BEAUTIFYING SOCIETY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5282, 1 June 1928, Page 2

BEAUTIFYING SOCIETY.

THE ANNUAL MEETING,

IS INTEREST WANING ?

The eighth annual mee.ting of the Paeroa Beautifying and Improvement Society (incorporated) was, held on Wednesday, when the following were present: Messrs W. Marshall (president), E. W. Porritt, E- Edwards, G. H. Taylor, C. N. O’Neill, W. DNicholas, and the hon. secretary, Miss D. W. Butler.

In presenting the annua] report and balance-sheet the chairman referred to the small attendance of members. It would be a pity he said, for the society to peter out now, after having accomplished such splendid work. It was certain tha.t a .special effort on the, part of the incoming committee would have to be made to collect the outstanding subscriptions in order to be able to draw up a programme of work.

REPORT AND BALANCE-SHEET.

The report was as follows :—

“The principal work for which the society has been responsible during the past year was- the planting of liquid! amber trees in Victoria Street, Wood Street, and Nahum Street, and the laying of.grass in Wood Street. Ihir was a big undertaking, and was only possible through the co-opera-tion of the Borough Council in its work of reconstructing Wood. Street. The result obtained has beerf most gratifying, and the improvement is so great tha,t it has earned general appreciation. If the society could carry out a. similar work each year 'Paeroa would gradually become much improved and beautiful. “A contribution, was also made by the society to the work which has been done on the children’s playground at the old station site. “As these two works were carried out in connection with last winter’s relief of unemployment, to which the society contributed the useful sum of £5O, there has been little need to hold committee meetings, because the actual work was done under the direction- of the Borough Council, it can be confidently stated that the work carried out during the year justified the activities of the society. “The usual annual social was held last winter, and thinks are expressed for the valuable prizes, eatables, and help generously given. Financially the result was.- not very encouraging, the nett proceeds amounting to only £7 19s 7d.

“ The sum of £lO 15s lid was generously donated for planting trees in Wood, Victoria, and Nahum streets, and valuable, ’help was given in this work by pupils of the school. “The paymen’t of members’ subscription. fees has been most disappointing. Only £l5 has been received while the large sum of £ll9 is outstanding. Unless there is a great improvement in this respect the existence of this society is only a question of a very short period. “A number of trees in Victoria and Wood streets died out during last summer’s drought, a.nd will require replacing. A fine opportunity exists to beautify in the vicinity of the new traffic bridge and upper Normanby Road, which, owing to its width and position at the eastern entrance to the town, and it being a continuation of the street, lends itself admirably to tree planting, which would constitute a., great improvement in a few years’ time. Whether it will be possible to do this work depends entirely upop the finance, which is the most urgent matter to which the incoming committee will require to devote its attention.

“The marble slabs which were authorised at the last annual meeting have not been secured owing to shortage of fund's.

“The best thanks of the. society are due to the lion, a.uditor, Mr W. C. Alexander, for his services.” The balance-sheet showed that the year starte.d with a credit balance of £3B 15s 2d, and receipts for the year, ’were £35 18s. sd>, making a total of £74 13s 7d. The expenditure was made up of : Planting in Wood, Nahum, and Victoria streets £l5 ,1s 4d, unemployed relief fund £5O, and sundry amounts £6 10s 10d, leaving a credit.balan.ee of £3 Is sd. The assets were set down a® £137 13s lid, the chief items being outstanding subscriptions £ll9 and seats £l2. . ..

On the motion, of the chairman., seconded by Mr E. W. Porritt, the report and balance-sheet wa,s adopted.

OFFICERS.

The following officers were elected : President, Mr W. .Marshall; vice-presi-dents, Messrs J. W. Silcock and C. N. O’Neill; committee, Messrs E. W. Porritt, G. H. Taylor, E. Edwards, W. D. Nicholas, J. Walmsley, J. H. Hare, and Miss Rickard ; hon. secretary apd treasurer, Miss D. W. Butler ; auditor, Mr W. C. Alexander. COMMITTEE .MEETING.. A meeting of the committee was held following the annual, meeting, and the matter of ways and means was, discussed at length. It was resolved to appeal to all those whose subscriptions were in arrear, for an early settlement, so that a programme of work for the season could be drawn up. Messrs E. Edwards and C. N. O’Neill were elected a sub-copimittee to deal with the collection of the outstanding subscriptions am] report to the next meeting on June 27.