BEAUTIFYING ASSOCIATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 135, 18 June 1901, Page 3

BEAUTIFYING ASSOCIATION.

HAITI HILL AND WAIHIBERE,

A general meeting of the Committee of the above Association was held lastnight, there being present: Messrs C. A. DeLnutour (Chairman), L. T. Symes, A. R. Muir, W. Pettie, W. D. Lvsnar, and G. Darton (Secretary). eeport. A statement of accounts was given, and the Works Committee presented the following report:— “ In accordance with the resolution of last meeting, 50 loads of good soil have been obtained, and distributed on the river bank. The whole of the bank has now a fair coating of good soil, and the grass should take well. “ With the exception of this work and a few days clearing up in the nursery, the gardener has been engaged all the time on outside work. “ A few of the chestnuts in Peel street have not taken very well, and it is a question whether wo should not replace them with silver birches or some other trees.” ANNUAL MEETING. It was resolved that the annual meeting should bo held on July Bth. BEAUTIFYING WORK.

The Chairman said that it was necessary now to do something with tho river bank; it had been deemed imprudent to grass it unless it was fenced. Mr Muir said that sheep getting jambed at tho bridge would run all ovcr.the place unless it was fenced.

The Secretary estimated that the cost ol fencing would be at least £2O for a suitable fence.

In reply to Mr Pettie, tho Secretary said that the difficulty in regard to the street levels had been removod. Mr Lysnar said that if couch grass bad been sown, as previously decided, it would

have been all right. The Chairman said tho practical difficulty was in incurring a further liability of £2O.

Messrs Muir and Symes said that t would take some time for couch grass hold.

The Secretary said it would take years to make a sward of couch grass. Mr Lysnar disagreed with that view. He thought tho best thing now would bo to sow grass as soon as possible. Mr Muir : What is tho state of finances at the present time '? The Chairman said they could not go behind the resolution not to sow until the ground was fenced. The Secretary and Mr Muir thought iu any ease tho sowing should bo loft for a month.

Mr Symes considered that they might leave the matter stand until the annual meeting, when they would be getting the subscriptions ; he believed they would got double this year, as peoplo seemed to be very favorable to tho good work done. They did not suppose that the town could be beautified in a year. Tho Chairman said that those who

thought tho Association was dead should visit tho nursery, which was a credit to an Association of such an ago. Tho public might now help by giving to Mr Wilson some of the cuttings they wore thinning out of their gardens. In tho nursery there were some beautiful puriri and other trees. Ho thought that such a space as that in Gladstone road near Derby street might ho experimented upon when tho poplars had been taken out. Tho Association was an auxiliary to tho Council, putting in tho lighter touches, and if they broke out on a larger scale they would bo simply usurping tho functions of the local bodies.

Mr Symes proposed, and Mr Pettie seconded, that Messrs Grant, Muir, Davies and Darton he a .committeo to report as to experimenting on planting trees in tho streets.—Carried.

HAITI HILL. The Chairman said the application to the Government in regard' to Kaiti Hill had come down to the question as to what area would be required. There had previously been talk about area. Ho had thought of 100 acres, and Mr Lysnar had thought of less. Mr rcttic asked whether there was sufficient information now if the Govern-

ment gave £1 for £1 subsidy the balance could bo raised. The Chairman said ho did not think there would be any difficulty in formulating a scheme for that, particularly if thoy limited it to 50 acres. They could, ho thought, easily if necessary raise the amount by debentures, which perhaps later on as thoy became stronger, could be taken up by the local bodies. It was agreed that the Council and Mr Lysnar should inspect the hill, and report as to tho area it was advisablo to obtain.

WAIHIUEIIE. Tho Chairman said the Government would not aid them iu regard to Wailiircro, but he supposed that it did not matter much, seeing that tho Borough Council was likely soon to take action in tho matter of a water supply. _ Mr Lysnar said that what the Council would want would simply bo the watershed, which was abovo what the Association would require. Members were doubtful as to whether in any case it would bo wise to interfere in face of tho contemplated action by the Council in regard to the water supply scheme.

Mr Lysnar said that every day lost in the matter was wasted. Four or five men. wero employed in cutting firewood from tho bush. Tho Chairman: I suppose tho Council must soon dccido this matter (in regard to taking tho land), and face it one way or the other. Anywa.C, it would be unbecoming for us to interfere at this stage. It was agreed that no further action be taken at present,

NATIVE TREES. The Secretary yyas authorised to got in some moro Native trees, Mr Muir undertaking to supply the labor. The Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer were elected a sub-committcc to draw up the annual report.