ATTRACTIVE PARK

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 163, 26 June 1935, Page 13

ATTRACTIVE PARK

The Year’s Work at Te Mata BOARD’S ANNUAL MEETING The annual general meeting of the Te Mata Park Trust Board was held yesterday morning. The chairman, Mr T.Mason Chambers, presided over Messrs. F. E. Smith. 8. Ashcroft, J. J, Nimon, W, H. M, Diamond and W, Tucker. Leave of absence was granted Messrs John Chambers and A. I. Rainbow. The annual report and balance-sheet were adopted. The balance-sheet showed that the board had at the end of its financial year (March 31) £49 13/11 to its credit, but since various accounts were paid the present credit balance was £2O 12/5. The chairman extended a welcome to Mr 8. Asheroft, a new member on the board, representing the Hastings Borough Council. The parks committee reported that the new boundary fence had been com-

pleted and that a thorough job had i been made of it. Some 16 guards had I been erected in anticip: tion of trees I being planted to give shade to visitors at the park. t The committee desired to express its t appreciation of the gift of timber from c the Hawke’s Bay County Council. The timber had proved most useful at the c present time, as the ground was being f prepared for planting during the com- r ing planting season. s It was also reported that the trees ' had made wonderful progress since the t autumn, rain set in. . • THE ANNUAL ItEPOIIT. The chairman’s annual report read as follows; In reviewing the work of the past ! year, I have pleasure in reporting that ' the work of development in the park I ’ continues to progress steadily. i - Unfortunately last season proved to i be the hottest and the rainfall the i 1 lowest recorded since the formation of 1 > the Trust Board, and resulted in a con- | - siderable loss of trees planted during the 1934 season. A fire also was re- 1 • sponsible for a good deal of damage, 1 • while considerable- damage resulted | through the heavy ruins experienced i ' during the early part of June. This i damage is now being repaired. Since the autumn rains set in, the i trees established before 11131 are an : ' niaking rapid growth and doing well. 1 Preparation for further tree-planting is 1 well under way, and it is intended to plant to some extent along the park ' drive from the cattle stop at the en--5 trance to the No. 1 turn take. It is I also intended to plant single trees suitable for shade, hut this type of plant-

ing will have to be done gradually as guards for their protection have to be provided. The board can be congratulated upou the development work, both road and trackways, and also planting carried out. The annual statement of accounts record the establishment of reserve funds for the purpose ol (a) extending the road to the Peak, which will be costly and which eau only be undertaken when a sufficient sum is in hand for the Sse, and (b) to erect the direction . which will be of real interest and pleasure to visitors. The road extension fund now stands at £lO6 10/and the direction tablet at £35 Ju/ 1 . It will take some years before these objects ean be realised owing to the limited income of the board. Owing to the increasing use the pub lie is making of the park, it was found necessary to provide a larger parking area, and by means of signposts direct motors as they arrive and as they leave. This arrangement has proved of great convenience to visitors. During the year a memorial eeat dedicated to the memory of my late son Major Selwyn Chambers, has been placed on the top of the hill overlooking both the Heretaunga plains and the sea to the south-east. My personal appreciation of this gift as well as that of the board is extended to the anonymous donor. I have also to record with thanks the gift of a gate from C. and A. Odlin, Ltd., and also the establishment of an area planted and to be maintained by Webb’s Nurseries. The Hawke’s Bay County Council, the Hastings Borough Council and the Havelock North Town Board increased their grants toward the funds of the

Trust Board, and we are gratified that they have shown their appreciation of our work in this practical and helpful way. It is intended to establish a watering system in the park, but this must be looked forward to as a future development, when funds can be spared. In the meantime, other developments considered more necessary must come first. I wish to record my persona! thanks to all members of the board, to the secretary and treasurer, (o the Havelock North Town Board for providin,; a room for meetings, and to the Press tor keeping before the public the doings of the board and keeping before them the attractions and beauties of the Te Mata Park.