Ebbett Park

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 23 November 1927, Page 6

Ebbett Park

Officially Opened To-Day

Valuable Gift of Mr. & Mrs. G.Ebbett

Development of Hastings West

To-day marks another step in the steady progress of Hastings West, as the result of the devoted efforts of the members of the Development Association, in that the formal ceremony of opening to the public the open space of six acres, presented by Mr. and Mrs. George Ebbett to Hastings West, through the Development Association, was performed.

The weather, which was disagreeable last Wednesday, the date originally arranged for the ceremony, was most gracious this afternoon, when a large crowd from all over Hastings and district assembled on the grounds to assist in the ceremonial and to enjoy the garden fete, sports and the delights of purchasing at the various stalls, presided over by several pretty and persuasive young ladies, who did good business through the afternoon.

Mr. S. J. McKee, chairman of the Hastings West Association, presided and apologised for the absence of the Mayor (Mr. G. A. Maddison), whose health rendered it necessary that he should take a rest from the strain of his pubiic duties.

Owing to the inability of the Mayoress to be present, Cr. M. J. Johnson, Deputy-Mayor, performed the ceremony of opening the gates.

ASSN. CHAIRMAN'S ADDRESS. ACTIVITIES OUTLINED. Mr. S. J. McKee, chairman of the Hastings West Development Assn., opened the proceedings. He said: “In connection with the opening of this park to-day, it is desirable that you should know why the Hastings West Development Association is carrying out these ceremonies, and I propose to briefly outline our activities in that direction. First of all the Association was formed some four years ago, and the first work undertaken was the lay out and reconstruction of the West School grounds. This work, with Government subsidy, permitted us to spend something like £lOOO on the school grounds, and when the Governor-General visited the school last year, he said it was one of the best and prettiest he had seen in New Zealand. MR. EBBETT’S OFFER. “Just before our work was completed at the school, Mr. G. Ebbett came forward with an offer to present this valuable park to the Borough Council, through our Association, one condition being that we should raise, or have in hand, £l5O to spend on the park, when he would transfer to the Borough Council the deeds. Our Association valued this offer, and set to work to raise this money, and the sum of £2OO was reached. “The transfer of the park was then made by Mr. Ebbett, and to-day we are handing over the key of the park to the Borough Council. “I particularly desire to thank the ladies for their untiring efforts and their enthusiasm in the work of organising this garden fete, and it is to their endeavours that the success of this ceremony is, in a large measure, due. “I wish also to say, on behalf of my Association, that we desire to thank the Mayor aijd members of the Borough Council for their loyal support and co-operation in the advancement of this part of Hastings and of the town generally.’’ THE MAYOR’S ADDRESS. The Town Clerk read the following statement, submitted by the Mayor (Mr. G. A. Maddison):—

The Chairman of the Hastings West ’Progressive Society, and Fellow Citizens:

“I very deeply regret that owing to indisposition I am unable to accept the invitation so kindly extended to me to be with you and the people of Hastings to participate in the official opening of Ebbett Park. “I had looked forward with genuine pleasure to being associated with you all in this function and to pay my mead of congratulations and tribute to the enterprise and the excellent civic spirit, and the excellent work which the citizens of the western part of the town have so practically displayed. “The opening of Ebbett Park is a most important onward move in the welfare <rt our town, and I believe it will usher in a new age for development and progress for Hastings in your particular neighbourhood. “May I offer my humble thanks and gratitude to Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Ebbett for their valuable gift in the presentation to the Borough of this area of land, and especially in donating the Maori carved entrance gates. Their action is a further manifestation of their great public spiritedness and their generous philantrophy, and of their desire to do their utmost for the recreation and wellbeing of the people. MERITORIOUS SERVICE “Mr. Ebbett occupied with distinction the highest civic office of our borough, and we can justly and readily acclaim him as one of the foremost builders of our municipality. He has to-dav. again done a most meritorious service for his native town. “I maintain that the open snares are in a measure just ns essential in the life and welfare of the community ns .food roads, and I hope there may b no degree of age or experience to which mortal man may attain when .'ie shall become such a glum philosopher ns not io be inspired bv the sight of happy youth indulging i: healthful recreation in the playgrr mds of Hastings. “Althoug.i our town to-day is par--1 ticularly well served in the matter of

reserves and open spaces, nevertheless as our borough grows and our population becomes congested, their •uiue, and tne value oi isbbett ran, will daily become more appreciated and more apparent in the health and recreation needs of the community. The Council is spending approximately 21 per cent, of its general rates revenue on the reserves, and it has expended about £250 on Ebbett Park. Our negotiations with the donors and the Hastings West Progressive Society have always been conducted in a reasonable spirit and with the desire to assist the people in this new enterprise, so far as it lay in the power of the municipality. APPRECIATION OF ASSN.’S WORK. “The Councillors warmly applaud and deeply appreciate the splendid work which the Association has done, and in raising such a large sum of money for the development of the Park, and 1 only hope that this fine spirit will obtain throughout the years. No doubt much remains to be done, however, 1 am sure that in time your Park will become one of the greatest assets and attractions of this district. “May 1 take, this opportunity of suggesting that I consider it is the bounden duty of the borough to provide, when the time is opportune, an open space for the burgesses of the southern ward of Hastings, where at present no such facilities exist. “The entrance gates, which have been given by Mr. Ebbett, will probably form the most unique entrance to any public reserve in the Dominion, and they will service to remind us of the historic past, and the sympathetic, cordial and brotherly relationship which exists between the pakehn and the Maori races. I wish you a most successful function, and an enjoyable afternoon, and my thoughts will be with you all on this occasion. In turning over the pages of the past, we shall always remember this event with the greatest'pleasure and with unbounded gratitude to Mr. and Mrs. Ebbett for their goodness.’’ VALUABLE SPECIMENS OF MAORI ART. A UNIQUE PARK The Rev F. A. Bennett, in his remarks, stated:— “Hastings in the past has been very fortunate in having so many splendid public-spirited citizens living in’ its immediate vicinity, the evidence of that spirit of generosity being perpetuated bv the many valuable gifts in parks and other donations for the benefit of the people of Hastings.

