PUKEKURA PARK BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 272, 27 April 1915, Page 7

PUKEKURA PARK BOARD.

ADJOURNED MEETING,

The adjourned meeting of the. l'ukekura Park Board was held in the Council Chambers last night, when there were present —Messrs. R. (chairman), iS. Percy-Smith, J. K. Wii Harris Ford, W. A. Collis, W. 1. Newman, and C. H. Drew (secretary). THE SFORTS GROUND. The chairman stated that the meeting had been adjourned so as to enable the Sports G round Committee, to bring down some proposal in connection with the control of the sports ground. Mr, H. L. Humphries, on behalf of the Sports Clubs, detailed what' had been done at the .meeting convened to discuss the position. Until the meeting of the various clubs had been held and delegates had been appointed to form the new committee, lie could not define their position. He pointed out that the committee had the sympathy of the majority of the public in their efforts to right matters, and he hoped soon to have something satisfactory to report. Mr. Gray, of the Technical School, had promised to give the assistance of sixty beys in clearing up the ground, and was also prepared to go on the committee. It was, he said, their idea to go i right ahead with a big function in aid of the grounds. Mr. R. Lock said he was pleased to see the enthusiasm that was being evinced in the matter. Through the help of the Technical School boys the flagstaff would soon be placed in a position on the terraces, where it would show right down Devon Street. Mr. Brooks '.fas also to be thanked for painting the pole. He felt that the board should not interfere if the committee was prepared to work, and if the same energy .was I displayed as in years gone by the grounds would look better than ever. He also expressed his pleasure that Mr. Gray had interested himself in the , grounds. 'Mr. R. C. Hughes urged that more care should be taken in seeing that the tei races were not destroyed, after they had again been put in order. Mr. S. Percy-Smith considered that the wrong grass had been used on the terraces, and he pointed out where a g.'od holding grass could he obtained.

It was decided to defer consideration of the control of the sports ground until the annual meeting, which will be held about the middle of May. LIGHTING THE GROUNDS.

Mr. Hughes remarked that tho hoard h:ul f>one further into the matter of lighting the grounds !>y and as soon as plan of the ground was prepared by Mr. W. \V. Smith, the borough U'leetrical engineer (Mr. Black) | would submit a report. I ti/ic jockey am imvK. ! I 1 lie secretary of the Taranaki Jockey Cinb (Mr. E. i>. Webster) wrote, pointing out that they wished to form a members' carriage drive from the main entrance of the racecourse coming in round tlie back of the outside public i stand, ami to do this certain earthwork ISDing was necessary, as well as tlie rcininal of some piniis insiunis trees which ■ were on a portion of the borough re- i serve leased to the board. Tlie Tior- < Council was agreeable to the work j being done, .subject In the permis.-ion of ti'i. Park Board be.-eg also obtained. The chairman stated that he had been • shown over the proposed work with sev- , cral members of the board, and con- i sidered that it would be a distinct im- 1

provement. The Jockey Club also undertook to keep the paths in order if the earth from the filling rolled on them. Mr. J. E. Wilson said that the proposed drive would open ujf some beautiful views across the park, and those visitors to the races now unacquainted 'with its beauties would from the glimpse they obtain in driving past be anxious to become better acquainted with the park. .Members generally favored the question, it being remarked by Mr. Newman that the Jockey Club had done more for New Plymouth than the Park Board had. Mr. R. C. Hughes considered that a plan of the proposed work should be submitted, as it would be very unbusinesslike to" grant permission otherwise. The chairman did not think a plan was necessary. Four or five of the members had been over the ground. Moreover, he pointed out that the Jockey Club was anxious to proceed with the work. In further discussion it was stated that the board only had a year to year lease of the piece of ground in question. The chairman moved that the request be acceded to. This was seconded by Mr. C. 11. Drew, and carried after an amendment proposed by Mr. Pi. C. Hughes and seconded Dy Mr. Harris Ford, to the effect that the Jockey Club be asked to submit plan of the ground required, had been lost.