PATEA NOTES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 17544, 10 April 1919, Page 6

PATEA NOTES.

PEACE CELEBRATIONS AND MEMORIALS.

HARBOUR BOARD'S ATTITUDE

(From Our Travelling Reporter). The Mayor of Patea (Mr Larcomb) and Cr. A. Davies waited on the Patea Harbour Board on Tuesday at the instigation of a committee interested in a war memorial. The Mayor said that the idea was to make a shorter rout© to the beach, to form a road, lightly metal it and plant it with shelter trees. Portion of this road would run through the existing Borough Domain, and ten chainir"wtjuld go through the Harbour Board reserve. A triangular piece of land, about seven acres, belonging ;to the Board, would be cut off from the adjoining property, and the committee sisked that this area should a'so be vested in the Borough* or the Borough and Domain Board, so *tiiat (seaside cottage 3 would be built. An inclined siding would be made down to the beach and so enable the public to reach a good and safe bathing place by a very much shorter route than travelling to the Heads and returning to the beach, as they have to do at present. The Chairman pointed out that he was sure the Board would offer no objection to the suggestion, but he could not ask .the present meeting, with three members away, to come to any finality. It would be necessary, also, to ascertain what powers the Board had, and | this would be done before the next i meeting. , A large plan, prepared by Mr Thomson, indicated that the proposed road would junction up with Surrey Street and run in a southerly direction to the cliffs. The length would-be 70 chains, measured from the Post Office, as against 120 chains to the beach via the (existing Heads road. A further deputation, consisting of Messrs Glenny, Strouts and Hare., waited .on the Board and mentioned that they were appointed, a Finance Com.mittee in connection' with peace celebrations. The lowest estimate that they could get through with was £350, plus the Government subsidy, and it was proposed that the celebrations should be in the form of a day for soldiers' entertainment on Monday, and for children on Tuesday. Mr Dickie remarked that if the Harbour Board gave to one centre, they must a-lso .be prepared to subsidise Waverley and Hawera, both of which places are within their boundary. The Chairman thought that it was fortunate they were in a position to be able to celebrate peace. TJhe Board had been very careful in the past not to waste much money on this sort of thing, and he thought they might now join with those who were endeavouring to make these celebrations worthy of the great occasion and agree to a grant to Patea, Waverley and Hawera. Crs. Pearce and .Dickie were of opinion that moneys for such purposes should be subscribed spontaneously by •the general public. They did not approve of local bodies granting money for. such functions.

Cr. Pearce added that every pound the Board could spend on the breakwater meant that the Board was being assisted in doing the greatest possible good to the district. After some further discussion the Chairman moved that the Board donate £20 each to Patea, Waverley and Hawera. —This was carried..

An effort is being made to induce Mr A. T. Christensen to allow himself to be nominated for the Mayoralty.

At the Borough Council meeting the engineer was the subject of many eulogistic references for the good work he has done during the year, which had all been carried out within the estimates.

It was stated at the meeting that a big improvement was expected in the hydro and power plants when the jockey pulley was installed. Additional power would be available for lighting up the town on peace night. s The Engineer reported that the water service was being well maintained. The pump has been connected to the bore, and a report re extra water rigjhts will be ready in a few days. The committee reported having met Mr Climie, Junr., and discussed his report le alterations to the gas plant. They recommended that the matter be held over until the engineer has gone fully into the renort and obtained full particulars of the suggested improvements. In moving the adoption of the reports Cr. Grainger said he would like a special meeting of the Council to consider the engineer's report, so that they could make some report to the incoming Council. The reports were adopted.

Opinions have been expressed tihat the cliff at the beach may s*ip away after the proposed track has been cut. Against this it is pointed out that the papa cliff en tho south side of the railway viaduct has stood the test of time. The railway cutting at this point 'is constructed through, similar material to bh€> beach cliff.