BEAUTIFYING ASSOCIATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 164, 23 July 1901, Page 3

BEAUTIFYING ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the committee was held last night, there being present:—Messrs A. F. Kennedy (President), Barton,Bull, Davies, Muir, Lysnar, Symes, Bridges (Secretary), and Dr Williams. The Chairman read a circular which it was proposed to send to residents generally, asking their support. It was agreed to plant a hedge of eleagnes along the Aberdeen road side of the recreation ground. It was resolved that Messrs Davies, Pettie, and Bridges be a committee to see what could be done in regard to the planting of Haiti Esplanade from the bridge to the creek near Mr Harris’ property. It was agreed that members of the committee assist on Thursday week in getting trees out of the bush, Messrs Darton and Davies offering to go up to select trees. The question of asking the Council to fence in the work below the Taruheru bridge gave rise to a long discussion. -Mr Eysnar said that the Association had usurped that work and should finish it. He would oppose the Council doing anything towards it. People had been willing to contribute to a larger work, and to place the Association in a position to do the whole work, but the Association had set its face against it. Mr Grant said that the fence would not disturb any future work. Mr Lysnar: That is so to a certain extent. Mr Grant: It is absolutely so—no “ extent ” about it. Mr Lysnar said it would have to bo removed for the larger work. -Mr Symes: You proposed to take the luud out of the river. Mr Lysnar said that wiu not so ; there was a fair amount of earth on the road. Mr Symes said he was quite satisfied the Council would help them. As to the larger work, there was no use harking back to that. Mr Muir: It has been thoroughly threshed out. Mr Symes said that some of those who owned property along the bank had told him that they would not contribute to tho scheme alluded to by Mr Lysnar. Mr Lysnar said there wore signatures for nearly XdOO without the public goner ally having been approached. Mr Grant: X“I00 would bo a mere flea bite—it would want more like X'dOOO. Mr Lysnar : Mr King Mr Grant said he had seen Mr Kin

about the matter, and he had said there was a mistake—that if lie had known what was being driven at, he would have given a very different answer. The work done could be utilised for any future work.

ivTr Syines : Let’s get aheal, and make a show.

Mr Lysnar: Make a show; you are just crippling yourselves. Don’t ask people to make a show—you have made a show of yourselves. If you put the bank out further, the whole face must bo altered.

Some discussion ensued as to the effect of Hoods on the river; and, resuming, Mr Lysnar said that the extended work would not have trenched on the Association’s general funds. Dr Williams said lie did not see any use of reopening the question ; the whole tiling, he understood, had been fatally affected by the fact that the Chairman of the Harbor Board had told them that the Marine Department would not give permission.

Mr L ysnar said that the Marine Board was a mere bogey. No objection had been raised to what the Council was doing. It was really the Harbor Board they had to look to.

The Chairman said he thought they would recognise that the Association had not blocked anything. Want of funds had been their obstacle, and thero was the difficulty indicated by the Chairman of tho Harbor Board, whose authority must be accepted. Even if .€*2so had been promised he did not see how the Association could take in hand such an extensive work, hut they could not expect to have a greater yearly income than about £2OO, and they had a great deal to do with that. The project referred to by Mr Lysnar had been threshed out; they had looked at it in all its bearings, and there was no idea of being discourteous to anyone. As to the bank, there had been many complimentary roularks as to the improvement made. It was understood that the Council would help them, and he bcliovcd that it

wouH. Mr Lysnar said it was novor in his miiul that a shilling should bo taken from the general funds. The Association lmd spent .1170 on the bank, and was now in debt over it to the extent of X3O. Mr Grant : It is worth it. Mr Lvsnar : No. Mr Lfarton asked if Mr Lysnar would explain how tho work done would block nnv other scheme.

Mr Lysnar was proceeding to explain when Mr Symes said that the hour was getting late, and ho wanted to get home. Mr Lysnar said that the scheme had been in his mind before the Society was started. Mr Kennedy had written to tho press, suggesting that such a society bo formed, and that the river bank scheme be included in it. He (Mr Lysnar) had then written accepting that idea, but on the Association being formed it set its face against it, and thus prevented the Association making the progress it should have done, because it had lost the confidence of the people. Tho Chairman said that he thought Mr Lvsnar was all by himself in the matter as' far as the Association was concerned. Ho put the motion, which was carried, Mr Lysnar dissenting.

Considerable discussion took place as to the projects for obtaining a portion of Kaiti Hill. Mr Lysnar said ho had gone over it with Mr Barton (who had acted in place of Mr DeLautour), and they considered that about 45 to 50 aeros would be required. AVaihirerc was also alluded to, and a suggestion by Air Lysnar that angles of roads should be obtained —adjoining Hr Craig's residence on Kaiti, near Mr Whim-ay's hall, near Air East’s shop, and near tho hospital. It was agreed, on the motion of Mr Lysnar, seconded by Arr Symes, that Messrs Kennedy, HeLautour, Bridges and Lysnar be a sub-committee to consider the prudence of acquiring a portion of Kaiti Hill and other portions of the town suitable for beautifying purposes, and also to go into the question ot ways and means. On the suggestion of Hr Williams, it was agreed to approach the Borough Council, with a view to securing a portion of Waihirere, where the beautiful bush is now being sacrificed. A general belief was expressed that a debenture scheme could easily be arranged, if the Council would give the security, for which there would be good value in the property. The Chairman urged members to throw their hearts energetically into the work of the Society and in increasing its strength.