REC. GROUNDS BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 144, 15 July 1909, Page 3

REC. GROUNDS BOARD.

A meeting of the Recreation Grounds Board was held in the Mayor's room last evening, when there were present: [Messrs F. P. Corkill (chairman), 1!. Lock, R. C. Hughes, Harris Ford (trustees), and Messrs U. Tisch and A. E. VVatkins (Borough Council representatives), E. H. Tribe (secretary), and \y. H. Sunth (curator). .Mr. F. C. Bellringer was also present towards the close of the meeting. J ADMISSION, OF REPORTERS.

I Prior to the opening of the meeting, some discussion took place concerning the admission of reporters, the chairman ruling that such a course, reversing the practice of the Board for some thirtyyears past, would require notice of motion, a ruling that Mr. Cock stigmatised as "bunkum." As, however, the representatives of both .papers were present he thought an exception might be made for this meeting only. The Board was unanimous in its' endorsement of this idea. PROPOSED FISH HATCHERIES. Messrs J. E. Wilson and E. Whittle, waited on the Board on behalf of the Taranaki Acclimatisation Society, and nsked if the Board would consider its application for permission to erect fish hatcheries in the grounds. They pointed out that in the past the Society had been in the habit of rearing its fish from fry purchased from other societies. By this means .perhaps 10,000 trout were liberated annually in the streams of the district. But it was desired now to purchase ova and hatch out its own fry, I so' that they would have 100,000 or : 200,000 trout for liberation. To do this i

it would 'be necessary to erect hatcheries and the Society would ibe glad of per

mission to erect the hatcheries' in these grounds, where Tor some years past the I youngs trout had been developed in the Society's pools, by the courtesy of the Board. A* to the care of the fish, that was a matter requiring consideration, and the Society would be glad if Mr. Smith, the curator of the grounds, could arrange to carry out this work in which te had proved his usefulness' and knowledge. •Mr. Corkill reminded the deputation

that whereas in years past the Society rad been in the habit of handing the sum of £lO to the curator for this work, that course had not been followed this year.

.The deputation regretted that this should have been overlooked.

e The chairman also announced, on be-. f half of Mr. Smith, that the curator would not be able to assume any responsibility for the care of the hatcheries. After some further discussion, it was decided that the Board should confer . with the Society's deputation on the ground. • "A WATERSPOUT." In reference to the suggested danger

', to the grounds arising from the cons struction of a dam in Mr. Newton i- King's grounds above the Board's lakelets, Mr. Tribe (secretary) assured the 1 Board that there could be no danger y from that source, on account of the method of construction. Mr. Watkins said that the school dam - was leaking and should be seen to. i Mr. Cock thought there was no need ) for alarm, as the scbool bath would - dry up in the summer; j : Mr. Hughes' fear was that a wator- : spout would overtax the Board's' dam. i The chairman terminated the discussion, 'which he said was not in order until the committee had reported. He . remarked also that Mr. King had assured him that every care had been taken to ensure the stability of his work. THE CURATOR'S REPORT. The curator, Mr. W. W. Smith, presented a. very exhaustive report on the work in the grounds, einee April last, and suggested methods in which the unemployed might be put to work in

the grounds. He reported that petty depredations still continued to be committed in the park. On llth April one of the Russian geese was stolen; bulbs recently planted were being taken away; the padlock on the peacock's pen had been broken oil, probably so that the feathers dropped from the birds might be taken; the jackass' enclosure had also been maliciously injured. The Board discussed the matter of expending about £2l available for works in the grounds, such as gorse*, grubbing, tree-planting, and so on, tb'6 j Board being of opinion that in giving employment preference should be given I to local married men. 'The curator was empowered to cm- ; ploy labor for gorse grubbing. .Mr. Hughes moved that the rate of wages paid be seven shillings a day to men with large families', six shillings for men with medium or small families, and five shillings for single men.—'Mr. Watkins seconded. The chairman and Mr. Cock pointed ; out that this was not work created fo: the unemployed, but work that must be done in any ease, and full wagi's should be paid. ■Mr. Watkins considered the money subscribed had been given for relief of the unemployed. and there would bo a "howl" if full wages were paid. The motion was' Io&t. The rate of wages was fixed at seven shillings a day. THE FIXAXCES. •The balance-sheet for the year ended April Ist, submitted by the chairman as sethig-secretary, was read a? follows: Receipts: Cash in hand, Ist April, £1 10s; donations, £SO 14&' 3d; rents, £22 ios; proceeds from picnic, 9Ui November, £3l 8s 7d; boat license and boat fees, 19s; donations in box, £5 13s 2d; Bank of New Zealand overdraft on the Ist April, 1900, £BB log 2d; L\ 1\ Gorikill, £1) 15s 8d; a total ol £4ll 10a •od. Expenditure; Bank overdraft, Ist April, I ( JU8, £o*s 18s o*d; wages, £287 Is 2d; material, tools and repairs, £lB Us 4d; railage ami cartage, £2 2s; lire insurance, 15s 9d; painting and'repairs at cottage, £2O Is; painting band rotunda, £0 3s (id; seeds, Itis Dd; advertising, 10s; 200 Chinese lanterns aud charges, £4 4s lOd; rent, Borough Council, ss; postage <ind stationery, 3d; bank interest and commission, £5; total, £4ll 10s lOd.

