REST HOUSES ON HILLS

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23413, 21 August 1941, Page 4

REST HOUSES ON HILLS

INDECISION ABOUT FUTURE

TRUST’S AFFAIRS tTO GO TO ASSIGNEE

The fate of the chain of rest houses and tearooms on the Port Hills formerly controlled by the Port HillsAkaroa Summit Road Public Trust is stil undecided. Control of the Sign of the Kiwi, the Sign of the Bellbird (Kennedy’s Bush) and various reserves has reverted to the Crown, and the remaining affairs of the trust, including the Sign of the Takahe, will probably be placed in the hands of the Official Assignee soon. It was reported in October of last year that the trust had decided to dissolve, but the secretary (Mr L. B. Freeman) said yesterday that its affairs not yet been placed in the hands of the Official Assignee. He intended to take this action very soon. Certain areas formerly under the trust’s supervision have been taken back into the care of the Lands Department. ' These areas include the Sign of the Kiwi, the Sign of the- Bellbird, and the Sign of the Packhorse. The reserves with approximate acreages are Kennedy’s Bush, 52 acres, 44 acres, and 28 acres; Coronation Hill, eight acres; Hoon Hay Park, 41 acres; Cooper’s Knob, 36 acres and two acres; Cass Peak, six acres; Ahuriri Bush, 28 acres; Gravenor Bush, 11 acres; Parkinson’s Bush, 152 acres, 91 acres, and two acres. A correspondent, in a. letter to the editor of “The Press,” has raised the question of the future of the rest-house at Kennedy’s Bush;— Sir, —Could you tell me if the tearooms at Kennedy’s Bush are to be permanently closed, and if so, has the fact ever been made public? I was very disappointed indeed to-day, after walking all the distance there in the bitter cold to find the tearooms closed, which meant no hot drink until I had walked back to the Kiwi; and I believe oh the previous Sunday other trampers had been caught the same way. If the place is to be left closed, surely those in control should advertise the fact, and so give people a chance to be prepared for a dry lunch or to carry a hot drink with them, as one is not allowed to light a fire there in order to boil the billy.—Yours, etc., HIKER. The Commissioner of Crown Lands (Mr N. C. Kensington) said yesterday that as far as he knew the occupant of the Sign of the Bellbird (Kennedy’s Bush), who was there when the reserves reverted to the Crown, was still in residence. She had written asTcing to be replaced, but he did not believe she had left.

Mr Kensington said that the whole future of the tearooms and reserves was still under consideration. A permanent policy had yet to be established.