Hastings West

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIII, Issue 283, 15 November 1923, Page 4

Hastings West

MEETING OF BESIDBNTS. THE DEVELOPMENT MOVEMENT. MR EBBETT’S GIFT ACCEPTED. A public meeting of Hastings West residents was held iu the school, last evening, Mr A. J. Kirkham presiding over a large attendance of ladies and gentlemen. An apology was received from the Mayor (Mr G. Maddison) for his unavoidable absence. The business before the meeting was to decide the name of the recentlyformed association for the development and beautification of the Hastings West district, and to receive the report of the committee appointed to consider the offer by Mr George Ebbett, of some five und a half acres in the vicinity of the school as a playing area of the children and as an open space for the public. A committee was appointed to revise the rules submitted to the meeting, with the object of altering or adding to them, and to submit them to a later meeting, for approval. A discussion took place regarding the name of the society, and it was decided lo defer the naming of the association until the rules be submitted at a future meeting, when a decision could be arrived at. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following officers and committee were elected;— President, Mr G. A. Maddison (subject to his consent); vice-preesidents, Messrs 8. J. McKee, A. J. Kirkham and D. Carswell; hon sec, Mr J. Wright; hon treas, Mr Joseph Wilson; committee, Messrs W. Graham, D. McKenzie, A. E. Palmer, A. Lowe, A. Cullen, C. Bone and C. Dunkley. MR EBBETT’S GIFT. The chairman said that the committee appointed to confer with Mr Ebbett, regarding his proposed gift of land for a public reserve, had met that gen- , tieman. He (the chairman), submit.I ted an enlarged plan of the area, show ing its position, about 11J chains from I the school, and he emphasised the fact | that one of the principal conditions regarding the gift was that sum of i money (about £150) be raised by the ’ residents, to fill up and develop© the area. The residents need not commit themselves to any definite time in which to raise the money, and he anticipated no difficulty in this regard. They had already received promises amounting to £25. Mr Ebbett wanted to be satisfied that the Hastings West residents would take an interest in this playing area, and he (the chairman) felt that Mr Ebbett need have no fear in this regard. He thought that Mr Ebbett’s offer should be accepted, and he anticipated no difficult in connecj tion with the Borough Council taking th© area over. If the area was accept:ed at once they would have au oppor- ! tunity of participating in the moneys proposed to be allocated by the Borough | Council, to the various Hastings parks for conveniences.

i Mr C. Dunkley proposed, “That this meeting accepts, with thanks, Mr EbI bett’s generous offer of five and a half acres of land as a playing area and public reserve, and that the Hastings West Association pledges itself to raise the money suggested and undertakes to carry out the conditions, leaving arrangements of details with Mr Ebbett and the Borough Council, in the hands of the committee.”

The motion was seconded by Mr W Lewis and carried.

At the subsequent meeting of the committee Mr. A. J. Kirkham Was elected chairman. The committee accorded votes of thanks to Mr. H. W. C'hmie and Mr. Eric Phillips for preparing plans of th© property, in th© vicinity of the school, which Mr. G. Ebbett proposes to present to tbe Association, as a recreation reserve for the district.