OHOPE DOMAIN BOARD

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 266, 3 February 1941, Page 5

OHOPE DOMAIN BOARD

GAZETTE NOTICE RECEIVED

MEETING NEXT WEDNESDAY

Writing the County Clerk, the Commissioner of Crown Lands gives formal notice of the gazetting of the personnel of the newly constituted* Domain Board which, will control the Ohope Beach, Domain. It is necessary that the first meeting of the new body be held at Ohope on Wednesday next at the resort. The time fixed is 2.30 p.m. The Board is the direct upshot of the question of building a children's swimming pool, a project which the County Council was loath to support owing to the responsibility it entailed in case ol' possible accidents. The formation of the Domain Board will however transfer any liability in this direction and also lift the risk of claims being made owing to the board's limited finances. The new members are: The Commissioner of Crown Lands of the Auckland District( ex-oll'icio) the member of the Taneatua Riding of the Whakatane County Council (ex-officio), the Mayor of Whakatanc (exolTicio), and Messrs F. Maliy, H. C. Kennedy, W. Sulli-> van, J. G. Laughton, C. H. Brebncr and C, Kingsley-Smith.

TO CARRY ON

THE PROGRESS AND RATEPAYERS' LEAGUE The question of whether or not the Ohopc Progress and 'Ratepayers' League should carry on with its work in view of the pending formation of the Domain Board was discussed at a recent meeting, when >he chairman, Mr A. J. asked for an expression of views.

"As far as I understand it," said Mr Canning, "the Domain Board exists merely as trustees to control and maintain the reserves. Anything pertaining to the interests of the ratepayers<is beyond their jurisdiction. Mr Sullivan endorsed the chairman's remarks, contending that it was very necessary for the two bodies to continue. He also mentioned the difficulty which he foresaw about the finances of. the Domain Board and asked how it was intended to carry out effective improvements if the Crown Lands Department refused to allow the sale of the smaller reserves. He agreed with this attitude, stating that the reserves had been planned when Ohopc was first cut up. If they were necessary then, they were doubly necessary now.

The secretary mentioned that in conversation with the chairman of the County Council, he had been been assured th u the council would be prepared to grant a sum similar to that which had been spent in the past. There would also be venue from the southern motor camp. The plan wlv.ch the County Engineer (Mr C. H. Brebner) was preparing was also mentioned, but it was understood that this was not available yet. The Rev. Lilburn considered that the council had not dealt faithfully with Ohope. Many people revisiting the beach had expressed themselves disappointed with the- slow progress which had been made, lie considered that the small reserves should have been cleaned up ready for public use, yet there were some actually fenced off, with 'trespass notices' warning people off.

On his motion it was decided to write urging the council to open up these areas and to remove the exist-

ing fences.