Fire damage near park

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33045, 12 October 1972, Page 18

Fire damage near park

After two cases of arson, a house in Wilsons Road, Waltham, owned by the Victory Park Board, is beyond repair, and should be bulldozed down, the board was informed last evening. The chairman of the board’s grounds committee (Mr A. G. Williams) said that anything of any value was destroyed in the last fire or “had since been pinched." The fire occurred about two weeks ago. Windows of the Lancaster Park No. 3 stand, which borders the property, were also damaged by the fire, Mr Williams said. The committee suggested that the house be bulldozed down after the insurance claim is completed. The board will write to the Christchurch City Council about the erection of a 6ft wire fence (with 2ft of pipe above) on a section of the Wilsons Road frontage. The board will pay half the cost of the fence. It is hoped that this would have a deterrent effect as regards vandalism and would give uniformity with the present fence, Mr Williams said. Three complaints about the behaviour of spectators on the embankment at the park were received by the board. The chairman (Mr J. Storey) said staff were instructed to prevent liquor from being taken into the park during any fixtures there.

Scholarships. — The St Bede’s College boarding scholarship has been won by V. Lenting, of Nelson. Other scholarship winners are: K. McDonnell (St Canice’s School, Westport), the Maher-Wade scholarship; M. Barry (Loreto College, Christchurch), the college day-boy scholarship; A. Manson (Loreto College), the old boys’ scholarship,