Old hitching post

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32903, 29 April 1972, Page 14

Old hitching post

Sir, —About 12 months ago I wrote pointing that the old hitching post outside the Bank of New Zealand had rotted off at the base and had been removed by the City Council and asking if there were any plans to replace this link with the past. Someone else followed up with a similar letter; a footnote reply from the council stated that it was “hoped to replace this post at a future date.” Quite a long time has elapsed since that reply, but the hitching post has not been replaced. I am led to believe the original post lies in the council yard, minus a ring to tie a horse to. The Canterbury Pilgrims and Early Settlers Association is keen to have a replacement put back not only because it ties in the past and the present with an old-time horse period of life alongside a parking meter of the motorcar age, but as a small monument to those who worked to make this city and province what it is today.—Yours, etc., CITIZEN.

April 10, 1972. [The Town Clerk of Christchurch (Mr M. B. Hayes) replies: “In December, 1970, the following reply was made to the correspondent at the time of his earlier letter:

‘The timber in the hitching post outside the Bank of New Zealand had rotted through at the base and was removed to a council yard at the beginning of November following a complaint that the post was lying on the footpath. No descision has been made regarding the restoration or re-erection of the post.’ An estimate of the cost of restoring the hitching post is now being obtained, and the works and services committee will be asked whether it wishes the post to be replaced.”]