WAIMATE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19861, 26 July 1934, Page 3

WAIMATE

BOROUGH COUNCIL FUTURE OF KNOTTINGLY PARK At a meeting of the Waimate Borough Council there were present: The Mayor (Mr G. Dash) and Councillors T. Twomey, A. W. Good, J. T. Hay, S. G. Reid, W. P. Boland. R. H. White, W. G. Paul and S. I. Pitch. A petition signed by 11 residents was received applying to have an asphalt footpath laid down in Opie Street from George Street to Mill Road.— Works Committee to report. The Waimate Bowling Club wrote applying for a reduction of the amount charged for the services of the borough gardener for top-dressing the bowling green.—lt was agreed to make a 20 p.c. reduction In the charge for prompt payment. The members of the General and Rest Room Committees were appointed to meet the ladies of the Plunket Society to consider suggestions for alterations and imuprovements to the Plunket Rooms. It was resolved to send a letter of congratulation to Mr W. Stewart, Commissioner of Crown Lands, an old Waimate boy, on his promotion to the position of Valuer-General. Knottingly Park. After the meeting of the Council the Domain Board met to consider the proposal put forward that the horticultural section of the Park should be done away with, and the cultivation of trees only be undertaken. The Waimate Returned Soldiers wrote stating that although it was not within their province to dictate in a matter of public policy, the fact that the proposal to change the status of Knottingly Park would throw into the ranks of the unemployed one of their members, the curator, whose honourable record both in war and in civil life had earned their esteem and respect, was causing them grave concern. They asked that the services of a loyal and trustworthy man should not be dispensed with unless the change was found imperative, in which case they hoped that an endeavour would be made to find him suitable employment of a similar nature. Mr Hay moved that Knottingly Park be made a tree park, and Mr Pitch seconded the motion. The voting was -—For: Messrs Dash, Paul, Hoskins, Boland, Fitch and Hay. Against: Messrs Good, Twomey, Reid and White.

Mr Good said that he thought the ratepayers should be consulted before anything such as proposed was put into operation. Mr Paul said that the matter had nothing to do with the ratepayers, excepting that at present they had to find the money to pay the borough subsidy. Mr Fitch then said that' now the question had been decided it would be necessary to go into the question of a curator.

Mr Dash said the present curator would want £IOO a year to carry on whereas a man (possibly an old age pensioner) could be obtained to act as caretaker for the rent of the cottage alone. Mr Boland suggested that the position should be offered to the present curator.

Mr White: “I would be ashamed to offer it to him.” He went on to say that if the position were offered to the curator he would be unable to make a living outside and also attend to the necessary duties at the park. He thought it was a disgrace that the people of Waimate should be deprived of their beautiful park and the place allowed to go into decay. They were even contemplating taking up another property when already they had an ideal beauty spot and picnic area. Mr Dash said he strongly resented the opinion that the park was to be allowed to fall into decay. They were going to improve the property by making it a tree park.

After further discussion it was agreed that the Board should go down to the Park in a body later in the year to make a general inspection and see what arrangements could be made to meet requirements under the new conditions.