BEAUTIFYING ASSOCIATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 914, 12 June 1903, Page 3

BEAUTIFYING ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING,

The annual meeting of tho above Association was held last evening in tho Borough Council Chambers, thero being present :—Messrs A. F. Kennedy (president), L. T. Symes, O. P. Davies, G. Durton, W. Pottie, W. Wilson, A. Thomson, G. Grant, L. T. Marnier, G. Bull, Drs. Williams and Buckoridge, and tho Rev. 11. Williams.

ANNUAL REPORT.

Tho following report wus presented : “ In presenting to you the third annual report of the Association it is particularly gratifying to have to placo on record another very excellent year’s work. The principal work of tho year has been tho continuation of the town river bank, which

has been levelled and graded for a furthor distance of three chains The continuation of this work is now dependent on tho widening of Read’s quay by tho Borough Council, and we are pleased to report that tins portion ot the work is proceeding vory satisfactorily. The purtion already sown down has been kept in good order —this has necessitated a considerable amount of labor. The portion of the Kaiti bank that was levolled last year has been planted urid sown down in grass. The working of the Recreation Ground has been continued through the summer months, and tho portion taken in hand is now in good order for sowing down. Owing to tho heavy nature of the soil and the amount of noxious weeds to contend with, this is a most

expensive work, and it will tako a considerable amount of labor and money beforo tho wholo of the ground will be in a fit state to sow down in grass. The money donated by the Ping-Pong Committoo was oxpendod on tho purchaso of clovon ornamental soats, which have

been distributed over tho Recreation Ground. All those soats havo been painted by the Borough Council. McLean street, Whataupoko, was sown down with grass and planted, but tho trees wero destroyed by stock, and will requiro to be replaced. A great deal of work has boen dono to Ballanco streot. The grade to footbridge has beon groatly improved, and the whole street well levellod. Before being sown down it will havo to be fenced off to keep out stock. A row of planes was planted on oithor side of Disraoli streot, on the north sido of tho Recreation Ground. Those will afford the necessary shade when the poplars are cut out. A row of silver birchos was planted on either side of Customhouse street, from Childers road to Kahutia street, but owing to tho dry season they have not done so well as was expected. Tho nursery has been kept in gsod order, but tho greater portion of it must bo transplanted this year, otherwise tho trees will bo too largo to shift, and useless. Future operations : It is not a difficult task to find work to bo done, but it is necessary to select the most pressing works without confining our efforts to one particular locality. Tho continuation of the town rivor bank, which is our Association’s principal effort, must be carriod on as fast as funds permit. When completed to Kaiti bridge this should be one of the beauty spots of the town, instead of being, as in tho past, a depot for rubbish,

Recreation Ground : Now that the band rotunda has boon erected this reserve will no doubt bo a favorite resort, and a special effort should be made to raise sufficient funds to have the wholo of tho ground sown down in grass and the necessary paths laid off through it. Kaiti bank:

Owing to tho extent of ground this bank is more suitablo for beautifying than the town river bank, and as it is so much in evidence from the town side, it is very necessary that the improvements should he continued as far as the Point. We

trust that the Kaiti residents will again assist us in this very necessary work. These ore tho threo principal works to bo carried on, and with tho various minor works, such as streot planting and improvement of street onds, the incoming Committee will have ample scope for their next year’s operations. General:

Wo are pleased to bo able to report that tho Borough Council have taken, under tho Public Works Act, the Waihirere Block, and have thus secured for the people of Gisborne one of the beauty spots of the district. We must refer to the generous support that we havo recoived from the Borough Council, and the willing assistance of Mr Morgan, the Borough’s Overseer. Tho thanks of the Association are also due to Mesdames Rees and Wolsk and to Messrs Bendle and Haisman for ornamental seats. The balance-sheet you will see shows a very creditable state of affairs. This is due to the untiring efforts of our hon. treasurer, Mr Symes, who has been untiring in his efforts for the welfare of the Association."

