GOLD KEY UNLOCKS ST LEONARDS PARK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17830, 26 April 1926, Page 13

GOLD KEY UNLOCKS ST LEONARDS PARK.

SUMNER RESIDENTS GATHER IN FORCE FOR OPENING CEREMONY. The enlarged and remodelled grounds known as St Leonards Park, Sumner, were declared open on Saturday afternoon by the Mayor and Mayoress of Sumner, Mr and Mrs W. H. Nicholson, in the presence, of a large gathering of residents and representatives of the local sports bodies. Mrs Nicholson was presented by the staff of the Borough Council with a gold ke}', and asked by the Mayor to unlock the gates. In doing so the Mayoress expressed the hope that the grounds would be a source of health and pleasure to the residents for generations to come.

Addressing those present from outside the heavy iron gates, Mr Nicholson outlined the work that had to be done to bring the grounds to their present improved state. He thanked all those who had taken an interest in such an important matter. The Sumner Beautifying Association, and the United Sports Association had also given valuable assistance, and the work done by Mr G. Harper and his staff as well as that done by the clerical staff had been a great help. The trees had been the gift of Mr F. Jones, of Sumner, and the steel guards a donation from Mr G. Humphreys. Mr J. M’Combs, M.P., who was present. congratulated the residents on acquiring such a fine sports ground. Tt was unfortunate that the borough had been so poorly provided with such areas, but that was due to the fact that Sumner in the early days had been set down on the English made plans as a borough of kj-ttelton. He was glad to sec the improvement. Lepers Transferred to Makogai Island. All the lepers living in the territory under the jurisdiction of the New Zealand Government are to be transferred to the large leper station on Makogai Island, Fiji. The first part of the work was carried out some time ago, when the lepers in New Zealand were taken to Fiji in the Government steamer Hinemoa. The vessel is due at Auckland on Tuesday from Niue Island, and next Thursday will be dispatched to the Cook Islands to embark lepers there, and take them to FijiTHROUGH THE TUNNEL. The total traffic in coal, timber and general merchandise through the Otira tunnel for the past week was 7990 tons.