Hokitika Beautifying Association.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 March 1922, Page 3

Hokitika Beautifying Association.

FIRST ANNUAL REPORT.

; The Executive of the Hokitika Bcau--1 tifying Association has the honour to ■ make the following . report: j Inception.—On the 11th 1 . March, I 1921, a public meeting called by the 1 Mayor, at. the request of the Hon. , H. L. Michel, was held in the Town Hall to discuss the question of improving the town. This meeting decided to ask representatives of various bodies and clubs in town to attend another meeting. This gathering took place on the loth. March, and it re- , suited iu the formation of the Hoki- ! tika Beautifying Association. Meetings.—Since that time meetings | have been held monthly, and these have afforded opportunities for putj ting forward suggestions for improving the town and for raising funds to carry out the work. Those who attended the second meeting became, b.V j agreement, the committee of manj ngement. J Funds.—Funds arc provided primarj ily by subscriptions .and donations, j but, in order to increase the sums thus available, it was agreed that entertaini merits should be iheld at intervals. | The first of these took the form of an [ open air concert held on May 14th. in Cass Square, which was specially lit up for the occasion. Following this, was a concert arranged by the Caledonian Society. Next, in August, generous help was given from Kanieri through a dance arranged for by Airs Chesterman. In September, Mrs Stnveley kindly repeated, for the~Association an entertainment which had been got up for another purpose. In the same month also, the Kiwi Football Club hold a dance for the benefit, of the .Association. Tn December there was held a Sale of Work by the Ladies Literary Club and this proved of immense value to the slowly rising fund. In Febmar'y, the Chairman )of, tlr Association, the Hon. H. L. Michel, ended the first series of entertainments by a lantern lecture. The amount raised in each case is shown in the statement to he presented this evening.

i Work.- -Tt was resolved to concentrate during the year on the improvement of Macandrew and Cass Squares. In June a working bee was held to clean up part of Cass Square. Very few of the footballers who had been asked to help put in an appearance, but those who did, made, along with the members present, a considei able improvement in the portion of the Square attacked. Some of the lady "members kindly provided afternoon tea for the workers. It was intended to dean up the track in Cass Square by tlie use of a road grader, but difficulties in obtaining suitable moti\o power prevented action for some time, and as money was coming in well, it was ultimately agreed that it was Letter for the society to spend its funds on some work, of at more lasting character than clearing the track. Accordingly, attention was devoted to the improvement of the Eastern portion of Cass Square which had a very uneven surface. This portion, has since then, been clean'd, ploughed, disced, levelled, rolled and sown in grass.’ Bad weather interrupted and spoilt operations many times, but even now there is a distinct improvement over the old ground, and the results in a year or two should fully justify the work spent on the ground. A drain was put in, but this does not fully do what is required, and it seems that a more extensive drainage scheme is necessary. The work was done under the aide supervision of Messrs Houliston and Dalgleish, who devoted more time and work to the job than many arc aware of. After the grass had fairly grown, th e dividing fence was removed and; the Racing dub undertook the cutting of tlie grass of the whole square by their horse mower. The cutting has done a considerable amount of good, and the next i cut will still further improve the | character of the growth.

The next work taken in hand was the improvement of the fences round eandj.cw end Cass Square. The Borough Council agreed to repair the fences and the .Association undertook to paint them. Tenders were called for but the quota'ions were considered so high that none was accepted. The work has been carried on by day labour for some months at a cost Minch under th e tenders. Macandrew Square is completely finished aiul the more important sides of Cass Square have been attended to. Besides the fences the pavilion has been repainted, considerable repairs, having to be made to the building befor it was fit for the operation, coat of paint has yet to he given to the roof. The sec-saws and other play apparatus placed in the Square by Mr and Mrs Butler have also been painted on behalf of the donors.

! A third important work undertaken jin conjunction with the Borough i Council was the installation of copper j boilers for the. use of picnic parties. It was desirable that the boilers should j be kept in good condition, and so a ! shelter shed was provided. 'lbis can : be opened up well on two sides when ! the boilers arc in use, and closed eomi pletcly at other times. Heating by gas on the shilling-in-tlie-slot system does away with much stoking and the possibility of smoky tea. The installation has given much satisfaction. Beside the work before mentioned the painting of the base and gilding of the ! lettering of the Pioneer memorial is ; in hand.

( At the February meeting an iinportj niit ste pforward was taken in the j decision come to them to e iigage, in i conjunction with the Borough Council. a man to he kept constantly cni gaged in caring for the parks and in improvements. This man will act as ; caretaker and gardener of the Squares 1 and of the public memorials and their ■ immediate surroundings, and his apj pointment will, no doubt, have a good * moral as well as material effect. The engagement commences on the Ist April, this Association being responsible for half the salary. Further aims.—The improvement of Cass Square will he continued during the coming year, and Macandrew Square will, it is expected, he kept in a condition worthy of its former enthusiastic gardeners. Wluift other 1 work is undertaken will depend largely on tho support given by the pnb*

lie,. It is believed that substantial support will be forthcoming ; there is certainly, in the town, a, very considerable interest shown in the doings of the Association now that some results are visible, and even visitors from, other places have shown their interest by making donations to the Association’s funds.

THANKS.

The Association has been greatly assisted iir its work, not only by the subscriptions of its members, and the generous donations it has received, but also by the willing support of a number of ladies and gentlemen who undertook, or helped in, entertainments or work on behalf of the Association. To all of these the grateful thanks of the Association. is due. Among those to whom thanks are due for other than simple pecuniary support (acknowledged elsewhere) may fittingly be mentioned the, following:—

Messrs PTouliston and Dalgleish, for planning and supervising the work on Class Square East; Mr Renton for the loan of farm implements and the liberal terms for material; tlie Town Band, the Kilties’ Band, and Mr McLean’s Orchestra,, for playing at various times; the Kanieri Electric Com pain,v; for current and wiring; Messrs' Tomlinson and Gifford, for wiring and lights; Messrs Just and Co. for wiring and lights; the Caledonian Society and performers, for a concert; Mrs Chesterman and associates, for a benefit dance; Mrs Stave]y and Concert Party, for a. concert; Mr McTntosh, for use of tlie theatre; Miss McTntosh. for hooking; the Kiwi Football Club for a benefit dance; tlie Racing Club for use of implements j and for cutting grass; the President the Hon TL. L. Michel, and Dr Tciehelmahn for n lantern lecture; the Press for liberal reports and constant sup port; and last, hut not least, Ihe Mayor, the Borough Council, the Reserves Comittee, tlie Town Clerk and the Town Hall caretaker, for the cordial way in which they, one find all, have co-operated in the efforts and meetings of the Association. BALANCE SHEET. The statement shows an income of £283, an outlay of some £250, and a balance for the coming year of some £33.