FOREST VILLAGE NEAR NELSON TO BE A MODEL

Grey River Argus, 24 April 1948, Page 8

FOREST VILLAGE NEAR NELSON TO BE A MODEL

NELSON, April 23 Golden Downs, neai*. Nelson, where the State Forest Service nas 25,U(J0 acres of trees, will soon be a model settlement as well as an extensive forest. The village being built by th<= service will provide its workers with everything fiom homes to a community centre. The State Forest Service has made its plan on the basis that 40 families and 100 single men will need accommodation, in addition to those already employed. Construction is under way to provide separate homes for the married men and dormitories, dining rooms and every possible amenity for the single men. Work has commenced on-six of the houses, the first of the 16 units planned. Three of these have reached an advanced stage of construction, while the foundations of three have been put down. Single men’s accommodation will be 300 yards from these, and comprises two dormitories and a dining room block and lounges. Work on one dormitory is reaching an advanced stage, the building being almost covered in, with the flooring and partitioning complete. The foundations of the Sther have been laid. The diningroom block has the form work work ready for the pouring of concrete foundations. The dormjtories will each provide for 34 men, in individual rooms measuring lift x Bft. Each room will be furnished with a bed, built-in duchess, wardrobe and writing table. The interiors will be finished with gibraltar board. ’ The cottages are being built by rehabilitation trainees, 'under the guidance of a foreman, Mr A. TI. Ryder, who states that he is very pleased with the progress made.

The dormitories and the dining room are being built by day labour employed by the Forestry Department, and tenders will be called for the plumbing, drainlaying, painting and other finishing work. With the completion of the scheme the size of the forestry settlement will have increased considerably. Recent additions completed, using materials from' dismantled Air Force camps, • have been a fire-fighting appliance ad motor garage, a departmental store and post office, and a sawmill.

The lay-out of the grounds in keeping with the buildings is included ni the plan, and an extensive drainage and water supply scheme is envisaged. It is also proposed to have a community centre to' cater for the cultural and recreational needs of the forestry workers.