Levin and District Beautifying society.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 23 October 1913, Page 3

Levin and District Beautifying society.

ANNUAL MEETING

The first annual meeting of this society was held last, evening, in Mr Williams's tea rooms. The attendance was small, but enthusiastic. Mr Blcnknorn was voted to the chair, and read a letter from the Mayor (Mr B. P.. Gardener), absent upon urgent public business, congratulating the society upon the progress made, and wishing it a successful future: also from Mr J. W. Gibson, apologising for his absence, but promising a garden chair for the public gardens; and also letters from Mrs 11. Prouse and Mr W. M. Clark, regretting inability to attend. The minutes of the meeting inaugurating the society (held on the 28th August, 1912) were road and confirmed. The secretary's report was read and considered, as was also the balance-sheet for the year. After dismission both balance-sheet and report were adopted. ANNUAL REPOPT AND BALANCE-SHEET. "1 have the honour to submit herewith a report upon the working of the Society during the first year of its existence--the date of the society's birth being the 28th August, 1912.

"1. The practical work of the society has been confined to the small reserve near the Mako Mako road railway crossing, and to a share in the work of creating (he public gardens in Cambridge and Bath streets. ( With regard to the former", which was found in a very rough state indeed, it was decided to have the same dug , and levelled, and this was done. Then, on Arbour Day, the ground was thukly planted with a variety of shrubs and trees, and at the date of this report these plants looked remarkably well. The work of the society in connection with the public gardens has been, first of all, a thorough trenching of the ground for the live fences or hedges. The plants used for this purpose arc akc akc, eleagnus, and japonicn. Further work has been the planting of a rhododendron and azalea bed and a rose bed ; also sundry trees and shrubs, some of which have been donated, and others purchased by the society. Preparation of the ground for bedding plants has also been the work of the society. The artificial manure used has been obtained at its cost, and the society had also a hand in (he cost of the water-lily pond.

' U 2. Looking round for a means ol' raising funds, the commit ice decided upon holding a floral fete and gymkhana, combined with an ail union and concert, as the most likely kind of effort to produce the desired result. The project was. carried. outjin-February ltiii, and fulfilled expectations. The committee was ably assisted by friends of the society, who presented works of arf for flic drawing, and in many other wavs contributed to the success of the effort. Mr YV\ Hughes was appointed to the post o.t fete secretary, and worked hard and energetically from start to finish, and the Levin Swimming Club contributed its mead of assistance towards the general end. The result was that a not sum of ■£'•">"> was raised for the society's work.

"Other sources of revenue included the sum of £'■] 11s, the half-share of Mrs Kennedy's doll competition, and donations, which amounted k> i' 3 14s d. The bal-;aiice-sheot herewith further reveals the financial position of the society.

"3. The committee attended closely to its duties during the year, and the attendances of members w;is, on tlio whole, vory good. To the regret of the soeicty, our president, Mr Jas. Matiei , , left illt> (own during the year of office, but not before he had seen the work of the society well under way, and had himself planted an elm Iree in the public gardens. "4. During , the year, the society has been in communication with the Lands Department, with n view towards getting the Waiopehu Domain declared a scenic reserve, and in the hope that some means might be devised for saving this desirable piece of native forest, but, unfortunately, the niaiter still hangs fire. "5. In conclusion, I think the society can rest satisfied that the committee has done its best with the work it has undertaken, and with the funds it has had at its disposal. The first year's attempt, including, as if necessarily does, jnuch pioneer work, may not make very mueb display, but the results will appear in due course with the succeeding seasons.- P. TV. Goldsmith, lion, secretary." The election of officers was then proceeded with, nnd the following were, elected : Patrons, Messrs Jno. Davies, J. Kebhell. N. Kirkcaldie, W. G. Adkin, Y. T. Hitch r ings, and "Mrs Duckworth: president, Mr C. "fflonkhorn: viceT)residents, Doctors Davies and Kennedy: committee, Mesdames T5. TJ. Gardener, Lancaster, P. W. Goldsmith, P. Prouse. TV. M. Hark: Messrs M. "Fosella. S. TTall, TV. TTughes ami 0. Tl. Pvke: hou. secretary and treasurer. Mr P. TV. Goldsmith: auditor, Mr TCccleion.

Tn accepting the office of president. Mr "Blenkhoru thanked the meeting for the unanimous vote which placed him in the chair for

Iliu, year, and hoped the office would be looked upon as an annual one, and go round amongst the members. He promised to do ills best in forwarding the object and interests of .the society during 1 his year of office.

The following- is the balance> sheet: .'Receipts.—Members' subscriptions, £o 2s 6d; donations, £o 14s l)d; doll competition, .£•> I. Is; floral fete ami concert, 2s od; total, ,MG 10s. Expenditure. Purchase of hedge plants, trees and shrubs, £'1.2 los 6d; trenching , , digging' and planting, .£lO Ms (i<l; manure, £'2 10s; expended on pond, £'■> 8s <k\ ; printing, and advertising", L £1 15s 9<l: credit balance, £15 2s (id; total, £-!(> 10s fid. Assets.---Cash at Hank, .£'.lo; cash in hand, ,£5 2s (id; total, £15 2s lid. Liabilities.Beddings, plants, etc., ,£•'> 10s: shrubs on order, £l ss; advertising, 1.0s; total, £5 ss.