BEAUTIFYING ASSOCIATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 974, 21 August 1903, Page 3

BEAUTIFYING ASSOCIATION.

.URGENT NEED FOR MONETARY*

AID,

IAJ meeting of the Beautifying Association was held last night in the Borough Council Chambers. Present : The President (Rev. 11. Williams). and Messrs W. Pettie, G. Bull, G. Grant, Tansley, J. R. Redsvnnp. R. N. Jones, A. F. Kennedy, Drs Williams and Buckeridge. The Secretary reported that the fcfilance of cash in hand amounted to 13s Gd, Thirty, trees had "been planted in Victoria township on behalf •of the Borough Council, and thirty on the Kaiti. The Gisborne amt Mangapapa Schools had also bicn supplied with trees, whioh were planted. The whole of the work of the Association required a thorough l overhaul, and the banks in particular required trimming.

Arc Grant referred to the small amount of money in hand, and considired that if they could not get funds to proceed with the work they should stop. He had asked 'a few members about their subscriptions, and they had replied they were .wilting to pay them at any time. He understood' that a few months ago it had been decided to make an active canvass for subscriptions. 1-Ie wanted to know, what had been done in the matter.

The Secretary said the whole of the committee were appointed a finance committee so as to canvass the district thoroughly. The Chairman considered that they could not attempt to carry on the work of the Association, with tho balance in hand. The idea of tho wnole committee being appointed a finance committee was to make a systematic canvass. Mr Pettie was quite in sympathy with the remarks of Mr Grant. With reference to the canvass,, he understood the committee were to be supplied with lists, in order that they might obtain new subscribers, as they did not want to 'go to men who had just paid last year’s subscription. He wished to apologise to the committee for not being able to attend to the mjatrtier, owing to the pressure of business. • Mr Grant considered that it was a scandal that they should have to canvass'for subscriptions. People should come along with their subscriptions. The Chairman said they had the names of 100 people who had subscribed in the past, and he thoufght it a pity that they did not come forward with their subscriptions. Mr Grant suggested that they, should get a man to canvass for money. , . . Mr Pettie said the idea had been mooted before, and had not been favorably received by the public. Dr. Williams said he brought the matter before the Association last year. Air Jones considered that time .was being .wasted in talking about the past ; what they wanted was to deal with the future. Mr Grant moved that a canvasser he appointed. Air Kennedy, in seconding the motion, thought officials Should not be expected to go round year after year asking for subscriptions. He considered they (should get, a canvasser at a good remuneration to work the matter up. Air Bull announced that Mr Janies Clirisp, bandmaster of the CityBand, had told him that the. Band were going to give an open-air concert in the cciursie of a few. .weeks, and they would be willing to donate the proceeds to the funds of the Association. It was decided that the offer be accepted with thanks, and that the President, Secretary, and Messrs Bull and Kennedy be a committee to work up the collection. The President, Secretary, and Mr Kennedy were appointed to arrange in regard to a canvasser. The Secretary stated that some oi tne most important works to be done were the sowing of the bank and the planning o tho depot for the Borough Council. Air Pettie asked if the agreement With ■Mr Thomson, re Mr "Wilson’s services, had

fallen through. ' , . ~, The Secretary said ho understood Mr Thompson could not spare the gardener. Mr Kenedy said this was the result ot the change of policy adopted by the Association. The doing away with a permanent gardener was a death blow. Inc consequonce was, no work had been done this year. When they had a permanent gardener he was always busy. The Assooiation had to face the matter, and he considered they should appoint a permanent man. There were sufficient members in the Association to warrant him work whon not required by the Society. He urged that they should get back on the old lines. There was no inducement to subscribers when no work was done. He I urged that a gardener be appointed, and I moved accordingly. The. motion was seconded by Mr Grant. .. ; The Secretary said in supporting the policy adopted at cbo annual meeting he thought it would bo moving in the right direction, but it had proved to be wrong. It was absolutely necessary to have a permanent gardener. Tho wages offered by tho Association warranted thorn being able to prooure a first-class man. j It was decided to advertise for a man in Auckland, Napier, and the local presswages ;62 5s por week. The Secretary said a few yoars ago the Riverside road was one of tbo beauty spots of Gisborne, but tbo native bush had'been destroyed. He moved that a sub-commit-toe consisting of the President, Secretary, and Dr Buckeridge be appointod to consider the restoration of native bush at that place from Whittakor road to Arthur’s corner. They had any amount of young native trees in the nursery which wanted planting out. Mr Grant referred to the cutting of a number of willow trees in that vicinity for firewood, which he considered was not right. Mr Pettie drew aitention to the necessity of having tho Kaiti bank seen to.