HOKITIKA BEAUTIFYING SOCIETY.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 March 1921, Page 4

HOKITIKA BEAUTIFYING SOCIETY.

MOVEMENT LAUNCHED

A meeting of the provisional committe 0 of ladies and gentlemen appointed to formulate a, workable basis for a beautifying society for the town was bold at tiie Municipal Chambers last evening. Present: Messrs I). J- Evans (in the chair), Miss Thompson, Alosdames ifennett, Butler and Pilkington, Messrs S. J. Preston, W. IT. Shannon, J. King, G. A- Wood, A. B. Boyd, A. ParkhiM, A. Aitkcn, J. Irvine, (1. Davidson, W. J. Butler, P. Wild, F. Alo(Jregor, A. G. Pilkington, E. Richards and J. Niven, (bon. secertary). In • opening tho meeting fhe Cbait - man said Air Niven had put forward the following suggested points for discussion. Scheme for beautifying Cass Square. General scheme for dealing with other parts of the town ; sea beach, river bank etc. Method of raising funds. Method of carrying out the work. | Formation of a Permanent Society, j The Chairman said after consultation with Air Niven he had drawn up a, rci port which he would read as indicating some of the work which a society of the j nature proposed might take up with ad- | vantage to the town. The following j report was then read: VIC K-t' 11A IRMAN ’S P E POUT. Ladies and Gentlemen,— 1 desire in the first place to thank the j public meeting on Friday night for j electing me vieo-Chniiman. With so

able a Chairman as Hon Alichel, 1. am sure my duties will be light, but whatever they are f shall be glad to assist when and where I can in the laudable action the present movement has in hand.

Air Niven, the Secretary, lias prepared some matters for consideration at lliis Committee meeting to formulate a working scheme and in thinikng the matters over, 1 beg to submit a general scheme of action as a basis for discussion, and for such addition, subtraction oi' amendment as the meeting might determine.

Ways and moans.—Tt will ho ossential to find money for practical action. The Borough resources are limited and we must look outside that source if any considerable amount of work is to be done. The suggestion put forward on Friday night to form an Association with an annual membership is a good one, and should I think, be adopted. The membership rates suggested are:

Adults, minimum 10s pur annum : juveniles, maximum os. An association will give the movement a permanent constitution, and an assured membership. the members ot which it is to he hoped, will take an individual interest in the work. As a further means to laise funds, the lollowing proposals me mentioned : Footballers to organise a costume football match.

Picture proprietors to lie invited t< give benefits. Mrs Staveley to he invited to organise a monster entertainment.

The Defence Officers, Territorials, and Senior Cadets to organise an As snnlt at Anns. • The Boy Scouts to organise an afternoon of sport on the sea •beach, and include bicycle and motor cycle racing. A series of socials or assemblies to la held during the winter months etc. Annual Gala Day witli processions, sports etc. on Cass Square. These and other sources which coith be arranged for should provide tor r fair amount of income.

In addition, while recognising that the Borough Council has not funds for comprehensive work such as is required at the moment, the suggestion is made to raise a loan of L'oOtl for the purpose. This, is is believed, could be raised at 5 per cent, and spread , over 20 years for repayment could be paid off with 5 per cent sinking fund. The total uiter-

est which would have to be paid is L’2t>2 10s, or an average annual payment of Cl.'! 15s which plus the sinking fund of £25, would require an annual payment (average) of L‘39 15s. A statement of this loan redemption scheme is attached. The loan money it is suggested, might lie earmarked as follows: — Cass Square, to include painting fence, provision for boiling water for visiting picnics, and such other permanent work as may he required, £175. Municipal Baths, placing same in order and arranging for auxiliary pumping plant from river, £IOO.

