OHOPE ROAD

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 287, 26 March 1941, Page 4

OHOPE ROAD

Sir, —I would be glad oE alittle space in your valuable columns to express my views on the above matter, ' more in regard to the letter which appeared in your issue of the 19th inst. signed by A. J, Canning, President Ohope Ratepayers' and Progress League. In his remarks Mr Canning tries to assure your readers that a large majority of the Ohope residents and the public generally desire this road. Mr Canning is just v

as aware as I am that this is totally incorrect, unless of course Mr Canning assumes that he is the residents and the public all in one. He says that he could do as others have done and fence* his section (No. 10). If I am not mistaken he only bought this section a month or two ago, the "others" have been here for years. But the daddy of the lot is when he says that one or two are endeavouring to block the progress of the beach. Surely this is not the same Mr Canning who, some time ago, fought tooth and nail against a proposed sewerage scheme for Whakatane because it would increase his rates. JThat's.. "progress" and then some. Mr Canning thinks that if this road is put in it will enhance the value of his Hillcrest property at the extreme end of the beach which he undoubtedly wants to sell, and he doesn't care who suffers or to what expense the ratepayers are put to to do it.

I would like to mention the property of EL Runnerstrum which would suffer most. These beautiful grounds have taken years to bring to their present state and are a credit to the owner and a definite asset to the beach. They are nearly always open to the public and through out the year hundreds of people find pleasure in going through them. There is also the two great pohutukawa trees on the front of the grounds which afford the only shelter at this end of the beach and which are constantly used by picnickers during the hot summer days. These trees would have to be slaughtered as would many other valuable trees inside the grounds.

Sir, before anything is done may t suggest holding a public meeting and T am convinced) that there would be an overwhelming majority in favour of leaving the road as it is-. Yours etc., STAY PUT-i