A further statement laid on the table showed that since April Ist last, when the overdraft stood at £BB lis 2d, there had been paid in /JS 15s, reducing that to £4O Os 2d. Ct ,oucs had been drawn to the amount c* £53 ls 4d, bringing the overdraft to £ll3 ls <id to date. Other liabilities totalled £IOB 13s' lOd, including £3!) arrears of curator's salary, and £27 cash advanced by Mr. L'orkill.

Commenting on the balance-sheet, the chairman drew attention to the fact that ordinary labor had cost £l2O more than in the previuu, year. Regarding the liability to himself, he explained that it was incurred in the purchase of fireworks for displays which had had to be abandoned on account of the weather. There were suilicient fireworks for three displays, each one of which should be worth £SO clear to the Board. Had the displays been given as advertised there would have been a big difference ill the state of the finances. The Board had also been disappointed in receiving only £3l from tlio Sports Grounds Committee's effort, when £IOO had been expected. Mr. Walking thought tlio revenue from honorary members' subscriptions could be increased by the Board undertaking to give its .subscribers five or six named native trees. He moved the adoption of the balance-sheet, •Mr. Ford seconded.

Mr. Hughes was puzzled to find where the extra money for labor had gone, but was satisfied with the assurance that much of it had gone into converting the swamp behind the tea-house into a garden. ■Mr. Cock confessed he had been start' led at the size of the casual labor account. He considered it showed carelessness on the part of the Board that he and other members were not conversant with the finances of the Board. It seemed (hat 30 one tint the chairman knew the exact amount of the debt. Instead of only £6O overdraft as at the beginning of the year they now had one of £93, and on top of that owed £IOO in tradesmen's accounts. The chairman called Mr. Cock to order. The debts .were not all tradesmen's? debts. For instance, there was the £39 due to the caretaker and £3? to himself.

The secretary: They're liabilities, nevertheless. The chairman said the members bad Jwji <]iiite aware that they were outrunning },he constable. Mr. Cock tiiid that lie hadn't known by how much. ' Mr. Ford said the Board had authorised all the expenditure. The chairman added tliat when the Hoard met on the grounds and authorised these works they, alway* had the bank-book there. The balance-sheet was adopted, "BAISKG THE WIND," The Board discussed suggestions for raking money. A ball was suggested, but the suggestion was not entertained. Arrangements for an entertainment were left with Mr. Wntkins to report. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Mr. Cork-ill asked to be relieved of the (•osition of chairman. Some discussion took place as {0 the right of the representatives of the Borough Council to occupy the chair. .The chairman put the position briefly. This was a Board of Trustees, and in addition the Borough Council, at the i request of the Board, sent three repre--1 EeuMtres IS lake part in the meeting?,'

' the Board recognising that as contributors of a goodly share of the revenue the Council should have a voice in the ex- . penditure. But 'those members, whilst in the main on a level with the trustees ihemselvus, could not act as executive officers, signing leases, or cheques, or busiuess of that kind. The Mayor proposed Mr. Cock as chairman, Mr. Wo-fckins seconding. fllr. Cock Slid he thought Mr. S. Percy-Smith should -be appointed to the position, but the chairman said Mr. Smith had declined a year ago. It was useless to approach' him again. •Mr. Cock was unanimously elected, and on taking the chair announced that he would do his best, but he reckoned on having a- very trying time as there was no money. Upon ,the motion of Messrs Tisch and Ford, a very hearty vote of thanks' was accorded the outgoing chairman, Messrs Tisch and Cock remarking on the fact that Mr. Corkill had not only devoted an enormous amount of time to the work of the Board, but had also advanced money for the carrying on of the work. .. THE BOROUGH REPRESENTATION. Mr. Bellrin£l?r announced that he would decline to sit on the Board as | a delegate from the Borough Council sinless those members had equal rights [ with the trustees. That would have to be brought about if the borough sub?mv were to be continued. ° The chairman explained that five or six years ago he had offered to resign his scat so that the Council could have a fully-flcdged nominee. The Council cm not accept the offer, Mr Hughes thought it useless and regrettable that Mr. Bellringer «hould « he proposed, go back to the Council and make a fuss. Mr. Bellringln- then gave notice to move at next meeting that the Board lake into consideration the matteT of handing over control to the Boreujh I t/ouneil. " . Mr. Corkill pointed out that Mr Bellringer, not being a trustee, would not be allowed to vote on such a matter. Mr. Bellringer withdrew his notice I tin„; "If erte<l his t on to fight to the last against handing 7th?S' CO r il - H «™ s «>efounde? lof the grounds, was instrumental in forming the first Board, and had be'en » member of it ever since. work done in the grounds was JoSSSi only because of the continuous tenure ot the trustees' office. tl,e lr^f ß i, e,l ' ing n r con sMered-the state of thnt ,P fi , m m groimds aa Mication that the burgesses were not getting value for their subsidy g «al would plant a tree one dav an ' other would cut it dow„ the next.' InolL n eons, , der «l the grounds well , looked after, and surpassing in beauty ' a Y funds in (he Dominion ffi " only fault lay with the pat™ "" ' SVgftiL « New Plymouth for the time I,l™ l m „ GEXERAL. ' 'inn Taranaki J.C. will be ~=i-„,i f „ „ on account „f grounds "*«>«* through the

Vogcltown residents, and any ntw, S"' ? atfe « thoroughfare? or •mate roads, will be allowed to keep Mr C'Mkill gave notice to move that