NEW PAVILION IS OPENED AT OPAWA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17890, 5 July 1926, Page 10

NEW PAVILION IS OPENED AT OPAWA.

The new dressing pavilion in Opawa Park was opened on Saturday. Members of the City Council (Messrs C. T. Aschman, O. W. B. Anderson, A. P. Carey and J. N. Du Feu), members of the St Martins Burgesses’ Association and a large number of residents were present. The president of the Burgesses’ Association (Mr J. Harvey) welcomed the City Councillors and remarked that the residents of the district were pleased with the way the council had treated them, particularly in regard to the forming of the park out of what was waste land. The chairman of the WalthamiSchool Committee (Mr Turner) referred to the great boon the park was to the children. Often when the playground was wet the park was looked upon as being dry. Councillor Aschman, who performed the opening ceremony, referred to the value of the open spaces and the foresight which had secured these for the town before the land was at a prohibitive price. The park carried responsibilities, for the land should be well cared for. He expressed regret at the frequent acts of disfigurement and wanton destruction in some of the council's parks and reserves, and pointed out that some residents had agreed to be patrolmen for the district, carrying the full power of the council. Councillor Anderson, one of the promoters of the park, expressed gratification at its completion.. When the door was opened by Councillor Aschman the pavilion was at once occupied by four Rugby football teams Mr Besley provided afternoon tea for the visitors.