SUGARLOAF PLANE TABLE Birth Of An Idea; And An Opportunity

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31866, 19 December 1968, Page 8

SUGARLOAF PLANE TABLE Birth Of An Idea; And An Opportunity

(Contributed bu D HALLIDAY) The idea of a plane table on the Port Hills, outlined in a letter dated June 13, 1965, was well received by the Progress League: “The matter is to be taken further.” The league’s secretly, Mr . Niven Todd, and I had some glorious hours deciding that Sugarloaf would inevitably be the site; and I suppose the opportunity had then been brought within the grasp .of Canterbury people. The league was talking of consulting experts when Paul Pascoe made it possible to choose experts from among men whose particular interest was mountains: and so the idea now had the backing of the league, the Civic Trust,

and five or six prominent Christchurch men. Visits to Sugarloaf, panorama drawing, and mountain identification, begun in 1965, continued. Morale was boos ted by the discovery of the perfect view of the whole summit ridge of Mount Cook from the city end of Victoria Park; but the greatest help came when the work done by Ivan Pugh, later published in "The Press,” was made available. With the help of the geography department of the University of Canterbury a large-scale panorama drawing was on the way. After a trial with an experimental mock-up near the car park, a temporary centrepiece on a permanent stand was erected on the chosen site below the transmitting station. The City Council's Director of Parks and Reserves approved; and we had the promise of access paths. The permanent centrepiece top, the panorama stand, and the panorama have still to

be built. We know of a rubber compound, rather expensive but ideal for cast-! ing intricate work in concrete, our chosen material. I Forms are now being made for the designed panorama stand. Permanence is really j dependent on the ease of replacement once concreting forms are obtained. Money was need: money is still needed—hence the writing of “A Canterbury Carol” and "A Canterbury Easter Carol.” The means of publicity and of wide distribution were at hand; and an honest and humble offering was made to the people of Canterbury. The people of Canterbury have their opportunity: S5OO for materials and some professional work would make it possible to continue in the present rather haphazard way: S5OOO would ensure the work's being brought to a quick and satisfactory conclusion. The time for taking the opportunity is now.