BEAUTIFYING SOCIETY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2617, 9 August 1923, Page 3

BEAUTIFYING SOCIETY.

At the annual meeting of the above oeiety a policy was recommended in reference to this season’s operations which included! the expenditure of £SO on Victoria Park, £SO on the improvement of a waste piece of land at the north entrance of the

borough. The property is vested in the Racecourse Trustees and leased to the Racing, Club. -It is separated from club properly by tbe railway line and is unfenced and covered with lupins. Flax refuse has been dumped there in times past, which lias enriched the soil. This piece of land was inspected some time ago by two members of the Society and a member of the Racing Club stewards. The Society’s object'is to enlist the club’s sanction and co-operation in converting this waste land into a beauty spot. We are informed that the Racing Club stewards are favourable to tbe suggestion and desire that the society should make a deUnite proposal. The main road at the point takes a curve instead of leading straight on from Russell St. lo the railway crossing. It was decided to allocate £IOO for Easton Park, hut to withhold expenditure on same until the Borough Council had decided on a policy in reference to this reserve. As the planting season is advancing, members of the Society are anxious that something should be done.

A meeting of the Committee was held on Monday night, presided over by >Mr Perreau-' (president) who reported that he had waited on the Racing Club in connection with beautifying the waste land belonging to the Club on the north of the town and adjoining the railway line. Tbe proposal was received very cordially, as tjhe chib recognised .something shoulG}£*done with what is now an eyesore. The club required an estimate of the cost, of fencing, ploughing and levelling; what was proposed in the way of laying out and planting. The Mayor, who is an ex offioo member of the committee, stated that in the very near future the land from Russell Street to the railway line would probably be required for straightening Russell Street as under tbe Main Highways Bill this would be t lie main road between Auckland and Wellington. After discussion the Mayor moved “that tbe Racing Club be written to asking that the land on the north of Park Street be fenced, cleared, and ploughed, and that estimates' and a plan of tbe proposed beautifying be supplied to tbe Club.” This was seconded by Rev. W. Walton and carried.

A committee consisting of Mesdames Moore, McMurray and Messrs Walton and Perreau were appointed to attend to the matter. The matter of what could be done on Victoria Park was thoroughly gone into and eventually it was decided to fence in the bill portion, and to plant this with tree lucerne, and other suitable shrubs and trees.