TEMUKA PARK BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1790, 15 September 1888, Page 2

TEMUKA PARK BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Temuka Park Board was held yesterday at the Oourthouße, Temuka. Present—Messrs Gray (chairman), J, T. M. Hsyburst, J. Meyer, M. Quinn, and W. G. Aspinall (secretary), MINUTES. The iniautes of the previous meeting were road and confirmed. REPORTS. The caretaker's reports for two months wore read and approved. The secretary reported that he had received £1 for willows, and that the bunk balance was £lO2 8s 9 I. ACCOUNTS. Accounts to the amount of £2 4s 3d wore pissed for payment. DEPUTATION. A deputation of some thirty residents, headed by Mr A. M. Clark, was introduced by the secretary, who intimated that they des red to bring certain matter* of importance before the Board. Mr A M. Clark said that, as a ratepayer and resident, he felt a keen interest in tha welfare of tha place, and in common with 1 number of the other residents, as represented by the deputation, he con-sid«-red that thoir extensive domain was not made so attractive as it might b<\ Before proceeding further, however, he would like some informa'ion as to the revunue and financial position of the Board. The secretary stated that the previous year's accounts showed that the receipts were—From rents, £B7 ; from Rules of hay and willows, £ls ;in all £lO2. Their expenditure was a§ follows —Salaries, insurance, etc., £BS ; tools, £5 ; extra labor 1 and sundries, £lO ; total, £IOO. At the end of the current year there would be a balance of assets over liabilities of £223. Mr Claik suid that the deputation were of opinion that this money should be spent iu beautifying; the park and making it attractive lo the public. If this were done it would tend to do good to the place, for the town was within easy distance of Timaru, and numbers of persons would be induced to visit the place. At present the recreation ground was in a disgraceful condition. Hh would ask that some iruprobement might

be made while the season was favorable. The chairman said that the Board would certainly connider the request of the deputation. Ho would point out that the revenue was by no means large, and that it was not in the Board's power to do much. Elaborate improvements might cost too much to carry out and maintain. Mr fclayhurst desired to know if the deputation represented the townspnoplo or the Ca ! edonian Society. Mr Clark : The townspeople, certainly. Mr Hayhurst : The park is in the Road District. Mr Clark said that the puk bslongod to the people for recreative purposes. They did not want the Borrd to hoard the money up. They desired that it might be spent in forming a cricket ground, running track, and generally in beautifying ttie place. The chairman was of opinion that the Board could not apply its funds to forming a sports ground, and read an extract from the Domains Act bearing upon tha subject. He certainly denied that the condition of the park was * disgrace.

Few Boards had done so much with the mean* at their disposal. He felt sure thu the Board had do desire to hoad up

its money,

Mr Meyer said that it was the first complaint ha hud ever heard of the Park. As to the cricket grouud, the oub should

keep it in ordor themselves. Mr Clark said that the deputation had no intention of complaining of what had been done in the past. All they wanted to ate was the present available money

judiciously expended. He woald suggest that a portion of it be spent in preparing the ground for recreative purposes. The deputation having withdrawn, an animated discussion followed. The Chairman considered that it was no part of the duty of the Board to spend money in the direction of grounds for sports or cricket. Mr Hayhurst distinctly objectel to money being; spent apoa a racing track. It would be simply for a training ground

for professional peds. The Board would do nothing for the Cricket Club, and there was no rensou why one section of the community should be favored more than another. The Chairman said it was not merely a question of immediate expenditure, but of future maintenance. Mr Meyer said that the different Clubß should maintain the grounds themselves. Mr Aspinali strongly supported the request of t.iie deputation. Io no place wub there such a splendid area of ground set apart for the townspeople, and yet there was no place where youths could dispori

[ themselves, or where cricket and so forth »cou!i flourish. They had nearly £2OO available, and a portion, at all events, should be spent. Mr Quion was of opinion that all the deputation required was to have something done to the ground set apart for sports. He thought £2O or £3O might safely be spent. After some discussion, Mr Hayhurst

moved, and Mr Quinu seconded—" TLat the sum of £3O be expended upon the cricket and recreation ground, and that

the Board or a sub-committee confer with representatives of the deputation on the subject." Mr Aspinall objected to a definite sum being agreed upon. Ha understood that a plan and estimate of th. 9 cost of certain improvements could be obtained from Mr Gaze, and he would suggest that a committee be appointed to visit the grouud aad they could then better decide upon what was to be done. He thought £SO would be little enough to spend. It was ultimately agreed that Messrs Hayhurst and Aspinall, accompanied by Mr Gaze, should visit the grouud on Saturday, and that a plan and estimate of cost of improvements decided upon should be laid before the Board on Wednesday next. Tho meeting theu terminated.