NEW LIFE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 October 1938, Page 5

NEW LIFE

MASTERTON BEAUTIFYING SOCIETY ACTIVITIES TO CONTINUE. MANY SUGGESTIONS MADE FOR FUTURE WORK. Judging by the enthusiasm in evidence and the many offers of assistance in running a carnival, there appeared to be no question at a meeting last night of those interested in the Masterton Beautifying Society, that the society would continue its useful career. The meeting affirmed its desire, that the society should carry on and a strong committee was elected. There was an attendance of about thirty, while several apologies for absence were read. The president, Dr Archer Hosking presided. “It is most heartening to see so many roll up, especially so many ladies,” said Dr Hosking, who went on to state that during the slump not much interest had been taken in the society. “Now,” said Dr Hosking, “the interest of the town is shown by your presence here tonight. We should get going again something like the old days. The work of the society is to seen all over the town.” Dr Hosking, after referring briefly to the activities of the society in street tree planting and in other ways said there was scope for future work on the land at Lansdowne recently given to the borough and in various other places. The new river embankment wanted improving. If the society had enthusiasts to direct its work he was sure it could carry on most successfully. By planting trees the society was doing something of more or less permanent nature. He would be pleased to hear if anyone had suggestions as to future work. The society wanted a committee of at least twelve and a ladies' auxiliary. “I take it,” said Dr Hosking, “that it is the desire that this society should go on.” Voices: “Yes.” COUNCIL’S WISH. Councillor H. E. Gardner, after stating that a meeting of the Borough Council was being held that night, said the council had expressed the wish that if possible, it would like the society to carry on and he would like to take back a message to that effect to the council. “I am pleased to see so many here,” said Councillor Gardner. “I am still prepared to do my bit and carry on if the society is going to continue.” During the past five or six years there had been little interest in the society, he said, and public meetings had been attended by five or six people. There was plenty of scope for its work. The river bank walk from Queen Street to Colombo Road could be made a beautiful spot and was a project that could be carried out by the society.

Dr Hosking: “Tell the Borough Council that we are very much alive, with more kick than ever before.” The secretary, Mr A. W. Reynolds said the society at present had £66 in cash, with £lOO due from the Borough Council. Last year it spent £240, including £lOO on the begonia house and £B3 on street tree maintenance and replacements. Mrs T. R. Barrer, before leaving for another meeting, gave an assurance that the public was very sympathetic with the society’s work. Officers were' elected as follow: Patron, Mr C. E. Daniell; president, Dr Archer Hosking; vice-presidents, Miss F. P. Maunsell. Messrs E. W. Payton and H. E. Gardner; committee, Mrs R. C. Drummond, Messrs T. E. Lawson, P. Cripps, H. IVT. A. Major, Alex Keith, A. J. Towns, F. P. Brown, F. C. Daniell, O. H. Needham, L. Robinson, G. G. Tolhurst and A. W. Reynolds. The secretary-treasurer, Mr Reynolds, intimated that he was resigning from the position in another month’s time. It was decided to hold the next meeting of the committee in a fortnight. MANY SUGGESTIONS. Suggestions were put forward that the society could take steps to allow cars in the Park, that improvements could be carried out in the Cemetery and that signs could be posted around the town asking citizens to protect their property. Dr Hosking pointed out that when the society started a tremendous amount of vandalism was reported, but by educating the people, especially the children, it had largely disappeared: A lady stated that she had seen school children treating the street trees not very kindly. Mr E. M. Hodder said he thought the society might co-operate with the local committee in regard to the Centennial memorial. He pointed out that a meeting was held recently of all local bodies in the district at which the suggestion was made, to be further considered at another meeting at the end of the month, that the main roads should be lined with trees as the district’s memorial. The Beautifying Society might seek to co-operate with that committee as it affected Masterton. Another suggestion put forth was that the society should consider holding another carnival early next year. Mr Reynolds said the society had already sought permission to plant trees on the main highway to Carterton. Dr Hosking said there was no reason why Masterton should not have groves of flowering cherries planted on some of its open spaces. Observing that it was very pleasing for him to return to Masterton after 26 years’ absence in the Waikato and to see the work that had been done in the streets of Masterton by the society, Mr F. C. Daniell said the society could interest itself in a proposal to have the corner of Blair Street (leading to the Masterton Hospital) rounded off. He understood the Lansdowne School Committee and the headmaster were quite agreeable. Owing to the Lansdowne School intending to build a swimming pool the croquet and tennis clubs would have to get-some other area and he suggested that the portion between the new river bed and the swing bridge would be a suitable one, while following the river improvement, an excellent children’s play area could be formed near the northern bridge between the river and the terrace.

Mr G. Selby expressed the hope that the society would run a carnival. The society, he. said, had for a number of years been doing a lot of quiet work and he thought it should try to do something to advertise itself In reply to a suggestion that the railway station approaches could be improved, Dr Hosking pointed out that the society hoped to see in the near future some results of its representations in respect to that area. A total of 78 trees had been planted in the station ground and kerbing had been put down.