A SURPRISED RIVER BOARD.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 834, 4 June 1910, Page 6

A SURPRISED RIVER BOARD.

■ RESERVES TAKEN UNAWARES. (By TelecraDb—Press Association.) Christchurch, June 3. It was not until they saw the news in the papers that the members of the South Waimakariri River Board learned that their reserves on the south bank of the river were to be taken by the Government for the new training camp, and their astonishment was only equalled by their, indignation; Speaking, to a "Press" , representative, the secretary of the board ■ ■ (Mr; Allison) stated that no bint had been given that the reserves might bo wanted for the purpose named, and if they had been inspected by the commissioners surely common courtesy should have caused the commissioners to communicate with the board before selecting the site. Mr. Allison further explained that the board were already receiving a substantial income from the rents of the reserves, which were leased to different tenants for seven years, six of which had still to lun, and there was every prospect of the income being augmented when the leases were renewed. Ho gathered that the Government proposed to' give the board another area of land elsewhere to replace what was to be taken, but he doubted whether the board would bo as well off then as now. If the leases were to be disturbed, then the present lessees would no doubt claim, compensation for the breaking of their contracts. The nearest approach from Christchurch is up the Harewood Road from Papanui, but the reserves extend beyond Yaldhurst and West Melton up tcrCourtenay.