The Star. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1923. TREES, ROADS, SHRUBS AND PUBLIC RIGHTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17218, 8 December 1923, Page 8

The Star. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1923. TREES, ROADS, SHRUBS AND PUBLIC RIGHTS.

The Helmore’s Road question was discussed with the members of the Waimairi Council last evening by a deputation of residents and officers of the Beautifying Association. The arguments in favour of allowing Mrs Helmore to continue the enclosure of public property were again advanced. The county chairman, we are glad to observe, declined to commit the council to the course proposed, and the matter is to be discussed at the next meeting. We hope that by that time councillors, will realise that it is their duty to prevent the enclosure of public land by private persons, and that they will be creating a dangerous precedent if they permit it to be done in this case. The council will lay itself open to approaches d£ a similar sort in every case where road widening may encroach on private gardens or shrubberies. We strongly urge the council to take a long view, and avoid creating a source of future complications. The attitude of the Beautifying Association we cannot understand. Its function should be to open up and beautify reserves and streets. In this case it is supporting the exclusion of tire publlic from land which should be open to the public.' The beautification of a street depends largely on the voluntary service of its residents. The city affords quite a number of examples of such where trees have been planted and some pride taken in front garden displays. We would be glad to see a similar spirit displayed in Helmore's Road. The county council, however, was given clearly to understand that if it did not consent to the enclosure of the 16J feet strip of land which belongs to the public a paling fence w’ould be erected along the frontage. Comment is superfluous. In regard to the river frontage we have protested against the erection of a fence which enclosed a private drive. This land is a Crown reserve, set aside for public purposes, and private enclosure is improper and illegal. This enclosure was consented to and even suggested by the Beautifying Association, which is the unofficial trustee for the people. We have drawn public attention to this matter, and we hope that the removal of the fence will be ordered by the proper authorities. It is rather remarkable that the Beautifying Association has consented to two limitations of public rights in connection with one subdivision. The fact suggests that the association should not be given any power to alienate public property, even temporarily. These concessions, once granted, are not easy to revoke. It may interest the public to know' that there once existed a public road on the river frontage on the Helmore estate. The late Mr .1. C. Helmore obtained leave to close it, giving in exchange the land for Helmore’s Road and that portion of Holm wood Road between Helmore's Road and Rossall Street. This was authorised by a Provincial Ordinance in 1866. The public, through the subdivision, has now' regained part of the bank, but the other part is gone until a future generation acquires tlfe freehold.