■’ “To-day we are met together to formally accept from the hands of Mr and Mrs Ebbett another very valuable gift represented by this beautiful park. This park is unioue in one particular respect: it contains some very valuable and beautiful specimens of the highest development of Maori art. While there are many public narks in New Zealand I don't think there is another park containing such splendid specimens of Maori carving. Some of this carving most probably goes back to the stone-age period, and reliable data which is quite clear, shows some of the carving to be the work of 'tohungas' who lived over 80 years ago. “It seems almost a pity that such splendid specimens of thatn-t of the old-time Maori should be. exposed to the weather. However. I hope everv effort will be made to protect them as far as it is possible A SUGGESTION. “I would suggest to the committee the possibility of erecting a complete Whare-runanga or meeting house in this park, with these carvings as a nucleus. It would add a special attraction to nark, it would Preserve the carvings for all time and from the utilitarian point, of view the whare could be used as a place of assembly for the residents of this part of the town. Other carvings would be required but there should not be any great difficulty in procuring other parts from the Maori Arts and ('rafts Board who are now firmly established at Rotorua. When the Whare-runanga is completed, we could nrohablv erect a carved natakn or food store and a whare-puni nr sleeping house, then the kautn or cooking place. You would then have on a small scale a model of the oldtime Maori pa which would be of

great interest to the children as well as grown-ups, and a great advertisement of Ebbett Park. “1 join With you a>l in thanking the donors for this varuable gift to the people of Hastings, and in congratulations to the people of Hastings in now being the possessors of so valuable a gift,” MR. EBBETT’S SPEECH. Mr. George Ebbett then addressed the assemblage and in the course of his speech said that the entrance had been constructed and the gates erected according to his own design and under his supervision and he ventured to say that the best had been made of the material available. He had. however, been indebted in many way s to many persons for their co-operation and assistance Without them the job could not have been carried out as substantially and as satisfactorily as it had been, and he was anxious that they should al l have their full measure of credit lor their part in it. GENEROUS HELP. The Borough Council had been generous and their attitude throughout quite reasonable and the Mayor and several of the councillors had taken, individually, a lively personal interest in the undertaking. The Hastings West Association and its members, headed by the secretary, Mr. Joseph Wright, had also been of great assistance and very heluful and no one would, he hoped, mind if he mentioned his neighbour, Mr Weaver, and also Mr G. Brittain, both of whom had willingly given much valuable time and helpful advice in connection with both the park and gateway. Thev were greatly indebted, said Mr Ebbett, to the borough officers, the engineers (Mr. Evan s), the foreman (Mr. Geddis) and, right down to the humblest labourer everyone had shown the keenest desire to sec the ioh done in the way they wanted it done and they were very grateful to them all. VERY MUCH TO BE DONE. “Although the park has been opened,’’ said Mr. Ebbett, “I sincerely hdpe none of you will allow your interest in it. or in your association. to diminish. You will find that, as it develops, there will bo very much to be done. Let us make it attractive, go as to fulfil its purpose and it’s wonderful what can be done by men of goodwill working tdcetlmr in the right spirit for the achievement of the same object. “Remember, it is your property. I am done with it, and it remains with you to determine whether it win achieve its object or whether it will fail." NO SIMILAR ENTRANCE. “There are two things 1 will daie to say about it,’’ continued Mr. Ebbett. “Let this open space ue oi much value or of little just now. one thing is certain: As the town grows and becomes more thickly populated, so will the value of this public space increase and 1 have no doubt that, in the fullness of tune, in its small way it will become invaluable. With reference to the entrance. 1 can say without tear of contradiction that io other town in New Zealand has anything similar and no other town m New Zealand ever will have anything similar. It has never been denied that, among all the Maori tri pee of New Zealand, the Arawas excelled everybody in . the art of carving. These gates were carved in the Bay of Plentv by the Arawas. and even if they could be carved again, the timber could not be procured. They can never be got again. “We have listened with gratification and pleasure to the kindly things which have been said with referelnce to what the speakers are pleased to refer to as the advantages of this space and the merits of this gateway.” added Mr. Ebbett. “and we appreciate them very highly. We sincerely trust that this playground will provide endless enjoyment fo vour children, and for their children, and for numberless other children for al] times." (Applause). SPORTS AND SIDE-SHOWS. Mr Malone had charge of the sports, and the side-shows were under direction of Messrs A* Matthews, W. J. Weaver, and E. Ebbett. The following were engaged at the stalls:—Produce: Mesdames M. Tuohy. L. McKenzie. Small, and R. Catherall. Flowers: O. M. Weaver and Mr Brittain. Fancy: Mesdames P. Hastings and T. Scott. Tea and refreshments; Mesdames ,W Keith and Nesbitt, and girls. Ice cream: Miss Gibbs. Sweets: Mesdames Wright. Hill, and Hampton. Jumble: Mrs W, J. Weaver. Soft drinks: Miss M. Gooseman.