LAND FOR BOYS’ CLUB

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28329, 15 July 1957, Page 13

LAND FOR BOYS’ CLUB

Negotiations On Lease “The Waimairi County Council has raised objections to three and-three-quarter acres of land in the north-east comer of Cossgrove Park being given permanently by the Lands and Survey Department In Christchurch, to the St. Christopher’s «Boys’ Club, for use as playing fields and the erection of the club’s proposed buildings,” said a spokesman for the club. He was commenting on the cl”b’s recent negotiations io obtain a permanent lease from the department for a little more than three - acres of land at Spencer Park. Spencer Park is about 15 acres and the Boy Scout troops who use that area for camping have named a small area Cossgrove Park. . Camping Since 1940 / '

Members of St. Christopher’s Boys’ Club, have been camping in and around Spencer Ville since about 1940.. Last Christmas about one acre of land at Spencerville was lent to the club by the department. The club had hoped for permanent use of the land. Objections were raised by residents, who said that they wanted the larfd to remain a public recreational c.entre.

Recently the club applied again for permanent land. The Mayor (Mr R. Macfarlane, M.P.) approached the Minister of Lands (Mr E. B. Corbett) on behalf of the club apd the matter is under discussion iri Wellington. The club appealed to the Waimairi County Council to lift its objection. If the club is successful in getting Cossgrove Park, the land will be divided into two sections. The front section will be lower-than the rear section and will be used as a Rugby, Soccer and -cricket field. The rear section will have a building of abouft 3000- square feet, and materials have been estimated to cost about £7OOO. T-Shaped Building The building would be T-shaped. There would be an assembly hall which would provide eating and sleeping facilities and. a kitchen and sanitary block. “Most of the work on the new' building would be done by club members voluntarily,” said the club spokesman. “Already club members have made a start in getting together building materials. For the last few months op Saturdays, members have been making i concrete blocks. They make about 200 a day. About 4000 will be needed to finish the job,” he said.

If the club is allowed to build, all the voluntary labour will be under the supervision of Mr B. McSfterry, a schoolteacher at St. Bedes’ College. Mr McSherry is responsible for several of the buildings at the college.