TE MATA PARK

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 147, 6 June 1936, Page 4

TE MATA PARK

Encouraging Report Issued By The Chairman PROSPECTS FOR FUTURE The annual meeting of th© Te Mata Park Trust Board was held recently, the following members being present at th© meeting:—Messrs. T. Mason Chambers (chairman) t F. E. Smith, A. 1. Rainbow, J. J. Nimon, W. 11. M. Diamond, S. Ashcroft, and tho secretary, Mr. J. O. Kelsey, Iho annual report and balance-sheet for the year were adopted by the meeting It was decided this year to increase the amount to be placed to the reserve account fur the direction tablet and road completion funds. Mr. F. E. Smith, reporting on behalf of the works committee, stated that the road repair work putting the road in good order for the winter has been completed at a cost of £43. Fencing material had been purchased and the fencing olf of tho LO-aere block in the south-west corner ot the park was being started immediately. On completion ot this work this particular area ivould be drained. Four thousand trees to be planted during the season had already been ordered, and a further 1000 were t}!»« to be purchased The board decided to obtain an estimate for the completion of the road to the Peak. Plans have already been made of the proposed route to be taken. V arious signboards in the park are to be replaced with new ones. ANNUAL REPORT. The following is the chairman's annual report:— hi reviewing the work of tho past year, the board has pleasure in reporting that the development of the park has been well maintained. The planting of trees this year has been the most successful since the inception of the board owing mainly to more fav. curable weather conditions than previously. Over the whole year’s planting it is estimated that the loss of trees has been under three per cent. The rpad from the cattle-stop to tho saddle has stood exceptionally well since repairs were made after tho heavy rains of June, 1935. The road is being improved steadily, and it is tho intention of the hoard, during tho ensuing year, to make further improvements to the road formation and surface. lhe native bush continues io show very good growth and during the year 100 native trees have been planted. The heavy gale which swept the district on February 2, was responsible fur considerable damage to pine and eucalyptus ticca ENCO U 1! AG IN G I’ll OSPECTS. Tho prospects for tho future arc most encouraging. During the year the public have made an increasing nso of tho park, this being a direct result ot tho development work carried out m road and trackways and planting. At the end of 1935 the park was toimally gazetted as a bird sanctuary. During tho forthcoming year it is proposed to undertake the following work .-(a) Planting of ten acres iff lorcst trees of sundry varieties; (b) planting of ornamental trees near tho toadsidc, tho trees to be securely protected ; (c) improvements to road formation; (d) 30 chains of fencing to enclose 10-acre block; ( e ) tho drainage of one swampy area. It is gratifying to report that thia year there is an excess jf income over expenditure amounting to £65. Additions have been made to both tho road completion and the memorial tablet fund, and these now amount to £9B and £3l respectively. Tho board desires to record its appreciation to the Hastings Borough Council, the Havelock North Town Board; the Hawke's Bay County Council and the Institute of Horticulture lor generous contributions to the funds of the board, and to tho Hawke’s Bay County Council for gift of timber; Messrs. C. qnd A. Odliu, Ltd., for gilt ot gate, and tho Awatulo Shingle Co., Ltd., fur gilt of metal,