PUKEKURA PARK.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 June 1922, Page 4

PUKEKURA PARK.

REVIEW OF YEAR’S WORK STRONG FINANCIAL POSITION MEETING OF THE BOARD The annual meeting of the Pukekura Park Board was held last night. Present: Messrs. C. E. Bellringer (chairman), W. C. Weston, R. €. Hughes, W. F. Short, H. Dempsey and A. T. Moore. Apologies were received from Messrs P. E. Stainton and V. Griffiths. The chairman presented his annual report, in which he stated: Thanks to the fine effort of Mrs. Burgess and those associated with her in the special effort of 1920 we have had no financial ajaxieties, neither has it been necessary for us to reduce our staff or restrict our plans. The regular income, including the borough subsidy, was £457 0s 4d. Five payments of subsidy moneys were made by the Borough Council during the year, making the sum received £312 10s Od, instead of the usual £250. This is due to only three payments having appeared in our last balance-sheet. A sum of £2OO was drawn from the special fund at the New Plymouth Savings Bank, and the balance of this fund at March 31 was £534 3s 4d interest amx>unting to £34 3s 4d having accrued. The Burgess Trust Fund of £3OO has also been credited with interest amounting to £29. The Hulke Endowment Fund of £lOO stands as at last balance, the interest on this amount being paid to the general account. The assets in bank accounts and investments are £lOl4 Ils Bd, with no liabilities. I think we may congratulate ourselves on the heppy condition of our finances. IMPROVING THE PARK.

The outstanding feature of the year is the fine work done by the Sports/ Committee in raising, grading and re-M grassing the sports ground. This workv has greatly improved .the Liardet Street approach to the park, and the playing area bids fair to be one of the finest in the Dominion. The committee have but begun the work they have in view, and are contemplating extensive improvements in the near future. The board lias every reason to be pleased with the work of the committee and will continue to support and facilitate their good designs and endeavours. The preliminary work of grading and shaping the ground for the fernery ha? been done. The planting of the ferns will be put in hand at once. Ths ground has been cleared for the dendron dell immediately adjoining the racecourse. Mr. C. Saunders has had the young trees purchased last year and other trees donated by himself and friend under careful, personal supervision. He proposes to plant them in the dell very shortly. A suggestion was made by a visitor, some weeks ago, that we should plant the iris in suitable spots. This suggestion had been anticipated by the board some months previ« ously, Mr. Newton King having kindly promised a donation of iris from his splendid collection for that purpose. These will be planted when available. A new loeaction has been chosen for the rosary, as the old site is much too damp. The new collection has been planted by Mr. Dempsey, assisted by tbq staff, and we may look forward to a fine display. ! - The statement of receipts and e±pen« diture showed the following receipts fl Balance, £BB 13is 9d, New Plymouth Saving? Bank £2OO, borough subsidy £312 10s, boat receipts £79 8s 9d, sum dry rents £69 7s 9d, donations £l3 12s 6d, concerts £ll 14s, interest £5 4s 3d, timber sold £27 13s. The largest amounts expended were: Wages £496 10s 9d and repairs to kiosk £l3B lid. The bank balance amounted to £BOB 4« Id. The assets totalled £lOl4 Us 8d and liabilities were nil. On the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr. R. Hughes, the balancesheet waa adopted. GENERAL. The special committee set up reported that they had conferred with the committee of the Sports Ground and it was unanimously agreed that Mr. C. Revell be appointed custodian at a salary of £4 5s per week, the Sporta Committee to pay the Board £76 per annum, in quarterly payments, Mir. Revell to give two days on an average to the sports ground. Mr. C. E. Bellringer was re-elected chairman for the ensuing year. In accepting the position for another year Mr. Bellringer indicacted that he was 1 | desirous of being relieved of the position by next year. Later a vote of thanks was accorded the chairman and secretary for the valuable work they had done last year* members speaking in praise of valuable services. Three representatives on the Sports Ground Committee were appointed as follows: Messrs C. E. Bellringer, H« Dempsey, and W. C. Weston. The chairman’s notice of motion that Mr. Dempsey be appointed to the board to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation -of Mrs. Burgess and Mr. J. McLeod be appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. Harris Ford,' was carried.