Hokitika Beautifying Association.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 March 1924, Page 4

Hokitika Beautifying Association.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting was held in the Town Hall last evening at 8 o’clock. The President, ilon. H. ;L. Michel, presiding over a small attendance. The minutes of lust annual meeting acre read and coniirmed, ANNUAL REPORT. During the year 8 meetings of the Committee were held, and the objects of the Association have been steadily advanced. Therefore, in presenting this, the Brd. Annual Report, the Committee is pleased to record that although no very showy work has been done there has been carried out some very valuable and substantial work. Some of the improvements such as underground stone drains, are out of sight, hut their elfects are of much value. A short account of die chief improvements made in C'ass Square during the financial year follows, and it may be noted several of the works took up long periods of the staff's time. (a) The main walks and cycling track, with a small exception, have been well graded and given a good coat of gravel. (b) A stone drain 810 feet long has been put in the West football field, and the ground is now cleared of water much more rapidly than before. (e) The open drain at the side of the north-east track has been filled in, the

hank levelled, and the adjacent track better graded. This has much improved the appearance of the spot. (d) Many loads of spoil from the streets have been spread over the playing field, levelling up hollows. (e) The football ground fence has been given a coat of paint, the paint being supplied by the Rugby SubUnion.

(f) The entrance paths from the two west gates and the track between them have been tar-sealed. This work has been in hand a long time, and it has been carried on to take advantage of the exceptionally long spell of fine weather, even to the detriment of ordinary maintenance work. The track, with its whitish gravel presents now a very neat appearance anti the entrances look much more respectable. (g) Five garden seats have now been placed at the east end. facing the Cenotaph. (h) More plank seats round the track have been cleaned, repaired, brought into alignment, and painted. (i) The fence round the south-west triangle was removed as an experiment, and the sides were neatly straightened. The effect is pleasing. (j) The giant stride has been improved. (k) The south-east triangle was prepared by removal and replanting of trees for the erection of the Burns monument. The treatment of the triangle after the erection of the statue was undertaken by the Caledonian Society. Maintenance work was carried on in both Maenmlrew and Cass Squares. Sometimes, for convenience, the new work was allowed to interfere with ordinary maintenance work, with the result that, with the small stall' available, gardening and clearing no work became n lit tie backward. AYe. hope, however, to avoid this in future. The grass on the playing fields was cutfour times during the present growing season. Before leaving this aspect of the Association’s work it might he profitable to recall to mind the chief work done by flic Association during its two previous years. This included the painting of the fences round Maeandrew and Cass Squares; the painting of the Pavilion and of the copper boiler shed; the erection of the shed and the installation therein of 8 gas heated coppers (half shares with the- Borough Council); tlie clearin'' up and re-grading of the overgrown cycling track; tile widening and straightening of the eastern track ; the clearing away of blackberry; the partial levelling of the outside grass strip; the levelling and timing of the lawn round the Cenotaph; the removal and re-erection of the swings in their present position; the tilling in of the open drain Through the eastern playing field, and the replacing by an underground drain'; the formation and asphalting of the path separating the Cenotaph lawn from, the playing area; Llie ploughing, levelling, draining and grassing of the eastern playing field; the trimming of the trees around Pass Square; the top-dressing of the western playing field; and the supporting, with the Borough Council, of a permanent gardener and parks caretaker. The matter of beach improvement was considered this year, and a conference with the Borough Council Reserves Committee and an interview with the Borough Council took plate. It was not considered advisable, however, to undertake work on the beach, just at that time, but the matter lias not been forgotten. During the year the caretaker has had the assistance of various workers. The number given employment to dining the year, was thirteen, the largest number employed at one iime being four. When we have the funds we arc glad to give work to any unem-

ployed man. The Association has again boon greatly helped in its work by friends and has much pleasure in gratefully putting on record its thanks to the various Indies and gentlemen who have so kindly given their personal help. (Donations of cash have lieen acknowledge 1 will thanks in the press.) Among ihe helpers the following may hespecia.lv mentioned : —The, ladies who so successfully carried out the Bazaar and Paddy’ Market, not omitting the Postci Parade ladies with their organiser. Mrs Will. Wilson, and the amateur stage helpers; the Athletic and Cycling Club, which helped greatly in undertaking sports; Mr Tomlinson far • loe.tric lighting; Mr Benton and Mr I. Brown for barrels of tar; tie Borough Council who supplied some gravel; the Reserves Committee, the Bdriugh Council, tlie Town Clerk, and the Park custodian who by their unfailing 'Ooperntion lightened the work, and the local press which lias consistently given liberal support and copious reports. Tin- statement of accounts shows that during the year £334 14s has been paid away. Of this sum £4l, with £lB foi printing and advertising, was spent tc produce the remainder; labour took £220; cartage and gravel required £l9; other material £l9; and grass cutting was responsible for £ll. Of the money spent, together with a bank balance of £2 10s 9d, £l4 came from subscriptions and donations, £l7B was raised by a bazaar, £oS came from Paddy’s Market, £32 from the Poppy Day fund was handed over hv the R..S. A. for finding employment for returned -soldiers. £7 was derived from sale of rights, £l9 was a balance from last year, £1 was interest, and £25 was advanced by the President, the total sum being £337. The advance by the President was made to enable tar-sealing to continue while we had the advantage of fine weather. Liabilities for various -supplies come to over £4O. The Association is undoubtedly doing good work, . and, having confidence in obtaining the support of the public in

the future as in the past, it is not delaying work which can most conveniently be done now, until more revenue is derived from projects at present in hand.

—Received and adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. President—Hon. 11. L. Michel (reelected). Vice-Presidents—Mrs AY. Wilson, Messrs D. J. Evans and It. Wild. Secretary—Mr J. Niven (re-elected). Committee—Mr and Mrs W. J. Butler, Mr and Mrs Pilkington, Mesdanies Bennett, Benjamin, Morris, Stuart, Coles, Parkhill, Miss Thompson, Messrs Richards, Irvine, Carter, Boyd, Preston. A general discussion took place over the affairs of the Association, the President referring at length to the- work accomplished during the period since the formation cif the Association. He emphasised that the Borough Council should assist more, in fact the Association was doing more work than it was originally intended to. Mr Michel paid a warm tribute to those who had assisted the funds of the Association stating it was gratifying to find the work so appreciated. Reference was also made to the arrangements in hand for the benefit on April 9th. for which there was every prospect of substantial support. It was mentioned that the Cycling Club was arranging a programme and the Town Band had promised to attend. After a further general discussion, a vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the meeting at 9 p.m.