SOUTH PARK SOCIETY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 May 1938, Page 9

SOUTH PARK SOCIETY

ANNUAL MEETING OF MEMBERS. MR RACTLIFFE’S SPLENDID WORK. The annual meeting of the Masterton South Park Society was held in the Epiphany Hall, Short Street, Masterton, on Saturday night. There was a good attendance of the public. Mr W. White was elected chairman. An apology was received from Mr J. lorns. Mr lorns forwarded a donation of 10s which was gratefully received. The secretary was instructed on the motion of Mr White and seconded by Mr Frater, to write and express the sympathy of the meeting to Mr lorns at his failing sight, and to thank him for the practical way in which the had supported the Society. Mr White moved and Mr Frater seconded the adoption of the report, the motion being carried after several had spoken to it. Mr R. R. Burridge moved the adoption, subject to audit, of the financial statement which showed a credit balance of £l6 odd. The motion was carried.

The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: —Patron, Mr F. E. Ractliffe; president, Mr W. White; vice-presidents, Messrs S. L. P. Free, W. lorns, A. W. Don, R. Frater, W. Kemp; ladies’ committee, Mesdames Ractliffe, Wesney, Siemonek, Newlands, Wishart, Williams, Lewis, Lamb Burridge and Adams, Misses McKenzie, Pearce, and Ractliffe; men’s com; mittee, Messrs Lewis, Frost, Wesney, Williams, Hallam, Milne, and Frankenberg; executive committee, Messrs Milne, Lewis, Wesney and Frost; finance committee, Messrs Ractliffe, Burridge, and Lamb; hon. auditor, Mr D. B. Curry; hon. treasurer, Mr R. R. Burridge; hon. secretaary, Mr W. G. Lamb; hon. rangers, Messrs • Lewis and Siemonek.

Mr Burridge made reference to the sterling qualities of the late Mr Norris and the assistance he had rendered in connection with the South Park. He moved that the action of the executive committee in forwarding a wreath and writing a letter of sympathy to the relatives of the late Mr Norris be confirmed. This was carried in silence. Mr Frater moved that a letter of sympathy be sent to Mr Sturgeon, expressing the hope that he would soon be restored to normal health. This was seconded by Mr Siemonek and carried.

It was decided to inform those using the Park for sports purposes that in future application must be made to the secretary. Any damage done to the turf, etc., must be made good by those concerned to the satisfaction of the committee and any expense incurred to be borne by the same.

Mi- White made special reference to the work done in the past by the ladies’ committee, and moved that a hearty vote of appreciation be accorded to that committee. This was seconded by Mr Frater and passed by acclamation.

The newly elected president (Mr W. White) spoke at length in appreciation of the splendid work done by the retiring president, Mr ,F. E. J. Ractiiffe. He stated that for the past 11 years (since the Park had been acquired) Mr Ractliffe had carried out excellent work in the interests of the children and parents of Masterton. His untiring efforts were an object lesson to the citizens of Masterton, and he had left to posterity a most wonderful legacy. Hearty votes of thanks were accorded to the hon. auditoi;, Mr ~D. B. Curry, the hon. treasurer, Mr R. R. Burridge, the hon. rangers, Messrs Siemonek and Lewis, and the hon. secretary, and to the Press for the publicity it had afforded the Society. The meeting terminated with a hearty vote of thanks to the chairman.