GISBORNE’S BEAUTY

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 12199, 10 March 1934, Page 5

GISBORNE’S BEAUTY

association

NEW BODY FORMED

KEEk ENTHUSIASM YE U

' Several enthusiasts have recently been active in attempts to. revive the organisation which: formerly .existed with' the purpose of beautifying .'Gisborne and the surrounding district. With this end in view a public meeting was held in I*® Grand Lounge last evening and the keenest enthusiasm was displayed by the good attendance. it was decided to : form a body to be known as the Gisborne District Beautifying Association and the . necessary preliminary arrangements were made.

The Mayor (Mr. John Jackson), who presided, explained at the outset .that the meeting was called with a view to practical action. Already steps had been taken to start beautification measures in Gisborne. The town was behind in this respect and it seemed only meet. that eyery effort, should be brought to bear to make the town a, “place of beauty and s a joy for ever.” All conditions locally were most favorable and gratifying enthusiasm was already apparent. A start had been made *n Harris street, and work was being carried out by boys who received only very small remuneration. Already donations had been received from Mesdames Gaddum and W. Clark.

Dr. H. Goulding Rice, explaining the proposed programme, pointed out that the presence of the Mayor indicated the Borough Council’s support for the movement which really depended mainly for progress, on that body. The " speaker was present that night because he felt, as many others must, that he had not done his duty by the town. There were in Gisborne all the ideal .opportunities for beautification and the present defects were all too apparent when one looked across the town from, say, Haiti bill.

Dealing with the town itself, Dr. Rice stressed that in the Did World great attention was given to the planting of trees in parks and gardens. It. was realised there that trees were a great asset for health, Heie in Qisborne they were handicapped architecturally, on account of the earthquake, therefore they ..had to rely oh. trees. He recalled thq starting of the movement and ppint-ed out that one of the. great drawbacks was the matter of funds. Services of a landscape artist . should be secured for planning improvements, for it was felt that to proceed without expert advice ..would, be wasting time. Hence it was essential to make the \ body an organised one in order to raise the required funds. Dr. Rice referred to the splendid work of the former local Beautifying Association and stated that it might be a good plan to retain the olcl name as. a tribute to the body which initiated the work. . The idea of the present meeting . was to securp ideas from those present.

One matter which might well be attended to, he said, was tbq A\ aikanae"Beach—the society did splendid work on the actual beach, but thiero was an area behind, belonging to the Railway Deportment, which was to be cut up and sold in small sections for building. It was felt that a determined eliort to stpp this should be made... ..... .... _ ..... Mr. G. T. Maunder warmly praised the'idea of the association and-stat-ecl that such a move was long oveidue, especially when one contrasted it with other towns. Gisborne had reserves etc., of £21,000; whereas in Hastings it was £23,000, in Plymouth £48,000 and ,in Nelson £43,000. Maintenance of parks, gardens, etc. in Gisborne cost £3OOO,- in Napier £BOOO, Wanganui £22,000, New Plymouth £IO,OOO, Nelson £6OOO, Timaru £IB,OOO and Oamaru £6OOO. These figures were probably capable of explanation but there was no doubt that Gisborne could spend far more than was done in the past.

CONCRETE PROPOSALS. Turning to concrete proposals, Air. Maunder stated that it was intended to secure a landscape gardener to make a complete report. By such a step.they would have an authoritative report which should carry a good deal of influence, they would have the lines on which to proceed indicated clearly; many mistakes would be avoided; and differences of opinion as to what should he done would he avoided. It would be necessary to appoint a full-time and competent official to tend parks and gardens, as was clone in most other towns. These other places could find the money, so Gisborne surely could also. Co-ordinated effort, with the county councils and all local bodies, should be possible to improve the community in which we lived. Consideration should be given not only to the AVaikanae beach but also to the Wainui beach. He. contended also that special use should be made of the unemployed, especially; those versed in horticulture. A borough nursery for shrubs and plants should also be established, he considered. Mr. ‘Maunder referred briefly to the difficulty of raising funds, , pointing out this could be by direct donations, 1 'house to house canvass, carnivals, flower sales, etc., and subsidies from local bodies. AH local bodies, of course, were economising .. in every way possible, hut such could be carried too far and the cutting down, of every tiling to bare bones did not seem to him justified. Propaganda, through the Press and • wireless, also' by lectures from visitors* would also be used, proceeded Mr. r Maunder. Still another move would be to revive the honouring of Arbor'Day. There should be close cooperation between the Association and . the Borough Council—possibly the association could be represented on the borough reserves committee or at least give advice. Preservation of beauty spots, too, should be another ainrr-of-the association.

DETAILS OF NEW BODY. , Dr. A. L. Singer then .DMygd-form-ally that a body to bo called the Gisborne and District Beautifying Association should, bp. Bp• ,xn§ntioned that a similar body in i-Master-ton had raised £SOOO jn nine years—a Masterton visitor recently in Gisborne: was very impressed .ivith the possibilities here and also with what actually had been -done. T Once the association was started, he felt 'sure that great support would be. secured, especially if a comprehensive plan were drawn up. He was sure that the Automobile Association would cooperate so far as the motorists’ camps were concerned. , The motion was seconded by Dr. Rice and supported by the Mayor who., mentioned tjiafc he considered the Park course was the best possible site for a motorists’ camp in New Zealand.

. Mr. H. H. DeCosta, in regard to the suggestion for obtaining the services of' an expert, considered that it would be quite unnecessary to go outside "'Gisborne, especially since a local man would have better knowledge oi* the existing conditions;

Dr. ■ Rice' pointed ’out that it was felt ntecessary in the interests of the town, to secure a specialist- in landscape gardening.

Mr. D S. Thompson expressed the view that an expert should be secured.

The motion was then put, to the meeting and carried unanimously.

The" subscription for active members was fixed at 2/G, for honorary members £llll- and life members £5/5/-.

The following were appointed the provisional committee: M e ®dl >l T I ®: s 9* Blackburn, A, M. Pufiett, and Drummond, Drs. H. Gonlding Rice and AL. Singer, Messrs. R. G. Crawford and G. T. Maunder, also representatives of kindred bodies, lyith power to add.

Dr. Rice mentioned that it was desired to. secure about £IOO immediately and, on fris. motion, it wass decided to make a house-to-house campaign for members and donations. In the course of subsequent discussion, 'Mr. T. E. Toneycliffe gave an interesting survey of the steps taken to beautify Christchurch. The meeting concluded soon after with a vote of thanks to the Mayor for presiding at the meeting.