WAR MEMORIAL

Patea Mail, Volume XLIII, 21 March 1919, Page 3

WAR MEMORIAL

CONSIDEEED BY COUNCIL

A special meeting of the Patea Borough Council was held in the Council Chambers last night, His Worship the Mayor, Crs. Cronin, Hicks, hompson, Grainger, May; Honeyfield and Davies being present. An apology was received from Cr. Bennett for non-atttendance. Messrs Strouts and Davies, members of the Domain Board, were also present. A very comprehensive report on the proposed scheme was submitted by Mr R. S. Thompson in accordance with a request for suggestions received by him from the Town Clerk on the 28th ult. Mr Thompson outlined the scheme as follows : 1. Provision of new entrance to Sports Ground, 2. Provision of playing ground for children. In this connection Mr Thompson suggests that the Auckland City Council who built the appliances for the playground in their own workshops be asked to supply them for Patea. 3. The construction of an avenue from Surrey street to the sea. The length of this avenue to the sea from Egmont street would be 38 chains only, so that the track would be brought within 10 minutes walk of the main street of the town. It is proposed to gravel the roadway 16 feet wide and tar seal same if the necessary funds are forthcoming, the gravel to be obtained from the pits on the Crown waste land adjoining. A six foot track on a grade of 1 in 6 could be formed from the top of the cliff to the beach. For shelter it was suggested that a plantation of trees one chain wide be planted on each side of the avenue. 4. The erection of an obelisk in lieu of a memorial gateway. 5. The acquisition of about 53 acres of the Crown waste lands adjoining the sea as a memorial park so as to enable a drive to be formed connecting up with Victoria street. The waste land could be planted from time to time so as to form a sheltered public park in the years to come. The acquisition of the waste lands would enable the Borough to obtain a permanent supply of gravel for the side streets. 6. Sites for summer cottages, public kitchen and horse paddock could be set aside near the beach and dressing sheds erected on the beach itself. Electric light and water could be supplied in the future from the Borough mains at no great cost. 7. It is considered that the formation and gravelling required could be completed in three months, so that if the funds for this work (£650) could be obtained the work could be commenced at once and completed during the winter.

The following is the suggested order and approximate cost of the work to be done : Forming and gravelling avenue and Surrey street £4OO, track to beach £SO, well and pump £SO, kitchen £SO, two dressing sheds £IOO, playground £3OO, obelisk or memorial gateway £4OO, tarred footpath Avenue and Surrey street £l9O, plantation £IOO, fencing £IOO, tar sealing avenue and Surrey street £l6O, gateway to sports ground £25, Schnapper Point improvements £SO, contin gencies £75 ; total £2250. Land to be acquired: Portion of Harbour Reserve, 7 acres; Crown waste land for Memorial Park, 53 acres; do. for endowment, 173 acres. Mr Thompson in conclusion pointed out that the extension of the Breakwater is tending to increase the size of the beach, and that in the near future a fine beach will be available, so much so that it is considered that if the proposals submitted are carried out Patea in the near future will become the holiday resort for South Taranaki.

A lengthy discussion took place on the matter, a full report of which will appear in our next issue, As the outcome of the discussion the following resolution was moved by Cr. Hicks, seconded by Honeyfield, and carried unanimously: “That Council pledges itself to support Mr Thompson’s scheme so far as the avenue and gateway are concerned.’ 1 On the motion of Cr. Grainger, seconded by Cr, Hicks, it was also resolved, That the Domain Board be asked to state on what terms they would be prepared to grant the land required for the avenue and that Mr Davies and the Mayor be appointed a deputation to wait on the Harbour Board at its next meeting with a view to acquiring the land set out in Mr Thompson’s scheme. It was also resolved, That the Council apply to the Minister of Lands for the control of the Crown waste land lying between the proposed Avenue and Victoria street. It was further decided that the Council recommend the expenditure of the sum ot £SO in improvements to Schnapper Point.