Tho balanco-sheet showed a credit balance of £4 12s 4d. The assets amount-

ed to £145 13s 4d, and the liabilities nil. Tho Chairman, referring to the donation of £SO by the Patriotic Committee, said it could not have been given to a more worthy object. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, Mr Kennedy referred to tho question of altering the general policy with regard to employment of a regular gardener. He said that the subcommittee thought it would be a retrograde step to do away with such a capable officer as Mr Wilson. They were able to pay a regular man in the past, and he thought they could do so in the future. It would bo to their own intorest to have a man upon whom members would have first call. He proposed that the gardenor (Mr Wilson) bo given an increase in wages. He was sorry that townspeople woro not taking enough interest in the Association. They were an auxiliary to tho Borough Council. The understanding with tho Borough Council was that they wore not maintain or construct. They would superintend the works and put tho finer touches on them. Ho went on to show how the support of tho Association had been decreasing. The first year there woro 138 members, and tho subscriptions amounted to £ll2 Bs. During tho second year tho membership had decreased to 80, but bo was glad to aay through the excellent management of their Treasurer, Mr L. T. Syrnes, they had only lost threo members during the year. He was of opinion that people thought that tho paying of one subscription was all that was requirod of them, but that was not so; they required to be paid every year. If townspeople had tho interest of tho town at hoart tboy would support the Association

Mr W. Pettie seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. OFFICERS.

The olcction of officers resulted as follow, President, Rov. Herbert Williams; Vice-Presidents, Messrs A. P. Kennedy, G. Grunt; Hon. Secretary and Treasurer, Mr G. Barton ; Committee, Messrs W. G. Sherratt, F. Tansley, C. P. Davies, W. i-ottie, E. H. Mann, G. Bull, G. R- Red3tono, R. N. Jones, A. E. Muir, A. Dewing, J. MeKco, W. A. Barton, S.M., Drs. Williams and Buckeridge, Rev. H. Williams and Rov. J. G. Pattarson. Mr Symes declined the office of Treasurer, on account of tbo poor way the townspeople had appreciated the work of tho Association during tho past three years.

MISCELLANEOUS.

The Rev. H. Williams took his seat as chairman, and proceeded with ordinary

business. A considerable amount of discussion took place on the question of persons applying tor ono or twotreos to bo planted in a street, and it was pointed out that the condition for the application for treos was that if a dozen or so peoplo in a street combined and guaranteed protectors for tho trees they could obtain them. The Chairman stated that a scheme had been drawn up for the planting of trees in the town, and it would be satisfactory if tho Borough Council would appreciate that fact. A matter that often came beforo tho Council was requests to cut down trees on the condition of planting young ones. As an example of how that was carried out ho knew an instance of whero a man got permission to cut down ] a tree, which he did, and the young one replaced was a bough of the old tree, and the man in question was crying out because it did not grow. Ho thought the Council should, in granting these requests, take into consideration the fact that they hod a scheme for planting the town drawn out. Dr Williams thought main streets in Whataupoko and Ivaiti should be planted, and that the residents in the suburbs would willingly supply protectors.

He thought in the past that too much attection”had been given to the town side of the river. The Waiuui road should also bo planted. He moved tout permission should be asked of the County Council in order to take steps to plant that road.

The motion was seconded by Mr Pettie and carried. A discussion took place as regards the best wood to use for protectors, and it was thought kahikatca was the be3t for the purpose. Dr Buckeridgo stated that they would bo able to get kaihikatea supplied at a much less cost than other woods. Mr Thomson stated that there were over 1000 trees in the nursery that would require to be planted out. It was suggested that the Makaraka Domain be used as a place for planting with tho viow of having it a recreation ground eventually. Mr Darton pointed out that a great amount of time was lost during the year, and he thought a shed to work in during tho wet weather should be built. The amount of time lost was a heavy item of expenditure. It was decided to refer the matter to the Committee.

A vote of thanks to tho retiring officers and Press concluded the meeting. At a subsequent meeting of the Committee the following gentlemen were elected on the Works Committee : Messrs Grant, Kennedy, Bull, Davies, and Secretary. It was decided that the fuff Committee deal with the question of finance.