CASTLECLIFF LAND

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 113, 16 May 1939, Page 6

CASTLECLIFF LAND

REJECTED SITE FOR HEALTH CAMP DR. W ALL’S OFFER IN l»30. RAPID GROWTH OF SHELTER TREES. Nine years ago Dr. A. H. E. Wall offered an area of land at Castlecliff as a site for a health camp for children, but owing to the Wanganui Education Board reporting that they considered the site unsuitable for a permanent health camp the generous offer was not accepted by the Health Camp Trustees. The area of the piece of land comprising Dr. Wall’s donation was 22 acres and the gift was unconditional. It was reported by the Wanganui Education Board that the lack of shelter trees and the fact that the land was not grassed made the area unsuitable for a health camp, but it is interesting to note that belts ot trees planted by members of the Wanganui Rotary Club and other interested citizens have made rapid growth. Most of these trees are now 10 feet high, and plane trees, together with ornamental trees and shrubs, are also growing rapidly. The history of this site is further proof of the old adage that ‘lt's an ill wind that blows no one good." Following the refusal of the Education Board to accept the riirof land this area was given by Dr. Wall to the Girl Guide movement in Wananui, and those who have inspected the site on several occasions since 1930 express the opinion that it is developing into a valuable asset 'o the movement.