DOMAIN BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19492, 29 May 1925, Page 13

DOMAIN BOARD.

AXNUAL MJEETTXG. Tho annual meeting of the Dunedin Ocean Beach Domain Board, hold in tho Council Chambers yesterday morning, was attended by tho chairman (Mr J. Ib Hancock) and ?Jossrs 11. L. Tapley, 'I. B. Shacklock, J. Wilson, W. B. Taverner, and J. W, Dove. Mr Hancock was unanimously re-elected chairman for the ensuing year, and Mr Wilson was re-elected treasurer. Tho annual report stated, inter alia, that occasional westerly winds tended to lower tho sand on the St. Clair front, but as soon as a change to the north-east set m tho beach rnado good, and was at Hie present time in excellent condition. The main protecting sand bank, which extended from St. Clair to Lawyer's Head, continued to grow in a marvellous way, and its growth was aided by the marram grass planted from time to time to fill every vacancy as it occurred. The quantity of sand detained there annually was enormous, and from a rough calculation was at least 500,000 tons. Several grounds were in course of preparation and in a few years would be. of groat, use to the varous sporting bodies. Kast Park had received a coating of several hundred loads of clay and soil, and a liberal sowing of grass seed. Tho board was indebted to the Ladies Hockey Chib for tho sum of £5 and tho Rugby Union for £2O towards the cost of this work. Further levelling and seeding would ho continued in West Park, whore a. full-sized Rugby Ground was in course of preparation. The levelling for lawn tenuis courts oil Victoria road and opposite tho racecourse had been completed, and the surface covered with clay. It was proposed to sow tho surface down with grass and maintain it as a grass court or playground until required for lawn tennis. In, order to fill a huge hollow in tho sandhills Caused by a washout in the past, household refuse and trade waste were being tipped opposite Moreau street and covered with grassy material which tho St. Kilda Council was good enough to cart from the streets. Tiiis would ultimately enable the board to plant the surface with shrubs and trees, besides strengthening tho sandhills against tho sea. The paths through the sandhills were much appreciated, and although only made of rough material, they served a purpose. As suggested in last year’s report it was proposed to continue this work. Ibis had been done from the St. Kilda entrance toward Lawyer’s Head for a distance of half a mile, where it turned toward tho Tomahawk road beyond lahuna Park. This work should be continued for at least half a mile further. The constable at St. Kilda asked if the road to the beac.u wore to be lighted. The distance was about 250 yards, and required three or four poles and as many lights, at a cost of £SO, as estimated by the electrical engineer. The revenue for tho year comprising levies on contributing bodies, rent, and sundry receipts, totalled £llß9 11s Id, which, with the balance brought forward from the previous year of £640 13s lOd, brought the total revenue up to £IB3O 4s lid. Iho expenditure amounted to £924 11s IQd, leaving a balance of £905 15s Id to carry forward for the new' year. On the motion of Messrs Wilson and Taverner, the report was ■adopted, and it was decided to light the road to the beach ar St. Kilda. An application from the St. Kilda Troop of Boy Scouts for a site for a hall on tho Domain was granted, the applicants to confer with tho Defence Department. Tho board decided to make a contribution of £250 towards the cost of a public convenience at the St, Kilda terminus, plus £25 annually for maintenance, subject to the St. Kilda and City Councils each providing a similar contribution. A letter was received from the Public Works Department in connection with the disposal of a grant, for the St. Clair protection works.—The secretary was instructed to reply that tho board did not intend applyng for a renewal of the grant. It was resolved that the board as a whole constitute tho Works Committee for the ensuing year. The chairman was authorised to arrange for a visit of inspection to the Domain at the earliest convenient date.