Ocean beach, including of protection grasses and shrubs; erection of seat shelters, swings etc, £75. Alacandrew Square, painting fence, etc., £SO. The balance of Cl 00 reserved for such other desirable works as may lie considered advantageous. The raising of Lhe loan would lie for the Borough Council with the sanction of the ratepayers. (ass Square, I take it, is to be the first objective for action. It will be necessary to ascertain the intention oi the Council with regard to the eastern portion. The dividing fence requires removal, tlm growing weeds cut, and

the surface levelled. A certain amount of drainage will he necessary also. The western side requires immediate lepairs; the hollows of the playing field should lie filled with the brown spoil from Whitcombe Square which is excellent for the purpose. A considerable amount of cleaning up is necessary, and when the ground is in an attractive order (including the provision of a cricket field) some levy should tie made, say 20 per cent on gate charges for admission, the proceeds to be specially devoted to the condition of the playing fields. The Association should arrange for the regular cutting of the grass on the Square. Perhaps this could be done through the Racing Club which lias a horse mower.

Procedure—ltuvould be a good course to appoint active sub-committees to take charge of the-various activities the association may undertake. Labor is scarce and dear, and a good deal might be done voluntarily, the Association providing the material, as in the ease of painting fences, etc. If tonight a general scheme is adopted, the next step would bo to lav the proposals before the Borough Council, and if sanctioned in that "quarter, then invite the public to eo-operate whole-hearted-ly. Cass Square is an invaluable asset |

to the town, and if.taken in hand now r ,' i it should be possible in 1920 to ask the , United Fire Brigades’ Association to ( hold its competition here, when some hundreds of competitors from all parts ( of the Dominion would be attracted to the town and district. In 1924, also, the district will celebrate its diamond; jubilee, and that is an event which ( should not be overlooked. Cass Square j in the condition it should be, will be , invaluable for such gatherings—and by the dates mentioned the Arthur’s Pass tunnel will, of course, be an accomplished fact. General.—As an Association there are some municipal interests other than those immediately in mind which might he mentioned for attention as the opportunity offers from time to time. It is desirable to sec the Hall Street drain pushed on to WR'itcombe Square to en- ' sure the drainage of that valuable area. The town is making such progress now that the acreage there might be useful from many points of view, and permanent, improvement cannot be denned any longer. By tapping the Square with tho outlet in question, the drainage of the area can be carried out very economically and should be proceeds with as rapidly as circumstances permit. The Botanical Gardens reserve in Stafford Street, it is pleasing to note, was not taken up for sawmilling purposes. This area in the not distant future, might lie required for the purpose assigned to it by those through whose wisdom and foresight the town possesses the area. As a matter of policy governing the future, the reserve should not be let for other than grazing purposes, so that later when required for a public garden for the town it will |,e so available. Then there is Park reserve on the* outskirts of the Botough, eastern boundary. It is possible to ’ drain this somewhat swampy area into ; the Hokitika river, and the area brought into profit would be an adjunc- ' live aid to the town. Ii is likely the Government, as controlling the main r „ad. and the County Council, as eon- ; trolling the district road nearby, could | ho induced to contribute to such a scheme, which if carried out would give :i continuous stretch of pasture land similar to Tones’ paddocks and Lang s out from the town-a most desir- ' able result from a pleasing aspect alone. Tho Co-operative Spirit.—lt will tie necessary for the public at large to cooperate readily if tlic association by its organisation is to make its mark. Some ol the speakers the other evening refeijed to the assistance householders could give in a reasonable way by cleardug up the road frontages adjacent to their houses. This would be n relief and help to the Borough funds and as im great effort is called for the assistance might he invited. To ensure uniform action four periods m the year could be set aside, as mid-Alarcli, midJune, mid-September, mid-December. These could he made citizens’ week in

which a general move in co-operativr

cfl'ro-t to tidy up the to" n could bo t'-U tempted, a ltd with unit.' of action, tla

result would be very gralitying. Conclusion.—The ideas put forward we should ask the Borough Council to accept as an earnest of the desire to assist in the public weal with the common object of working in unison with the Council for the advancement and outstanding improvement ol the town so that its reputation as a pleasant place of abode might be enhanced and carried further afield to attract more and more attention as a desirable place of residence, and to be worthy ol the position it enjoys as the capital ol Westland. Yours obediently, 1). J. EVANS, Vice-Chairman. DRAFT LOAN SCHEME. c IOO LOAN AT r>% INTEREST AND ,V’„ SINKING FUND.

