BEAUTIFYING ACTIVITIES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 13, 3 October 1944, Page 4

BEAUTIFYING ACTIVITIES

PROGRESS OF SOCIETY

AVENUE OF CHERRY TREES

Reporting to the Chamber of Commerce on tlie progress made by the local Beautifying Society. Mr J. Creeke stated last week that apart from the planting of various trees at the children's playground t and the Heads Mrs F. J. Appleby had donated two dozen flowering cherry trees, which had been planted nearly the whole length of one side of the Domain drive. It would take little more, than three dozen more of these trees to make, the whole drive a very delightful thoroughfare, and he hoped that somebody would be prepared. to donate this number in order to finish off the work the .start of which had - been made possible by Mrs Appleby's example.

The Women's Institute had also donated a Karaka tree and the Society had been devoting itself to the question of developing the Commerce Street bluff which in its present overgrown state, did not furnish a very good background to the town. A very fruitful source of information had been tapped by the institution of the school essay competition which had produced a large number of varied ideas. These had been judged by His Worship the Mayor and the local and as a result six prize winners had been selected. The Society would be making use of the suggestions and he understood the best essays would be published.

The chairman. Mr R. Morpeth, congratulated the Society s and said that he thought the question of Whakatane's future, appearance could be safely left in its hands.

Mr George Brabant touched on a number of things which he considered, would make for Whakatane's advancement. They included the Maori Pa, the planting of streets with trees and the purchase of a prospective railway station site at Allandale with a view to eventually bringing the, line through Whakatane. This latter scheme was discussed, and finally adopted by the meeting, the secretary being instructed to bring the matter to the notice of Mr W. Sullivan.

Mr Brabant then moved that steps be taken to urge upon the Borough Council and the Harbour Board the desirability of constructing a riverside drive fom the traffic bridge right out to the Heads. Such a scheme, would do much to enhance the appearance of the town. The motion ? lapsed for want of a seconder.

Mr Dillicar also praised the activities of the Society, and urged that greater interest should be shown by the general public.

Mr Warren spoke of the gorse menace fom Hillcrest,, and urged that the Hillcrest syndicate should be approached to do something about, its eradication.

Discussing the suggested development of the sandspit at the Heads, Mr Creeke said that this was a delicate subject as the foreshore in. that direction was a traditional Maori burial ground and for that reason, was tapu from the native point of view. The island in the middle of the. however could be developed, and he would like to see native trees planted there.

He' also briefly sketched the scheme already in hand for constructing a rustic shelter aU the Hedas park.