PUKEKURA PARK BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 May 1918, Page 5

PUKEKURA PARK BOARD.

ANNUAL MEETING. - The annual meeting of the Pukekvira Park Board was held at the 'Soldiers' Club List night- Mr. R. C. Hughes presided, and there were present:—Messrs W. A. Collis, R. Coek, C. E. Bcllringcr, R Percy-Smith, H. Ford, W. F. Short, and A. Grey (lion, secretary). ANNUAL REPORTS. In Ma annual report, tho chairman referred to some substantial improvements made during the year The chief of these was tho completion of the else., tric lighting of the Park. The whole scheme gavo a very pleasing and cheerful effect, and added greatly to the comfort of patrons of the evening concerts. The work had beeen somewhat of a drain on the board's finances, and there was owing the sum of £43 12s 6d to the electric light department of the borough. A marked improvement in the appearance of 'many of the paths had been effected- The paths improved were those loading from the lake up to the Vogeltown entrance, round Cannon Hill, from tho sports ground to dohn street, that on the east side of the upper lake, and that leading from the lower lake along the upper part of the western terraces of tho sports ground. To extend the palli running: round the back of ihe gully that debouches into the sports ground on the 'east aide, to the beautiful airily accessible from Fillis street, he thought it would bo desirable to acquire a section owned T)y an absentee. The concrete steps forming a landing at tho upper lake were a (treat improvement, and so were tho rock basin and concrete outlet for the fernery and waterfall. The board was indebted to Messrs Messenger and Griffiths for their services in connection with those works. The chairman stated tllia.t no collection would be made this year (other than for annual subscriptions), through funds having been raised by the fete held on March 7. Tho finaneM position Was also improved by a generous donation of £l5O by tho Mayor of New Plymouth. The Borough Council had also added to its minimi grant a further £SO. matins' £2OO in all. Generous gifts of plants and seeds had been received and acknowledged. Thanks wa.s expressed to the Citizens' Fete Committee and to Mrs. Burgess and the ladies of her committee for their assistance at the fete. Burin? the coming year tho board slioulfl give attention to the terraces, which, 'from lour? neglect, had in some cases got into a dcploraible condition. Durini his term of office he had aimed chiefly at preventing damage to tho terraces and facilitating traffic across them by eonsh'imtinc steps in sujtaWe places. The increased revenue, emvbled the board to look forward to the progress and development of tbe Park with more confidence. The report of the curator (Mr. W. W. Smith) dealt with the various improvementis and general wort: carried out in Ihe Grounds during thft yaar, Tho statement of roeeirds and »\-penditure for the year pudifig March 31 showed total receipts £77fi 0s lid, 'laeluding balance brought forward of £7(5 0s 7d... Tho other chief items amon? receipts were:—Park Saturday, £'lo3 12s Id: Park fete. £I4R 14s 10d; C. W. Govott's estate, rCIOC. Taranaki .Tockey Club, £SO• Borough Council subscriptions. £llO IDs: subscriptions and dmift. tions. ClO hi Id: and rents, £9/>. TV expenditure totalled £."71 frs M. l-lho principal items being FW2 18s Id, fnr wages and salaries, £■?? 0a for the pmn--r-vcte Mens and waterfall. £3;' for electric licht round lake. £3-2 Ifis repairs to shed, and ;£5 2s 0(1 expense's in connection with fete. The balance iti bank and cash in hand amounted to £10." 3s 3d. there beincr al"o £IOO op deposit. The chairman moved thf* adoption of the reports and balance-sheet. The motion was seconded by Mr. Collis and carried unanimously. A vote of thanks was accorded (n Mr, R. Pepperill for Ills grafaltoos audit',

iug of the accounts, and it was decideq 1.0 grant an honorarium of £1 la to, him. Appreciative, reference'!, were made tij the services of the chairman (Mr. R. C; ■ Hughes) during his term of office, CW the motion' of Mr. Bellringer seeondefl by Mr. Cock, a hearty voto of thanfca wa s accorded to him the motion being earned with acclamation. ELECTION OF CHATRMAN. On tlio motion of Messrs Code and Ford, Mr. C E. Bellringer was unnni' mously elected, chairman .of the board, for the ensuing year. , : VACANCIES ON SOABD. It was decided to recommend the Gtov« eminent to appoint Mrs. 0. H. BirrgWß to fill the. vacancy on the board caused by the resignation of Mr. W. L. Newman, and Mr. W. A. Coilis to fil ,thj vacancy caused by tns resignation, of M% 0. H- Drew. GENERAL. After some discussion of the question, Mr. Bellringer moved and Mr. Short seconded, that the board should ta&a over the control of the boats on the laka for their own profits, the change to taka effect as from the end of 'May. .TW motion was carried. It was decided that during the* ptea< sure of the board permission be given for the carting of supplies to the tea' kiosk, the donation offered by the at*''. ter to be expended in making the p&Si from the sports ground to tho tea kWlc fit for light vehicular traffic. The question of nuisances «Mninii*eß at the Park was referred to hy tW chairman, who reported that three tibyS had been caught and confesssed fbetf.' guilt. They had been punched by ffie'. : ; masters of the schools to which fitcy ■' belonged, and they were, he thought, nofi • likely to repeat the offence. He, wet**,,; mended, and the board decided, to wrtE-'. draw tho legal proeeeedangs pending.' against the offenders " ; Pursuant to notice, the ehainnSa moved, in order to place the ffnaameii of the board in an even better posiaony ' that in future the boirrd take 25 pe% cent, of the gate takings of all fetes &T. public function held in the Park. Mr. Percy-Smith seconded the motion/ : saying he quite agreed with tihe eWay • man's view He thought the moneys would be needed in the future, and ha also thought that the board shoddl' take a percentage of the gate ■f&Jdotigß.of , functions held in the Park". Some members suggested that i£eW should be an elasticity in the appHoa< tinn of such a resolution, and it waß ' pointed out that very few fetes would 1 bo held during, tho war period from' which the board could take 25 per cent of the gate money. The motion, on being put, was carriSf. Mr: Smith raised the qnestion of tiiS proposed demolition by the EducatK&S Board of a very old and historic buiWing at the rear of the school in OottP* ' tenay street, and urged that the botoSt i should take some action with a view toK having the building preserved:. S«j . thought it miaih't be romeved an 3 re> ? erected in the Park. 'After some diaen*'' si on, it was agreed to leave the matSiS? ■ in tho hands of Mr. Bellringer and KrY Smith. , '■'; The application of the Citizens' KanS Committee for permission to hold! 8 carnival in the Park on October 28, and! to mafe) a charge for admission, tft9 . funds to be for the band room building .' fund, was granted subject to fine regnJa" ;'. tions. 'An honorarium of "iES $9 was vSfiejS! ;: to the secretary for his services. ;' The balance-sheet in conneeKon witK'/• •flic Park fete was presented by Wei / secretary and adopted. The secretary of the Citizens' CbS* mittee (Mr. A. BulliansV was accorded ffi t hearty vote of thanlcs for hifl servieS.-