USE OF BEQUEST

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23589, 17 March 1942, Page 4

USE OF BEQUEST

* NEW PADDLING POOL FOR CHILDREN Suggestions for the use of the bequest of £SOO made to the Christchurch Domains Board under the will of Mr R. E. McDougall were received and ' discussed at a meeting of the board yesterday. It was decided to leave the suggestions—for a new paddling pool for children, a fernery, a library, or a new fence —for final discussion at the next meeting of the board, which will be held in the Botanic Gardens so that the proposed sites can be examined by members. “This bequest should be used to benefit the public of Christchurch,” said Mr M. E. Lyons. “Since Mr McDougall was good enough to remember the Domains Board I think we should use the money in some useful way and not simply add it tp our funds. We have been trying to find funds for a fernery for a long time, but it would cost £ISOO so it is out of the question; I do not suppose we could get iron now to build a new fence; and I must say I have always had a feeling that we need a new paddling pool for the children.” It was suggested in a report from the gardens and parks committee that the Director of the Gardens be requested to make an estimate of the cost of a building to house the Domains Board’s library and the Director’s office, and to adopt this as the object on which to spend the £SOO. Members discussed this suggestion and agreed that a paddling pool would probably be of more benefit to a greater number and therefore more in the spirit of the bequest. It was unanimously agreed to consider a site for a children’s paddling pool and to consider the other suggestions and decide upon them at next month’s meeting of the board.