OHOPE AFFAIRS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 59, 6 December 1946, Page 5

OHOPE AFFAIRS

PROGRESS LEAGUE MEETS

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

The inaugural meeting of the Ohope Progress League, as an incorporated body, took place last Tuesday evening, some forty members being present. Business concerned mainly the Chairman’s report, Election of Officers, and matters arising from the projected Sports Meeting to take place on Anniversary Day under the sponsorship of the League. In his report, the chairman, Mr R. Cobbe, briefly outlined the founding and growth of the League. He recalled the first public meeting which was held on June 26 at which it was decided to form an . incorporated body for the purpose of assisting the general progress and development of Ohope. It had taken six months to have the incorporation put through, and this meeting ...represented the first of the body in its full official status. v Work of League Briefly outlining the work ' the League had done and was doing in the interests of the beach, Mr Cobbe stated that a number of petitions had been,‘and were at present, under consideration by the authorities. These included requests for a separate school at Ohope, up to and including Standard 4, and improved pdstal facilities viz. a separate Post and Money Order Office, a public telephone and an extra letter box. A petition was also near to being completed asking for the dedication of the road past the 1-58 section. Some slight improvement in the bus service had also been effected, and further improvements, including a workers’ bus were anticipated in the near future. Signs and warning notices to motorists, in order to make the beach safer both for children and motorists themselves, had been erected through the League, which body was also endeavouring to put a stop to the speeding which was indulged in both on the beach and on the road. One of the greatest progressive moves was the metalling of the road at the western end of the beach. This had been done through the League by direct contributions from residents and section holders in that area, at a cost of £3O. Actually more than the required sum had been donated, and the League itself had benefited accordingly. Fire Menace The fire menace at Ohope was constantly under review. One of the most serious aspects in connection with this was the number of overgrown sections—veritable tinderboxes—held by certain absentee owners. Fire wardens had been appointed, but without the direct cooperation of everybody, they could do little in the way of preventing outbreaks. It was now illegal for anyone at all to light a fire in the open. The League had the matter unler constant consideration, and it was hoped to be able to do more about it in the future.

One of the main things on the programme was the building of a hall, whilst other progressive moves were also to be undertaken. In conclusion, he thanked the various committees, particularly the ladies social sub-committee, and the officers for their services; and on behalf of the gathering expressed sympathy with Mr T. P. Dowling, in his severe illness. The financial statement was presented, and showed the League to be in a sound position. An item of note was the sum of £69 odd raised by the ladies social sub-committee. Election of Officers The new election of officers then took place as under: — Chairman: Mr R. Cobbe (re-elect-ed). '*’* ' Secretary-Treasurer: Mr E. R. Marryatt (re-elected). Assistant Secretary: Mrs T. Warner.

Auditor: Mr A. Bridger. Carnival and Sports Organiser: Mr W. G. C. Hurst. Executive Committee: Messrs. C. H. Brebner, T. McCowan, W. Clark, R. Herdman, H. Armstrong, G. E. Mahy, F. Cutler, C. Gordon and W. Harris. The ladies social sub-committee, it was intimated, would be elected at a future meeting at which cards and dancing would also be held, and the winner of the major competition sponsored by the League decided. The meeting closed after the Carnival programme for Anniversary Day had been submitted by Mr W. G. C. Hurst and accepted.