THE HUMPHRIES' TESTIMONIAL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 187, 29 July 1908, Page 3

THE HUMPHRIES' TESTIMONIAL

There was a representative meeting r;f citizens at the Town Hall last night !o consider the proposal to fittingly reeog-1 nise the services rendered to the town by Mr. Arthur Humphries as chairman of the lii'creation Spurts Ground Comi mitlee. His Worship the .Mayor pro- J . sided, and said there was little need for him to review the objects of the mett- ( ing. It should not be forgotten that Mr. Humphries had secured from the Xew Zealand Rugby Union £4OO nt I per cent, when, but for his exertions, the money might have been devoted to other purposes. He had followed this up by energetically securing public subscriptions and guarantees and evolving an ambitious scheme of improvements. When the terraces and ground were being made, Mr. Humphries had worked for weeks like a Trojan without fee or reward, lie had little doubt that had it not been for "SkinuyV enthusiasm, New Plymouth would not now possess a ground that was the admiration of the Dominion and the pride of New Plymouth. He moved, "That this meeting take steps to acknowledge tlie pub'ie services of Mr. Arthur Humphries in connection with-the improvements at the Recreation Sports Ground, and that a committee be appointed to make the necessary arrangements." Before con- 1 eluding he read a letter from Mr. HQuilliam wishing the movement success, and enclosing a cheque.

Mr. Dockrill, in seconding the motion, said all agreed that it was through Mr. Humphries' initiation, no less than his exertions, which were well seconded by a hard-working committee, that ihe sports grounds were now ail accomplished {net. it was a big undertaking, as everyone would recognise when they knew that over .CI3OO had been spent in tile work.' liy various means II r. 4luniphries had succeeded in raising no less than £!)00 in the town in a comparatively brief space of time, and lie had entirely falsified the predictions of those who believed the scheme was too ambitious. It was only right that the public should recognise to some degree i ihe enormous amount of labor and of time incurred by Mr. Humphries in j working up tho ground improvement scheme and directing it to success. Tho ground was now a credit to everyone connected with it, and a line business asset to the town.

Other speakers having spoken in support, the. motion was carried. On the motion of Mr. Dockrill the following committee was appointed from those present:—Messrs. 0. Tiscli, E. Dockrill, P. T. Bellringer, K. J. Keare, W. C. Weston, .T. Abbott, E. Whittle,' J. Smith, N. K. McDiarmid, L. Hill, and -i. Chappel; secretary and treasurer, Mr. McLeod. It was 'decided that each committeeman be supplied with a subscription list, and that voluntary subscriptions be also received at the newspaper offices. Tho committee will meet to report progress on Wednesday, sth August.