RENOVATION OF TRIANGLE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3729, 13 December 1927, Page 3

RENOVATION OF TRIANGLE.

RETURNED SOLDIERS TO HAVE FREE HAND. At last night’s Borough Council meeting a letter was read from the Foxton Returned Soldiers’ Committee asking permission to remove the trees and German gun from the Triangle. The Mayor said tre Returned Soldiers appeared anxious to do good work and, indeed, had already done good work locally. There was a large number of them and they deserved consideration from the Council. Although, some may not be in favour of all they did, he was of opinion that it would be a wise move to leave the Triangle in their hands to keep the plot in order and the grdss cut and maintais it generally. He felt sure ,that they would not make it in any way unsightly. They were already having a kerbing erected around the plot which was a decided improvement. He would move that the request be granted in as much as the Council leave the section in the hands of the Returned Soldiers. Cr. Walker pointed out that the Returned Soldiers did not mention anything about cutting the grass in their request. They had been of opinion that if the trees were rewcived it would make it easier for the Council employee to keep the grass cut. The trees in no way added, to the beauty of the reserve. He didn’t know about the gun. Perhaps they intended to do what Cr. Adams had suggested and dump it in the river (laughter). The Mayor: If they take over the Triangle they will fut the gun in a popular place. •Cr. Thompson also pointed out that the Committee did not ask permission to cut the grass. The Mayor: Well, we want to be generous. We will give them more % than they are asking for.

Cr. Thompson said it had cost the Council a good deal to obtain the gun at the close of the war, and he was of opinion that it would be a reversal of public opinion to remove it. In a few years’ time it might be “dug up” and remounted again. Personally he would have no objection to its removal provided the townspeople were agreeable, but he thought the Council should cut the grass in the Triangle. The Mayor: Well, it’s not a big matter. Cr. Walker: Will-they object to this extra gift?. The Mayor: They asked the Council for £lO recently to assist with the kerb around the Triangle and we gave £ls. If they object to cutting the grass the work wlil only fall back on the Council. The following motion was then put and carried: — “That the control of the Triangle be handed over to the Returned Soldiers’ Committee on the sole condition that the plot be.maintained in a suitable manner, and that the permission asked for to remove the gun and trees be granted.”