CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL

Matamata Record, Volume XX, Issue 2014, 6 March 1939, Page 8

CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL

FOR MORRINSVILLE

River Bank Walk and Gates

Approval of the proposed Centennial river bank walk along the bank of the Waitakaruru stream and of the placing of memorial gates at the Studhoime street end was given at a meeting of the Morrinsville District Centennial Committee on Tuesday evening.

Sub-committees were set up to deal with the historical, memorial and sporting details of the Morrinsville district’s Centennial celebrations. These sub-committees will meet shortly to elect their chainnen. It is proposed to raise at least £6OO by public subscription so as to be able to take advantage of the £2OO allotted to Morrinsville by the Government on a £1 for £3 subsidy basis. The Mayor suggested that subcommittees be set up at once, with a

small executive committee representative of these sub-committees. He suggested an Historical Committee to obtain and verify information regarding the history of the district, collect old photographs and compile a list of old settlers. The Memorial Committee could carry out all work in connection with the suggested memorial or memorials, particularly the planning of the riverside walk and the design of the gates and inscription. A Sports Committee was desirable to arrange for sports events, which would be a feature of the Centennial celebrations.

The Morrinsville Agricultural and Pastoral Society had been allotted February 2 and 3 for its 1940 Centennial Show, and a committee to cooperate with the A. and P. Society was necessary.

Before the meeting was a report from Mr. B. H. Horner, borough consulting engineer, regarding the proposed riverbank walk, which will connect Studhoime street with Avenue road. The report was as follows: — “ I see no reason to construct the path near the water, owing to the steepness of the sides of the gorge at the eastern end # and for other reasons I would suggest that the greater part of the walk be made near the top of the terrace, joining, however, the Recreation Ground path at the river level. The existing shrubs and trees everywhere might well be left undisturbed, and a path cleared 10 feet wide, and a minimum formation of six feet made, widening to 10 feet wherever possible, without undue expense. The whole length should be fenced where the tree line joins the grass line. A thin coating of pit gravel seems to be sufficient to coat the newly-formed walk.” Mr. Homer estimated the cost of the work at £143, including £lO for clearing blackberries, £3O for earthwork's for culverts, £65 for fencing 26 chains, £lO for pit gravel. How Money Would Be; Spent

The Mayor explained that the Borough Council had been negotiating for some time with the. owner of a portion of river bank land between the two portions already owned by the council. The bedrock price for the land needed to complete the river bank walk was £250, and survey and legal costs would bring., this up to about £3OO. It was estimated that suitable gates at the Studholme street end would cost £2OO to £250. Added to this was the engineer’s estimate of £143 for forming the walk and fencing the land. “ Public subscriptions, I suggest, would be the best way of raising the money,” added the Mayor, “ but we do not have to worry about that at present.” A motion that the committee go on with the river bank walk proposals and apply for a subsidy of £2OO was approved.