New Brighton Pier For Sale—Price 1s

Press, Volume CI, Issue 30005, 14 December 1962, Page 12

New Brighton Pier For Sale—Price 1s

The New Brighton pier is for sale for one shilling. The owner, Mr L. H. Duffield, will sell the 600-foot pier, a landmark for 68 years, provided the Christchurch City Council approves the sale. Several organisations in New Brighton are interested in buying the pier, and the City Council is considering purchasing it. The catch in the offer is that the pier is in need of repair. It has been closed to the public for two or three years because the council will not licence it as a place of public entertainment. The council has ruled it unsafe for public use until repairs are carried out. Estimates of the cost of repairs required greatly vary. Mr Duffield thinks it would cost only £3OOO to £4OOO . . “but I can’t see anybody getting their money back on this outlay.” The pier was built by a private company and opened in 1894. Within a year it was sold to Mr Charles Agar, then owner of a big store in Lyttelton and later a Lyttelton borough councillor. For a period, the John Anderson, a small coastal steamer, made trips to the pier from Lyttelton.

The pier was bought by Mr Duffield from the estate of Mr Agar, some 19 years after his death. 10 years ago. “The pier was mostly used by fishermen, children mothers, fathers all having a go, in my time,” Mr Duffield said last evening. “It was very popular during the summer school holidays.” He said that he had spent considerable “time, labour and money” in repairing the pier decking and rails, but then concentrated on extensive improvements to the pier tearooms where he opened a licensed restaurant earlier this year.

"There is tremendous pub--1 interest in the pier in New Brighton. The man in the street refers to it as a landmark. It is the only entertainment pier in New Zealand. "Individuals don't realise the cost of repairs, but would be very sorry to see it go. Several organisations in New Brighton are interested in saving the pier. I think it could be made into a place for children's rides, a small train, merry-go-round and so on, but this could cost anything from £3OOO to £lO.OOO in repairs to the pier first," Mr Duffield said. A survey of the pier is being made by the City Council engineering office, but it is unlikely that an estimate of cost of repairs will be made this year. The City Council is expected to make a decision concerning the future of the pier early next year Both the Town Clerk (Mr C S. Bowie) and the Director of Parks and Reserves Mr H. G. Gilpin) said last night that it would be a great pity if the pier had to be demolished. The City Engineer (Mr E. Somers) had made a cursory examination of the pier and the reserves committee had discussed the matter, said the committee chairman (Cr. P J. Skellerup). “The matter will come up for discussion at the council meeting on Monday night. It is probable that a sub-com-mittee will be set up to go into the pros and cons of the matter. “Personally, I hope that the pier can be restored. It is all a question of economics, of course. If the pier is restored as a promenade. I think that it should be open to the public without charge,” Cr. Skellerup said.