KAWAROA PARK.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 October 1918, Page 2

KAWAROA PARK.

PRESIDENT'S ANNUAL- REPORT, . The annual meeting of the liawaroa Park, bociaty will -be iield at the Bungalow on Thursday evening. The annual report oi the president (Mr. ,Y. H. Beal) is as .follows: — . It is with pleasure I present my. re " port dealing with, the operations of the society for the past year, irom every point of view tue year was a' particularly successful one, new records being established, whilst the popularity, of the park has grown tremendously, and to= day is looked on a, one of the brightest and most attractive recreation spots in New Plymouth. Thousands of people visited the park during the past jear, and the many expressions of admiration of the picturesque transformation which has been brought about during the past few years has been'a source of satisfaction both to the committee and members of the society generally, all of whom feel amply rewarded thereby for any work they have accomplished in bringing about the changed condition of thingsSplendid work has undoubtedly been done during the, past year, many desirAble improvement's, all of which are of a permanent nature, haviilg been carried out-. The public, during the short time the society hab been in' existence, has liberally supported the various efforts j we have launched to raise funds, and it is universally agreed that the funds the committee have thus had to handle have •ran wisely spent, so that we may look forward with even more confidence to the future. The annual picnic was a huge success, the crowd constituting a record. The programme submitted for its entertainment was as novel as it was varied, with the result that all our patrons, both young and old, were delighted and are no doubt looking forward with keen interest to this year's function. The many improvements aud considerable extensions which have been made to the park have naturally involved a great deal of additional labor, and a caretaker has been employed all the year- Th'e grounds have been splendidly kept, and, in addition, the custodian has effected numerous minor improvements. The euchre parties and dances which proved so popular in former years have been continued during the past season with most successful results from a financial point of view, whilst visitors have had a great deal of pleasure out of the gathering's. The committee records its most grateful appreciation of the assistance of the ladies' committee. In many ways they have rendered yeoman service in the interests of the park, their efforts contributing in a very large degree to the increasing popularity .of the reserve. Members would have noticed with satisfaction that the Borough Council had continued its subsidy, and this has been of very material benefit, enabling the committee to undertake considerably more work than would otherwise have been possible. ' The committee has in view further extensive ground improvements which it_ hopes to he able to carry out during the ensuing year, and in appealing to the public for a continuance of its liberal support feels that it can do so with confidence. The society, after all, is merely acting in the capacity of trustees, the money th'e poeple provide us with being spent from time to time upon further improvements to a property which belongs to the people themselves. ■ During the past year the world's war has been continued-with more violence than in the preceding three years, and whilst the end may not as yet be defi-nitely-in sight, the silver lining to the dark clouds is slowly but surely reappearing, and one and all most sincerely lio'ir: that ere another year rolls round peace will have been restored. Several members of the committee have suffered bereavement as a result of the war, and to all who have lost sons or other relatives in this great struggle for free lorn and for right, we extened our heartfelt sympathy, find trusting that their sacrifice will not have been in vain, My report would be incomplete unless it contained soma appreciative reference to the work of the committee. One and all have been most attentive (o their dutie«. The best of good feeling has always prevailed, the committee working together with perfect harmony, their one object being to do their utmost for the welfare, of the society-

Ill" conclusion, I desire to tender the thanks of the society to all who have in any way assisted us during the past year, and to assure them that, their help has been most keenly •appreciated. Our thanks are also due to the press for the publicity given to matters concerning the park. The balance-sheet for the past year shows total.receipts amounting to £847 2s Id, including cash ,in hand £BO 17s lid, Easter picnic £302 10s, euchre parties £!)4. (Is fkl, afternoon teas £B9 13s 4d, hrirough subsidy £37 10s, donations £2l 8s 4d, Citizens': Band concert £< 10s, ' rents' £l4. The expenditure -amounts to-' £547 13s 3d, leaving a credit of £0!) Ss lOd. The principal items of expenditure*were:—Payment'of £IOO in liquidation of debt- on bungalow, ground improvements £l3O. wages £lO4. sinkins fund £4B, and Ea«ter pienic £76 12s 2d