RICCARTON RECORDS

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17758, 30 January 1926, Page 24

RICCARTON RECORDS

BOROUGH NOTES AND NEWS

By Ou' Special Correspondent.

WHARENUI SCHOOL COMMITTEE. At the monthly meeting on Wednesday evening there were present: Messrs T. W. Stephenson (chairman), C. Buclcett, S. F. Wilson, A. Staunton, D. Swanston and J. Singleton (secretary). Apologies were received from Messrs T. M. Ford and L. Wallis. A letter was received from the Education Board to the effect that the exterior of the school would be painted during the holidays. The chairman reported that this had been done, but unfortunatley the interior had not been touched, although several rooms sadly needed it, and these looked very dingy now compared with the freshly painted exterior. J t was decided to ask the Board to finish the job, and to repair the asphalt where it had been damaged by the removal of the drinking trough. The Education Board further advised that the committee’s application for a rebate of £l6 on account of the removal of the slow combusion stoves could not be entertained. The chairman reported that he had had the grass cut in the school ground. Action approved. A resolution of sympathy with the parents of a former pupil, the late Master Norman Cox, was carried, and the secretary was instructed to forward a letter of condolence. The chairman and Mr Odell were appointed a visiting committee for the month. The secretary was instructed to obtain particulars as to cost of transit to various picnic places, and a special meeting will be heled to make arrangements for the annual picnic. IMPROVEMENTS OF RICCARTON. Whether it be the erection and soon-to-be opening of the new Boys' High School at Riccarton, or the fact that the drainage scheme is being pushed forward, it is idle to conjecture; but something is turning the attention of propertv-bm-ers in this direction. For vpar? thf» fart, that this was outside the

years the fact that this was outside tne sewerage area had a depressing effect on values locally. Now that proper drainage is within measurable distance Riccarton is bound to come into its own, and the completion of the drainage scheme promises to bring a sharp rise in the price of Riccarton property. We are proud of our suburb, and verv few Riccarton folks would like to live elsewhere. We believe our tramway trip, along the river bank and between the parks, to be the most picturesque in or about Christchurch. The parks and Deans Bush are admirable breathing spaces. Our streets are, in the main, well tended; our municipal electric light extremely satisfactory. All »we need now are drainage and the abolition of the dust inseparable from a busy main road as at present constructed. Once the drainage works on the main road are completed, the borough council, assisted by the Main Highways Board, will see that Riccarton Road is put down in asphalt or some other permanent material. And no suburb will then be more sought after than Riccarton, the birthplace of Christchurch. SWIMMING. The Wharenui Amateur Swimming Club held the second distance event (75vds) for the challenge cup on Saturday last, the heat winners being— First heat: G. Watson (lsec) 1, N. E. Clemens (13sec) 2. Second heat: A. J. M OU nsey (ssec) 1, A. Jecks (scr) 2. Final: J. Mounsey 1, G. Watson 2, A. Jecks 3. TIIE CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUND. On Tuesday evening the Mayor and several councillors met the residents of Riccarton South in connection with the proposal to equip a children’s playground in Walsall Street. The attendance was small. After discussion, a ' committee was set up to canvass the district for support, the result to be reported to a later meeting, to be convened by the council. NO UNSIGHTLY SHEDS. “ That the motor shed erected by Mr Dark in Totara Street be termed an unsightly structure and be demolished.” So ran a clause in the report of the Finance Committee to the Rjgcarton Borough Council at its last meeting. Councillor Steere, chairman of the committee, supported the recommendation, and said that the council should see that no unsightly building was erected in a good street, with a nice type of houses. One objection was that the doors opened across the footpath, a source of danger. Councillor Manhire thought the proposal to demolish the building was far too drastic. The garage could be made to look all right, and the doors could easily be altered so that they would not open across the footpath. Councillor Wise said that the council could hardly condemn a building because it was made, of timber from a motor-car case. Why, 50 per cent of motor-sheds were so built. Councillor Steere rejoined that no councillor would feel pleased if such a building were erected alongside his home. The council should See that a good type of motor shed was erected in this favourable residential locality. Eventually the. demolition proposal was deleted, and the owner will be asked to improve the appearance of the place, and convert the doors into folding doors. In future, complete plans and specifications will have to accompany applications for permits for buildings , of this kind.

