QUEENSTOWN PROGRESSIVE LEAGUE.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 3715, 19 October 1926, Page 5

QUEENSTOWN PROGRESSIVE LEAGUE.

ANNUAL MEETING. The first annual mooting* of tho Queenstown Progressive League) was held! in tine Town Hall on Friday (evemjingi last, 15th October. There, were abouit twelve townspeople present. The llev. H. S. Bishop, piiepktenit, was the chair man. The mlinutes of last annual nicotiaigi read and confirmed. The balance sheet ami report as read by the secretary are as under: BALANCE SHEET, For year ending - 20th Angus tj!92o . Receipts. £ s. d'. Subscriptions 205 10 0 Member’s Tickets at Is each 4 12 0 Net procedis Concerts ... 58 8 5 Do. Bag Days ... 30 010 Do. Booth at sports 10 17 5 Sundries 0 15 0 £3lO 10 2 Expenditure. £ s. d. Ac. E. J. Brittain, child'diren’is playground 171 8 0 Ac. G. M. Moir 1 page advt. in guide book ... 5 5 O Ac. 11. P. Moore, Wellington, 30 panoramic views (24 ,at £1 Is),, i(6 at 15s) 29 11 0 Ac. Craig Printing and Publishing Co. —IO,OOO leaflets 50 0 0 Cost of distribution of .knitlets 3 7 3 Sundries 2 8 3 Balance 54 7 8 £3lO 10 2 ANNUAL BEPOIIT. Thanks to the enthusiastic support given by the eitizenis ol Queenstowni the' Executive is pleased to Ikji able to report having had a most successful year—from a financial point of view and also from every other- important podpt of view.

Till! Leaguoi’s activities have lieiciii felt in numerous spheres which is evidenced by the tact of the I'roquept meeting's of the Executive to discuss the innumerable matters brought before it.

Oorrespondiene has been a very big item amt has enabled this League to get in touch with the various Leagues throughout New Zealand, an>d also with the Government Depart merits mostly concerned in the League’s work. The children's playground is an accompli is lied fact, costing £170.---10,000 leaflets have been distributed through the valuable assistance of the Publicity Department, Wellington, also the To unis t Department, and are to he found throughout New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, England', and America. These leaflets cost. £SO. A complete- record of the destination, of these leaflets has been kept by the secretary for future guidance. 24 panoramic views costing £25 have been hung up in the Tourist Bureaux throughout N.Z., Australia.

and South Africa. These will he a permanent advertisement for Queenstown. The Tourist. Department were so well pleased with the views that it framed them for the League free, of cost.—A one-page advertisement was placed in Molds Guide Book costing £5 ss.—An, advertisement is being placed in the coming Xmas Number of the Christchurch Weekly Press, costing £7. The League can claim the credit of securing accommodation for 250 1500 persons if a certain, proposed conference! is hold in, Queeinstown on Ist March, 1928. As stated before, the League’s work is being felt and will have resultsof far reaching effect for the benefit of our good little town.. For instance: the League’s activities to help to make a success of Labour Day excursions. Correspondence has been received from private individuals from as far North - as Auckland and in one particular case from Fiji asking for certain information and for advice regarding a proposed trip to Queenstown.

The Executive has completed' the fimt part of the work connected with the One Mile, foreshore, viz., thiei cleaning oil' of all noxious weeds,etc., costing £7O. The Tourist Department which Iras shewn every courtesy to the League, Iras kindly paid for this part of the work. Tire Borough Council has consented to the League’s request to dump street sweepings on the foreshore for tilling in purposes. When, this dumping is completed the League' will proceed to plant trees and beautify the foreshore. This foreshore should then prove to he another beauty spot for tourists.

The old railway wharf is being repaired by the League to the satisfaction of Bailway Department, so that, the tourists and citizens o’f Queenstown may use same as a. promenade. This, wharf would have been dismantled by the .Railway Dept., but for the: activities iof the League. The Borough Council has kindly consented to take over the wharf when put in order. The material for this work is to hand and the money to pay for same is forthcoming. Messrs Beer, Mclnnes and Jas. Thomson have volunteered to do. the work entailed gratis—The, League has accepted their good offer with thanks. The Executive, wishes to convey iU( thanks, to the Publicity Officer, Wellington, the officers of Tourist De,-

parlmenl, Wellington, ami the Railway Department, not forgetting 1 Capt. Robertson, Tourist Agent, Queenstown, ’for courtesies shown anti kindly advice given to the Executive on every occasion the Executive approached them.

