OPUNAKE TIMES Speaks for the District. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1931. DANGER OF OPEN WELLS.

Opunake Times, 8 December 1931, Page 2

OPUNAKE TIMES Speaks for the District. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1931. DANGER OF OPEN WELLS.

The distressing tragedy which occurred on Saturday afternoon has brought the topic of open and dangerous wells strongly before the public. In a town like Opunake, where there are numerous vacant and unfenced sections through which there is very often pedestrian traffic, property owners should be compelled to remove any potential source of danger. We are informed on good authority, that there are many wells in such condition, so that the danger is ever present and tragedies such as that of Saturday are likely to occur at any time unless remedial steps are taken. As a specific example we might mention the well which was sunk near the Harbour Board sheds some years ago. No water was struck at a great depth and the well is at present dry and useless. This shaft was covered, but we are informed that the timber with which this was clone was not of a. lasting nature and it is only a matter of time when someone walking over the grass grown surface may meet an untimely end. We might add that a well-known local resident observed a dangerous opening in .the surface here some months ago which he proceeded to block with pieces of timber. The whole affair, however, was only makeshift and the only reasonable course of action would be to fill up the well. This is but one example which could no doubt be duplicated many times by our readers. The legal aspect of the situation 'also must not be, lost sight of, for though the well might he on private property, this does not relieve the owner of the property from the responsibility of seeing that conditions must be made secure. In the interests of the little children who cannot be expected to recognise danger with the eyes of grown ups, we trust that our few words will not be taken amiss and that dangerous wells will receive immediate attention.