Council Urged Not To Sell Reserve

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30214, 20 August 1963, Page 15

Council Urged Not To Sell Reserve

A petition signed by 18 persons requesting the Lyttelton Borough Council not to sell a reserve at Diamond Harbour was received by the council last evening. The council has received an offer of £6OO for the section —Lot 35, Ranui crescent—but deferred making a decision to allow its estates committee to look into the matter. A large number of protests was received at the last meeting of the council a fortnight ago. The petition said that all sub-division plans clearly showed the area as a “reserve.” “Verbal assurances to this effect were also given by a land agent and the town clerk. Some persons erected dwellings where they would not have done so had they known that, 13 years later, the council would go back on its word and sell lot 35,” the petition claimed. The area was often used by the public for viewing shipping and yacht races. TTie Mayor (Mr J. B. Collett) said the section had not actually been gazetted as a reserve.

“None of the reserves at Diamond Harbour has been gazetted,” said the town clerk iMr J. Thompson).

Holding uip the petition, the Mayor said he felt it did not hold “much water” as the signatures had been attached on a separate sheet of paper. “They might have all signed a paper asking us to reduce their rates,” said Or. N. D. Parra tt. Cr. G. E. Boyd: Or reduce their rubbish. Cr. Parratt: We’ve already done that. The matter was referred to the estates committee, which hopes to present a report at the next meeting of the council. £50,000 Loan.—The council decided to apply, to the Local Authorities ’ Loans Board for permission to raise £50,000 for the purpose of extending the sewerage system at Diamond Harbour.