The League’s status as an an dispensable. organisation to further the interests of Queenstown is beyond doubt and with the continued support of the citizens of Queenstown, future prospects- of doing big things arc quite good. The thanks of the Executive are also duo to those who have so liberally contributed to the League’s Funds, and also to those who helped so ably at concerts to raise funds.

Last, but not least, the Executive wishes to express its appreciation of the services rendered to the whole community by our worthy President •(Rev. H. S. Bishop) and Mr Overton, as the League’s representatives on the Borough Council. The lull valine of their services for lire good of the town cannot be easily ejsti,mated. The Executive, wishes to record with regret the departure ot our wort heir president from Queenstown. His place on the League will be hard to fill. For tire League, J. P. WHITE, Hon. Secretary. The report and balance sheet were adopted on a proposition by Messrs' H. Lorden and Wilkinson., The preserient said that although there: was not a large attendance he felt convinced a good deal of interest had been taken in the work done by tire League during 1 the past year, and this work, lie felt sure, would bear fruit in the years to come. He was of the opinion there, would be a tremendous impetus in the number of people that would visit. Queenstown. Numerous enquiries from all pants pointed to tills fact. The League had met constantly during,the year and a (lot of work had been, done. Several objects had been accomplished, notably the children’s playground which they ware told was impossible. The only difficulty experienced in respect of this was its taking over by the borough council. The bugbear was the liability for accidents. The speaker, however, could not see that there was any liability on the Council. Unr like the Exhibition, playground, no, charge was made for the use 1 of the equipment and those who used same did so at their own risk. The Council were now seeking , legal advice on the matter and lie hoped the League would be more successful next time. Mr Bishop then briefly touched on the cleaving which hiad, been emooted on the. One Mile road, thus removing an eyesore of many years' standing. £7O had alt eady been spent in, clearing the ground and it was estimated that it would cost somethin,g like £3OO to level it. When this was done it was the intention to plant the area, in, shrubs and provide plenty of seat®. The pamphlets were well distributed and favourably commented on. The three. Largo panoramic pictures' were! admirable ptourtrayals of the beauty spots' of the town. The clearness, of the views spoke eloquently of the clarity of the air and picture,squeneisis of the place. These pictures, had also been wisely distributed. In reference to their representation to ike Borough Council in the interests of the League! he would say that they .were ,agreeably surprised at receiving £25 from that body, and the League were, very

grateful to the Council for their support. The speaker expressed disappointment that a greater number of members’ tickets 1 had not been sold' but the liberal subscriptions and donations received showed that they were working on right Lines. The bulk of the work of the League fell on the shoulders of their secretary, Mi* J. White, who always showed unbounded enthusiasm in the welfare and aims of tire League. Mr Bishop also spoke of the activities of the League, in initiating the movement bo throw open the old town jetty and convert it into a promenade. The League had • undertaken to pay for the necessary repairs and protective) fence and the Council were required to take over the Wharf from the ’Railway Department and sign, the necessary bond in reference to future repairs and responsibility tor ace idemt. He was quite sure that' the jetty would prove a great assets to. the. town. The financial position of the League, was a most creditable factor and for this they had to thank the Tourist Dept, and many handsome contributors. The Rev. Bishop referred to several matters of civic importance. He considered that the town was improperly rated. With a higher valuation of property the rating would 1 be necessarily lower, but they would! leave a larger amount of revenue at disposal for town improvements. He advocated cieaiiiing up more of their streets', the naming of the stroells, and public conveniences. They must sec that the right sort of mein, are, put on the Council. The speaker said that he would be leaving the towhj shortly in order to exchange cures with the Rev. Parata of Gore, who had been, ordered to Queenstown for the benefit of his health. When he (Rev. Bishop l ) came to Queenstown lie was broken down in health, but thanks to the wonderful curative effects of the climate he had recovered his strength. He 1 would be a constant advocate for the wonderful scenic as well as recuperative properties of this town an(,D (district. In conclusion he wished the League, and the, town the greatest prosperity.

The election, of office-bearers and executive for the ensuing term was then proceeded with. The Chairman said that as. h,e would be leaving Queenstown shortly it might be advisable to appoint another president. He was willing to fxlll the office until his departure, or if it was considered desirable, they could appoint another president and lie (Mr Bishop would act on the Executive.

It was resolved, after a, short discuss,ion to re-elect Mr Bishop president, and the present Executive,^ consisting of Messrs ,H. Overton,, W. 1L Berry, J. J. McNeill, T. J. MelvilLcy W. Eyton, J. White (secretary and! treasurer) and Mass M. S. Warren.