It might be in the middle of nowhere and have a population of
only 20, but the South Canterbury of settlement of Douglas is
in line for a windfall.
Scotsman Eric Gordon Douglas has made the unusual gesture of
gifting Stg11,000 ($NZ25,000) each to 20 towns worldwide
which share his surname.
Waimate District Council community services manager Carolyn
Johns was surprised but delighted to hear the news.
"Receiving money from a namesake on the other side of the
world would be quite unusual and gratefully accepted," she
told the Timaru Herald.
Douglas resident Chrissy Adams said the money could be used
to form a cycle or walkway along the area that was
established to connect the Waihao Downs railway track to
Douglas many years ago.
"It would be useful to help the wider community and the
district," she said.
Douglas was officially settled in 1911.
"We're 100 in two years' time. We could have a party," said
another resident, Tim Mehrtens.
He suggested the town's monument could do with a tidy-up but
the wider community would have to sit down to see what
everybody wanted to do with the money.
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