BEAUTIFYING SOCIETY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4836, 29 May 1925, Page 2

BEAUTIFYING SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Paeroa Beautifying and Improvement Society was held in the Borough Council Chambers on Wednesday evening, the president (Mr W. Marshall) presiding over tlie following : Misses M. Shaw and E. Rickard, Messrs E. W. Porritt, J. W. Silcoek, G. H. Taylor, J. E. Bigelow. 11. E. Butler, E. Edwards, W. 11. Blake way, and Miss D. W. Butler, secretary and treasurer. ANNUAL REPORT. The following nanual report was presented ‘•The year just ended has not. been an active one for the Society. “Finance.—The financial resources have made impossible anything but bare maintenance work, new work being entirely out of the question, Miss Shaw and Miss Rickard kindly undertook the duties of canvassers, and a determined effort has been made to find out our true position and put tilings on a sound basis. The best thanks are due to these ladies, whose cheerful discharge of this unpleasant duty has enabled us to carry on, and has also been the means of awakening new interest. As a result of careful consideration we recommend that the outstanding guarantees—as per attached list —amounting to £lOO 0s 6d, be written off; also that membership fees amounting to £l2 be written off, and the following names be taken pff the membership roll—they being desirous of resigning or having left the district.

“Some donations have also been received, and your committee appreciates the spirit in which these have been given, even if ‘■.he amounts are small.

"The balance-sheet shows a credit of £l7 2s Bd, and assets (which have been considerably written down) amounting to £lB6 15s Bd, including aforementioned cash at bank. Liabilities are nil.

“We recommend that a dance and euchre social be organised to provide much-needed finance.

“Membership.—Six new members haev been secured, with which the present number (stands at 59, including two life-members. "Maintenance. —A new arrangement have been secured, with which the the railway and church sections, not including flower-beds, are being kept for a flat, wage, of £1 a week. This is proving satisfactory so far, and the grass lias always a tidy appearance now.

“We earnestly request members to do everything possible to secure new members, thereby assisting the society to carry on. No report would be complete that did not refer to the splehdid help so willingly given by tlie Misses Dutton and Brownbill, whose public-spirited activities maintained the flower plots at the, church corner, and much work at the railway section, apart from the secretarial duties carried out so ably by Misis Dutton. We miss them greatly, and wish to make this further tribute .to their work. Volunteers are urgently required for the maintenance of some of the. plots on the railway section. If these were all cleaned up the section would present a very pleasing appearance.

“New Work.—We strongly urge that arrangements be made to plant an avenue of trees in Taylor’s Avenue and part of Moore Road, so as to give an avenue of trees on the railway siae from .the. new (station to Belmont Road. Inquiries arc being made concerning tlie suitability of Japanese flowering cherries, and we would suggest that a working bee should be organised to undertake the planting and protecting, so that the cost to the society would not be great. It is a splendid and unusual opportunity to do something really fine. “Auditor. —The thanks of the society are due to the auditor, Mr W. H. Blakeway, for his kind services as auditor.

‘•Nominations.—Nominations show the absence of Misses Dutton and Brownbill, Mrs D. J. Evans, and Messrs Gillman and Gorrie. The thanks of the society are due to these mehir bers for their services. Special and suitable record of appreciation has been made in reference to the work done by Misses Dutton and Brownbill. Without desiring to make distinction, it is felt by your committee that special appreciation should be recorded and forwarded to the retiring vicepresident Mr E. E. Gillman, who has given much valuable help in many ways since the inauguration of this society.” In moving the. adoption of the report Mr Porritt said that he did not think the band rotunda should be shown as an asset. The building was set. on concrete, and the Borough Council was the body most likely to be interested in it, especially if thtye was a chance of it being moved at the completion of the new post office. Mr Taylor agreed, and pointed out that possibly the structure might be sold and the money used for other purposes. The report was adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of officers resulted as follows: — Patrons, Messrs H. Poland, M.P., and J. L. Hanna ; president, Mr W. Marshall; vice-presidents, Messrs J. W. Silcoek and G. H. Taylor ; committee, Misses. M. Shaw and E. Rickard, Messi’s G. P. de Castro, J. E. Bigelow, J. Walmsley, E. Edwards, H. E. Butler; secretary and treasurer, Miss D. W. Butler; auditor, Mr W. H. Blakeway. ALTERATION OF RULES. Mr Porritt said that in his opinion the rules pertaining to the election of officers were too cumbersome and required revision. He formally gave notice of motion to that effect. Seconded by Mr Taylor and -carried. SOCIAL The with power to add) was authorised to promote a social as ;i means of raising funds with which to purchase trees to plant Taylor’s Avenue. Miss Shaw and Mr Edwai'ds !