COBDEN SCHOOL GROUNDS

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 October 1932, Page 3

COBDEN SCHOOL GROUNDS

WORK UNDER RELIEF SCHEME

An inspection of the work being carried out under the unemployed relief scheme, at tlie Cobden School grounds, was made by a “Star” reporter this morning. The area, of about two and a-half acres, which is being given attention, was formerly swamp land, and uncultivated. Today, with much levelling and fillingin work being carried out, the grounds might be said to be looking at their worst.

The principal contract will bo the tilling in of the extensive area Claimed by the swamp, which until recently, was fed by the rain watefs froth the hills at the back of the school. The construction of a drain, extending for 10 chains, along the back-, and one side of the grounds, and of a depth of 12 feet, by nine feet across the top, has effectively collared the water, leaving the swamp area dry. The spoil from the drain has been harrowed out, and the bank strengthened by manuka brush, and quarry stone, which has been let down 18 inches below the level of the drain, and extends to the top. The bottom has been filled in with broken brick, concrete, and chippings, to prevent scouring. The work has been a slow operation, as only barrows were used to deal with the spoil and levelling, which has been thrown into the swamp. When the drain has been completed, a privet hedge will be placed along it, to act as a baulk, and prevent children from meeting with accidents. About five chains of the drain have been completed. There are seven men employed on the work, one being a four-day man, five three-day, and one two-day. It is proposed to gather all the necessary filling from the drain, and by reducing the level of the area by about 22 inches. Many thousands of yards of .filling have been placed in position, and about 7300 yards yet remain to be handled. A viaduct was built by the men, and completed yesterday. From the viaduct to the working place, a tram line has been laid down, and a trolley constructed by the foreman of the works, Air. J. Leonard, is ’now operating. With barrow work thus having been dispensed with, the contract of filling in the swamp will proceed apace.

The object of the work is to form a footbali ground, constructed in the shape of a basin, and when the full programme is completed, the Gobden school-children will have a place which will be both beautiful, and affording healthy exercise.