FOXTON BEAUTIFYING SOCIETY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2745, 14 June 1924, Page 3

FOXTON BEAUTIFYING SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of members of the above society was held on Thursday evening. There was a fair attendance and Mr Perreau presided. ANNUAL REPORT. The fourth annual report, after setting out the offices elected stated that the attendance at committee meetings had been very satisfactory.

“Your committee decided that no further new work be done on Easton Park, but all previous improvements effected there have been attended and kept in good condition. Your committee found it necessary to fence a certain portion to protect the plants. During the year your committee waited on the Racing Club officials with a view of getting heir co-operation in beautifying the northern approach to the town, but so far without any results on account of the Highway Board probably straightening the road at the locality. Your committee received a request from -the Foxton Borough Council to donate a sum of '£so for the purpose of preparing another ground for football, but c-ould not accede to the request. Victoria Park has been fenced and planted with tree lucerne, wattle and pines, which are growing satisfactorily. Union street also received attention in tree planting. The garden plots in Ihakara. Gardens have been a great inprovement, this reserve has been kept in fairly good order. A request was made by your committee to the Borough Council to have the water laid on at Ihakara Gardens which would be of great value in keeping the grounds in order during the summer months, also that it would be a great improvement to Ihakara Gardens if the Borough .Council constructed a footpath along. the front to Ravens worth Place. Your committee were unable to complete the concrete footpath in Ihakara Gardens the cost exceeding the estimate. A public meeting was convened to formulaic some scheme to provide swings etc. in Easton Park for the children but it was thought advisable to hold same over until after the Band Carnival. It has been suggested as a recommendation to the incoming committee that the Borough Council acquire the land where the old tire hell was; also a portion of the Court house yard with a view df widening the footpath and to place a few seats in the- land acquired

The balance sheet showed receipts for the year £ll lb/-, fixed deposit £250 paid into general account and'credit in general account at commencement of year £77 10/2 making a. total of £339 6/2. The expenditure totalled £lO7 6/6 and was made up as follows: —wages £45 3/-, trees and plants £lB 19/6, timber, etc. £350/10, bank charges 14/-, advertising £3 13/-, cartage £2 1/5, petty cash £1 14/9. Cash in hand £3l- - plus deposit of £2OO in Post Office, which disclosed a total credit of £231 19/8.

In' moving the adoption of the report and the balancesheet Mr. Hornblow commented upon the absence of a grant from the Borough Council in respect to the caretaker's salary of £3O per year. He understood when the caretaker had been engaged that the Council were lo contribute £ls. He thought the society was entitled to a subsidy in this connection as was done in other centres where similar societies operated. In regard to the old firebell site he, as president of the Chamber of Commerce at the time, 'had asked ther Minister for .Justice to allow the site to be used for public purposes and a letter had been received sanctioning the temporary use of the site, If the Borough Council could obtain the land it would improve the footway there. The Rev. Mr. Walton said the Borough Council had donated £lO two years ago and he suggested a further application be made. Mr. Christie urged that the Borough Council should construct a footpath along the south side of Ihakara Garden and complete the tarring of Main street near the triangle and remove the chain fence.

After further discussion the report and balance-sheet were adopted.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Patron: Mr A. S.' Easton; president: Mr M. Perreau; vice-presi-dent: Mr John Ross; committee. Mesdames McMurray, Moore, Easton, Perreau and Miss J. Ross. Revs. W. Walton, Perryman, F. MacDonald, Messrs J. K. Hornblow, Winstanely, and D. Christie; hon. secretary and treasurer: Mi - . F. Rimmer; hon. auditor: Mr. E. Jackson. GENERAL. The secretary was instructed to thank Messrs Large (Nelson), W. Nye and Mis. Procter senior for donations of plants and trees. It was decided to replace trees that had died, the purchase of some to be left in the hands of the president. ‘ . A deputation consisting of Messrs Perreau, Hornblow, , Walton, Winstanley, Perryman and Christie was appointed to confer with the Borough Council in reference to several matters touched upon. At the conclusion o£ the meeting Mr. J. Golder, organiser for the Band Carnival, explained the objects of the carnival and the progress being made. Mr. Golder was accorded a vote of thanks and was assured that the society while not able to assist financially, would do what it could to co-operate.