DOMAINS AT RAHOTU

Taranaki Daily News, 19 June 1931, Page 8

DOMAINS AT RAHOTU

OPERATIONS OF THE BOARD. A report of the Rahotu Domain Board, for the seven years ending May 31, 1931, states that, the members ,-are Messrs. G. Gibson, W. C. Green, T. P. Hughson, G. D. Dawson, V. S. Tyrrell, L. Fischer, C. Pen warden, and T. Willcox. (Mr. Willcox was elected to fill, the vacancy caused by Mr. Penwarden’s resignation). All members took a keen interest in their duties as trustees for the public and devoted a great deal of time to the care of the domains. The board steadily pursued a policy of improving the

domains for public use by draining and by planting shelter trees, which have been adequately protected by good fences.

During the term the domains have been twice leased —the first time for a period of five years which was extended to five and a half years at the request of the board so that the leases should terminate on. May 31. The second leases are for a period of seven years from June 1, 1930, and in each case the rentals have been increased.

■ At the termination of. Mrs. Weaver’s lease of Section, 45, the board decided to grant her compensation for the improvements she had effected during her tenancy. After a careful valuation of these the sum of £5O was granted; and the board’s action was legalised by a clause in the Washing-up Bill of 1930, after the matter had been investigated and approved by the Commissioner of Crown Lands, New Plymouth. Unfortunately, because he differed from the rest of the members on this question, Mr. Peuwarden, who had been chairman of the board for six years, resigned, and his keen interest in the domains was lost to the board. The chief improvements made during the seven-year term have been treeplanting,- both at the sportsgrouud and on the south side of Section 45; erection of a corrugated iron fence on the Rahotu Road frontage of the sportsgrouud; purchase of the bridge and spare land at the road deviation at the Rautini Stream; erection of a proper boundary fence down the middle of the closed ‘Sanders Road on the northern side of Section 45; improvements to the cottage on Section 45; top-dressing of the pastures on both sections; drainage work on Section 45.

The most urgent work requiring the attention of the incoming board is the matter of the proper draining of the back portion of Section 45, where there is a considerable growth of rushes. Another matter for consideration is the question of making some use of the old bowling green at the sportsgrouud. It would be a great pity if the improvements effected there were allowed to spoil from disuse.