Average C'Jb £l3 b> 0 £3B lb ( Mr Aitken said the report was an excellent one. ile favoured turning special attention to the beach, where drinking water should be laid on at diflerent places for the use of picnic parties. In referring to the cleaning up oi the town, more of the footpaths should be tar scaled in the effort to keep down weeds and grass growth. Appoving of the idea. 10 celebrate the diamond .jubilee of Westland in three years' time, Mr Aitken suggested they should consider the question of holding an exhibition to mark the occasion. In the seventies a very successful exhibition had been held in Hokitika and with the railway available such a proposal now could not be otherwise than a groat success. Mr Davidson thought that rather much was outlined in the report. They should begin slowly and work up, and not bo too ambitious at the outset. Personally be favoured the lay out of avenues of trees in the streets as an excellent way of beautifying the town. Mr Wild believed in aiming high and approved the report. Ho thought the subscription should be made as low as possible, so as to draw as many people as possible, and interest them in the work to ho done. Mr Niven moved that it is desirable to establish a Beautifying Association in Hokitika, and steps be taken accordingly. Mr Preston seconded heartily supporting the movement and the report. Carried. After dicussion the subscriptions were fixed as follows: —Voluntary wprking members free; lion members JOs and.

upwards; associate members up to 10s; juveniles up to ss. It was resolved Messrs Pilkington Niven and Evans draw 7 tip a constitution for the Association. The Chairman moved that a copy of the report be submitted to the Borough Councid and its co-operation asked in carrying out the proposals outlined as ways and means permitted. Mr Aitkcn seconded.—Carried. It was decided that attention he devoted its soon as possible to Cass Square , and Aliss Thompson, Airs Bennett, ■ Messrs Irvine, Preston and Butler, (with the officers ex-officio) be a subcommittee to act in oonjunction with Re serves Committee of tho Borough Council in matters affecting the square. Messrs Parkhill and Wood of the Reserves Committee welcomed the action proposed, by the resolution. The Hokitika Savings Bank was appointed the hanker for the funds of lh 0 Association. Mr Niven was appointed hon. treasurer and authorised to sign cheques. It was resolved to meet monthly on the fourth Tuesday in each month, the nexf meeting to ho held on 26th April. A. proposal was made to canvass foi members and funds, and Aliss Thompson and Mr Preston were appointed it suli-committee to divide tho town into eiidit districts for the purpose. Several ladies and gentlemen volunteered to as- , sist in the canvass. , It was resolved to arrange for monthly entertainments to augment the funds , of the Society. r Mrs Butler moved that the attention [ of tho Borough Council he drawn to the ] condition of the beach, and every eflort . ),o made to abate the practice of depositing rubbish in that locality. Mi , Preston seconded.—Carried. , Air Davidson drew attention to the 1 necessity of having several of the public places cleared of blackberry ami , maintained in cleanly order. It was x resolved to wait on tbe officers in - charge respecting the works referred to. 1 Mr Butler referred to the descration t going on from time to time , about the phtce, and urged that it 1 should he incumbent on every member s of the Association being pledged to as- - sist in putting down the acts of vandalism so often heard of. Air Butlei 2 mentioned that valuable plants weio - taken from Maoandrow Square from s time to time, and other petty acts of ; theft committed which were not credi- - able, and were certainly atfnoying to s those who wished to help in beautifying the place'. There should he a strong 1 public opinion against such acts, and f the citizens generally should be invited h to assist in protecting their own proper- - ty. Other speakers spoke in the same ‘ direction, and it was resolved to adopt 1 measures on the lines suggested. The meeting concluded at 8.41) p.m. • with a vote of thunks to the Cbait--1 man.

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