LAKE ROTOITI DOMAIN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 15 April 1944, Page 4

LAKE ROTOITI DOMAIN

A VALUABLE EXTENSION FTo the Editor 1 Sir,—A few years ago Mrs Blechynden kindly presented to the Rotoiti Domain Board a playground, known as Blechynden Park, situated on the shore of the East Bay of the lake. She has now magnanimously placed under option to the Board a much larger and most desirable area adjoining the West Bay for the low price of ten shillings per acre. This area comprises 436 acres and is bound on the east for a mile and a half by the St, Arnaud township, on the south for two miles by the shores of the lake, on the west for one mile by the Buffer River and on the north for two miles by the main highway down the Buffer Valley. The ground is for the most part fairly level, but it includes the peninsula jutting into the lake between East and West Bays and also the conical hill, to be known as Blechynden Hill, which is so often, climbed by visitors on account of the extensive view it commands. The picturesque stretch of the Buffer River below the lake is a favourite resort for fishermen. All who are acquainted with Lake Rotoiti will immediately recognise what a valuable acquisition this area would be as a public domain, and what great potentialities it would afford for conversion into a diversified recreation ground. So, in spite of the many claims for patriotic purposes which are being made on the public, the Domain Board feels that it would be failing in its duty if it did not make a strenuous effort to setee a magnificent opportunity which, if not made use of now, may never recur. The Board has therefore opened a subscription list for a fund to be called the Fund for the Purchase and Improvement of the Winston Churchill Domain. Four donations of £25 each and a number of smaller amounts have already been promised. It is hoped that the amount subscribed will be sufficiently large, not only to enable the area to be purchased. but also to permit of somd desirable improvements being effected as soon as circumstances allow. For instance, a road is needed to giva access from the main road to the shore of West Bay; a shelter shed should be built and a suspension bridge across the Buffer might be erected to give access to the reserve on the west bank of the river and so to Mt. Robert. The undersigned and other members of the Board will be glad to receive subscriptions from all who are willing to assist in purchasing and improving this valuable domain. I am etc., F. G. GIBBS, Chairman, Rotoiti Domain Board Nelson, 14th April.