DIAMOND HARBOUR BURGESSES

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25705, 18 January 1949, Page 3

DIAMOND HARBOUR BURGESSES

ANNUAL MEETING Regret that the Lyttelton Borough Council had failed to co-operate with the Diamond Harbour Burgesses’ Association to any appreciable extent was expressed by the president of the association (Mr J. Hall), at the annual general meeting recently. A report of the meeting was supplied to “The Press” last evening. Having conferred with the council in July, 1948, the executive had undertaken to canvass all section holders who had agreed to contribute towards the initial cost of the scheme. That was done with satisfactory results, • the president said. The council had undertaken to keep the association posted with the results of the canvassing, but during recent months had failed to do so. It was impossible to enlighten the meeting on the total amount of the money received because of that.

After persistent requests during the last four years, the council had reconstructed the Tennis Court road in a most workmanlike manner, but it was regretted that the council’s finances would not permit the sealing at plesent, and it would quickly deteriorate and fall back into a state of disrepair. The road to the wharf had also been repaired, but the extra street light which was so necessary and had been promised by the council for the last three years unfortunately had not

The community centre—a very' necessary amenity—had come closer as the association’s finances improved, the president said. The executive had submitted a .sound, businesslike proposal to the council that it take over completely the recreation ground at a nominal rental, whereby it undertook to convert the ground into a first-class picnic ground and to maintain it at a high level. That offer was declined, and in an endeavour to make the ground safe, another proposition was made and accepted. That was to plough, level, and sow the area if the council would drain it properly. Because the work was done with a lack of technical guidance, the association’s advisers said that it would be unwise to spend the residents’ money on an improperly drained area, and nothing was done. Mr Hall mentioned that there was no provision for drinking water for the picnickers. The executive had achieved nothing on the important matter of reserves, he said, and understood that it had been tied• up with a town planning committee, which had apparently made no progress in that connexion. Having in mind the importance of afforestation and the preservation of the existing rare specimens of native and exotic trees and having an enthusiastic gardfen circle which included several prominent horticulturists and one of the province’s leading authorities, the association asked the council for authority to trim, top, plant, and guard the areas regarded as reserves. Although the offer was not acknowledged, it was stated verbally that it was not acceptable because the Lyttelton Borough Council intended to send an employee to do the work. The man had evidently been given other work because he had failed to appear, Mr Hall said. The executive felt that that man had been set an impossible task, Regret was expressed that the long promised improvements to the foreshore, which included a hand-rail on a dangerous part of the path, the sealing of a ramp from the dressing-sheds, to be done by a workir.g-bee of residents, the repairing of the bathing sheds, the construction of an incinerator and other things, had not been done.

The president complimented the launch proprietors on the punctual service provided, and the excellent condition in which the boats were kept. The gala, which had been held to provide funds to improve the amenities of the district, had been only partially successful because the weather had been inclement. A vote of thanks was extended to the helpers. The outgoing officers, executive, and all members of the association were thanked for their co-operation and assistance. .The following officers were elected for 1949: president, Mr G. A. G. Connal; vice-presi-dent, Mr H. H. Gardiner; secretary, Mr L. Combes; treasurer, Mr E. J. Jekyll; executive, Mrs W. Paine, Messrs A. Stanley, G. Carson, W. Witte, A. Stow, W. Agar, J. Hall, C. Crowley, and D. Souter; library committee. Mr L. Agar, Mesdames W. Paine and P. Olliver.