLANTING OF RESERVE

PERMISSION GRANTED TO SCHOOL

ACTION BY WAIMATE COUNTY COUNCIL

An application from the Esk Valley School Committee for permission to take over a section for tree planting was received at the monthly meeting of the Waimate County Council, when it was decided that the committee should be allowed to plant the reserve, but that a lease would not be desirable and the trees should belong to the council.

The County Clerk (Mr L. J. Collins) said that the chairman of the.Canterbury Education Board (Mr G. W. Armitage) had spoken to him on the telephone suggesting that the council could let the section at a peppercorn rental to allow the children to plant the trees, each child being responsible for a certain, number of trees. At the en . of 35 years the section should revert to the council, the trees remaining the property of the school committee.

Councillors expressed the opinion that it would not be advisable to the ground, as a new master might come who was not so keen on the work or a new school committee might be appointed qnd the section allowed to go to rack and ruin. In his report the engineer, Mr W. P. Black, said that a slip was reported as threatening the Government track at Squire’s, and it would be inspected and a dangerous corner at Bowler's cutting would receive attention as soon as the grader was available. There were numerous corners on Patterson’s road which could be improved by utiiising the available relief labour, Cr. H. M. Whatman asked if something could be done to improve the approach to the Elephant Hill bridge, reminding councillors of the fatal accident that had occurred there recently. The engineer was instructed to investigate the matter. ACCESS TO WAIHAO MOUTH COUNCIL CONSIDERS ROAD PROPOSAL Access to the reserve at /the mouth of the Waihao river was the subject of another discussion when the Waimate County Council considered the proposal to put in a road to the area. The council finally decided to approach Mr P. Byrnes, who several months ago stopped persons entering the reserve through his property, to find out if he would be prepared to sell a strip of land for a road. A letter from the Commissioner of Crown Lands stated that legal access to the reserve was already provided, but if .improved access through Mr Byrnes’ property was required the matter was one which the council would have to take up with the lessee, or failing this, invoke the provisions of the Public Works Act and have the land ■ taken for a road. As the land concerned, the letter continued, was held by Mr Byrnes under lease-in-perpetuity, and was not urialienated Crown land, the matter was" not one in which the department was concerned. The county engineer, Mrl7. P. Black, said the road cost about £3OO, while the formation of. a road along the beach would cost about £7OO. The chairman (Mr J. Bitchener) said that one person at the meeting of the Acclimatisation Society had said that they would just -have to petition' the council, and it would have to give them the roau, which was a most unusual manner of approaching the council. DRUMMER NEEDED FOR BAND MEETING AT GERALDINE The greatest problem facing the Geraldine Band is the want of a drummer, the conductor (Mr C. J. Ashby) reported at a meeting of the Geraldine District Band oh Monday night. The band was making good progress and attendance at practices had increased, Mr Ashby reported. There was every chance of the band defending the shield at the coming contest in October, but without the services of a drummer this would be impossible. ■■••:■’■ .The Mayor (Mr D. C. McKechnie) was elected chairman of committees,and it was agreed that every endeavour be made to secure a drunpmer. It. was agreed that the band offer Its services to the Geraldine Toe H to play the contest selection, at the Toe H concert, and also to play selections outside the hall, ... • The matter of arranging a concert at the end of October was left to the concert sub-committee to act in conjunction with the conductor and secretary. CENTENNIAL’ AT GERALDINE LIBRARY COMMITTEE TO ASSIST Ah assurance of its support to a centennial memorial for the Geraldine district,, no matter what project is carried,' was given by members at a special • meeting of the Geraldine Library Management "Committee. After discussing various means to raise finance as "a- contribution to the project,' it was unanimously agreed to hold a card evening,'including bridge, 500, and euchre, '. The .chairman (Mr P,.M. McKenzie) said that the Mayor (Mr D v C. McKechnie) had invited all bodies to co-operate hr schemes to raise finance for the project;/and he was sure that such support would be forthcoming from the committee. MAGISTRATE’S COURT AT FAIRLIE ■At the Magistrate’s Court, Fairlie, before P, E. Neilson, J.P., Benjamin Wise was charged with being drunk. He was also charged with using indecent language. Accused pleaded guilty. .The' police stated that accused was an .old-age pensioner arid conviction would prove a serious matter. , . . ' ~ The- Bench suggested that if the accused took out a prohibition order against himself the charge of indecent language might be withdrawn. Accused agreed to have a prohibition order issued and he was fined £1 on the charge of drunkenness.