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Merle Place Fountain

The Merle Place Fountain was built in 1962.

Merle Place fountain
Merle Place fountain. Photographer (pht): Jane Rodgers, Contributor (ctb): Jane Rodgers. CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

The cul-de-sac, Merle Place, was formed in 1960 as part of a housing development centred around Roberta Drive. It was named by the developer, Maurice Carter, after his wife, Pauline Merle Carter (nee Cunningham). 

In April 1962, the residents of Merle Place sought to build a fountain in the centre of the cul-de-sac. The proposal was approved by the Christchurch City Council on 18 April. The City Engineer, Ewart Somers, was assigned to prepare a plan for the fountain. 

However, the Christchurch Drainage Board had concerns as the proposed site for the fountain, to the north of a manhole cover, was situated over the end of sewer line. On 17 October, the Drainage Board committee, when presented with the proposal, noted that if the sewer line required maintenance work, there was a possibility that the fountain might be damaged or destroyed. The committee approved the proposal with the understanding that the residents were aware of any potential damage that might ensure if maintenance was needed to be performed. 

References

Christchurch Streets Map. Christchurch City Libraries.

Names for new streets, Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29316, 22 September 1960, p.14.

Fountain proposed, Press, Volume CI, Issue 29802, 19 April 1962, p.15.

Fountain over sewer permitted, Press, Volume CI, Issue 29955, 17 October 1962, p.16.