OVERHANGING HEDGES. Overhanging hedges on borough streets are causing concern. Notices to the owners having failed to secure any improvement, the borough solicitor is

now to be authorised to take action regarding cutting back hedges at Clyde Road, Konini Street and Riccarton Road, almost opposite Picton Avenue. Councillor Wise said that the refusal to comply with the council’s notification was a piece of defiance or downright impudence. In the case of the Clyde Road corner the hedge had encroached so far on the footpath that it was becoming quite difficult to sec the telephone box 1 JOTTINGS. The Mayor, Mr 11. S. S. Kyle, M.F., and the town clerk, Mr L, Willett Austin, represented the Borough Council during the week at two important conferences of local bodies’ representatives to consider the proposed motor omnibus regulations and the proposed new award for drivers. So far no loud whoops of joy from the boys and girls who go back to school next Tuesday! The special committee set up to formulate a scheme for forming streets and constructing footpaths and chan neiling in the south-western area of the borough reported to the council on Monday that it recommended raising a loan of £II.OOO for the purpose. The whole scheme will be formulated and submitted to the ratepayers in due course. The state of the tramway track on the Riccarton Road was recently brought under the notice of the Christchurch Tramway Board by the Borough Council. Councillors stated, at Monday’s meeting, that some places were absolutely dangerous to .traffic The humps and hollows were enough to break a motor-car’s springs. Further, the rails were stated to be so exposed that at every chain there wa'a fresh risk of having a car tyre ripped off. Since then a short stretch has been patched a little. UPPER RICCARTON LIBRARY. The annual meeting of the Upper Riccarton Memorial Library was held on Monday. The retiring committee was re-elected. The balance-sheet showed a credit of £3O. The librarian’s report indicated that the library was well supported in the district. From time to time new books were added, the total now exceeding 2000. It was hoped that many new subscribers would take advantage of the low subscription charge, viz., 5s per annum. The reading room was very populai, most of the leading weeklies being provided. UPPER RICCARTON TENNIS NEWS. The Riccarton Domain Club’s A team had another win on Saturday against a strong Rangiora team. They won by 11 sets to 5 and by 101 games to S 4 games. Singles winners were:—Dickson 9-5, Vesty 9-8, S. liollobon 9-7, Mrs Chalklen 6-2, Miss Southen 6-5, Mrs Lowe 6-4, Mrs Holmes 6-2. The club's B team also had a successful outing, winning by 95 games to 41 games against Rangiora B. The club has a number of promising players in this team, and their prospects are very bright for winning this section. Single winners were:—Higgins 6-2, W. liollobon G-2, K. Skurr 6-1, Miss Moreland 6-1, Miss E. Harvey 6-0, Mrs M. Harvey 6-2, Mrs Guy 6-1. All the handicap events in the club will be started this week. Good entries have been received. UPPER RICCARTON METHODIST SCHOOL. The annual meeting of the Riccarton Village Methodist Sunday School teachers was held on Monday evening for the election of officers for the coming j-ear. The superintendent, Mr P. G. Clements, was re-elected, and Miss J. Taggart was reappointed secretary. The secretary reported a credit balance of £l7. Much interest is being taken in the annual picnic which is to be held on the racecourse grounds next Satuiday. NEWS FOR “TIIE RECORDS.” The “Riccarton Records” are read by Riccarton people and former residents. Riccarton people can make the column more and more interesting by supplying items of news. These, writ ten in ink on only one side of the paper, may be left at Piper’s Store. Residents and ratepayers who would like to express their opinions on Riccarton affairs are asked to address their letters to “The Editor of the Star,” and where a pen-name is used, tc enclose the name of the writer, not necessarily for publication, but as an assurance of good faith.