RESERVES CONSERVATION SOCIETY.

Evening Star, Issue 12166, 9 April 1904, Page 8

RESERVES CONSERVATION SOCIETY.

The fifteenth annual meeting of the Dunedin and Suburban Reserves Conservation 'ociety was held in the Town Hall yesterday afternoon, and attended by Messrs A. Bathgate, W. Burnett, T. R, Fisher, C. •C. Graham, J. F. Herbert, T. J. M'Kerrow, J. H. Morrison, A. S. Paterson, J. Robin, W. E. Sargood, J. R. Sinclair, J. C. Thomson, H. E. Williams, and Miss Kelsey. Mr G. G. Rusiell (president), Mr T. Brown (vice-president), and Mr R. Maris Clark s sent apologies. Mr Sinclair, voted to the chair, moved the adoption of the report, copies of which had been given to members. It was not necessary, he said, for him to refer in anything like detail to the year's work, because particulars of the Couccil's operations were iullv set out in the report. On the whole, a flirty satisfactory year's work had been done and the money subscribed well expended. The work oi any one year was not very much to look at when the year was finished It took time for plants put in to grow and make an appearance, but the cumulative effect of years of planting vas very satisfactory and tended very much to beautify the City. Unfortunately, they had to stiike the s.me notj that had been touched upon in years past, and that was a want of sympathy from the unthinking and perhap- mischievous portion of the community. The funis the Council had to deal with were not large, and. unfortunately, plants put in were frequently destroyed. The Council felt that they should have" the strong sympathy of not, only the sensible persons of the community, but also of the younger and perhaps more thoughtless members. A sugge.-ton had been made some time ago, and perhaps members would like to express their views upon the subject, to 'iave honorary rangers appointed. Where a policeman or a well-known inspector was parading the reserves there was no danger of the trees being damaged, and if people •:new there were a large number of citizens icting as- honorary rangers, and representing the interests of the City, it would have i deterrent effect, because no youth would know wh.ther a man walking near him was in a position to report any mischief." Mr Graham, S.M., seconded the motion, nd did so with great pleasure, as one rho appreciated the society's work. Only he other day a stranger from Australia, ■•rhiie going down the street with him, 'iad stopped at Albany street and remarked ipon the show of geraniums there. The -isitor thought the idea of planting was an idmirable one, and said he knew of lots of >vild_ places over in Australia that might be s thing of beauty and a joy for ever if the j;me thing were done tlure. Everyone must agree that the work of the year'had •jcen of a well-considered nature and such is Mould bear fruit in the future. * The motion was then put and carried. On the motion of Mr Herbert, seconded !>y Mr Fisher, Mr George Gray Russell was t-e-eh-cted president and .Mr Thomas Brown ."ice-president; and on the motion of Mr Thomson, seconded by Mr Morrison, Mcsr.-i •1. R, Sinclair, T. R. Fisher, H. E. Williams, _A C. Begg, and W. E. Sargood ■vere appointed to the vacancies on the Committee.

Mr Bathgate mentioned that since last meeting one of the members of Committee, end a most enthusiastic member, had died, •nd he thought the meeting should take ;iotice of the circumstance. He begged to move—" That this meeting desire to put on record their sense of the loss the society ;nd the community generally have sustained '>y thp death of their late public-spirited member of Committer, Mr Alexander Thomon, and to express their sympathy with Ur.s Thomson and her family in their bereavement ; and that a copy of this resolution be sent to Mrs Thomson." As sccre■try he. had seen a good deal of Mr Thomon in connection with the affairs of the ociety, and if anyone was wanted to assist in any matter Mr ThomsDn was always .ivailable, always willing, and ready 'to io his part, even in the disagreeable "duty 'if canvassing for subscriptions. Mr J H. Morrison seconded the motion, ml in doing so .-aid he sympathised with the remarks made by Mr Bathgate. He bad kuo-v Mr Thomson for very many year<— in fact, they were old schoolfellow's —and he (Mr Morrison) knew what a goodnatured and enthusiastic man Mr Thomson was. The motion was carried.

Mr Herbert suggested that application should be made to the City Council to appoint honorary rangers, and the chaimui. replied that the suggestion would be acted npon.

Mr Herbert said that in going round oui lovely Town Belt he found there was an alsence of flowers, particularly wild flower- 1 -. He had spoken to a number of resident , and they wtre quite willing to do something in the way of plaocing. He believed something had been done but much mure might be done. Several members were wiLing to as-ist, and ha was prepared to supply a certain amount of labor. Messrs Nimmo and Blair hod most generously agreed to give a quantity of seeds. The Chairmaa remarked that the suggestion was an excellent one.

Mr Graham said that he had been struck by Mr Bathgato's remark about the duty of canvassing for members, and it occurred to him that if each member present would undertake to bring in, say, half a' dozen other members by next meeting they could easily do so, and thus increase the society's influence without making the canvassing burdensome to anyone. Another matter he would like to reler to was that, now the new railway station was in a fair way of being completed, the Stuart street approach to the City would bear considerable improvement. The. Chairman said that that had been considered by the Committee.

Mr Bathgate said the matter did not come into this year's annual report, but it mLht be interesting if ne stated what had been done. There was a recess at the Water street end of the Tost Office, where the steps used to be, and the late Mr i'hom on and he had waited upon the Hon. Mr Hall-Jones when he was in Dunedin, and snggesttd tliat this recess should be fenced in If thai wore done, the societv would undertake the beautifying of it. The -Minister said he would consider the matter, and he had, decided favorably, and had instructed the department to have the recess fenced in. With regard to beautifying it, the society's difficulty was that, not"having too much money, tliey could not main Lain it: so, in di.-cussing it in committee, it had been pointed out that If the City Council would !cok after the maintenance the .■■•ociety could put in some shrubs and flowers. The plat of ground* round the Law Courts had also be-m thought of. and (Up society were awaiting a reply from the City Council. Mr Graham said that as far a;< the Supreme Cuurt wis concerned he was satislied the officials and others doing business about the court would be only too glad to assist in the maintenance.

A vote of thanks to the chairman terinitiated the proceedings.