PALMERSTON'S RESERVES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8534, 14 March 1908, Page 6

PALMERSTON'S RESERVES.

THE RESIGNATION OF THE £ CURATOR. p< w OPINIONS OF THE PUBLIC tl MEETING. J A public meeting was held at the f] Municipal Hall last evening,. «n the j initiative of the Beautifying Association, Q to discuss the position that has arisen in connection with the resignation of the ( curator, Mr W. W. Smith, -and also future proceedings in connection with the reserves as arising from present circumstances. The chair was occupied by j Capt. Hewitt, and there was a very large t attendance -of ratepayers. f . Addressing those present, the chairman o said the meeting was held in consequence j of the varv strong requisition received by the Beautifying Society, and also to i express appreciation of the work of the Society, "He said the town had been always «most fortunato in the men who ' always came forward to organise and manage different local organisations, and , they had always been well seconded by ; the ratepayers. It was necessary on this occasion to back up the efforts ot : the Society, and also to endorse their efforts in connection with the employment of Mr Smith. Owing to unfortunate circumstances, which ho was not going to allude to, and which ho hoped would not bo referred to, Mr Smith had sent in-his resignation, and it was the object of the meeting to arrange for the retention of Mr Smith's services. (Applause.) v Capt. Hewitt referred to the importance of the reserves, not only to the town . but also the district, and in this connection he suggested that it would be a good thing if a member of the County Council was on the Reserves ComnwtMr W. Park was the first speaker, and he moved—"That the Borough Council bo informed that in the opinion of this meeting it is in the best of Palmorston and district that the services ■of Mr W. W. Smith, the present curator of the Borough Reserves, be retained, and that the Borough Council be respectfully requested to give effect to this resolution." Mr Park referred to the credentials held by Mr Smith before he left Ashburton, where he was -curator of the Domain, which the resigned to take up a position on the Scenery Commission that toured the colony. It was shortly after this that Mr Park met him, and he was at once convinced of Mr Smith's ability. " He eulogised the practical knowledge possessed by Mr Smith, and in support read testimonials from well-known Ashburton residents. Reference was also made to Mr Smith's English diplomas and experience in some of the most notable gardens at Home. Referring to the town reserves, Mr Park alluded to the destruction of the trees, and ho expressed the opinion that the reserves opposite the Post Office and where the Maori monument stood were worse now than 25 years ago. The,? could-'not buv time, and in advocating the retention'of Mr Smith he was but acting in the interests of the town. Since coming here Mr Smith had been offered four different positions. In Mr Smith the town had a man capable of laving out the reserves for all time, and to" do this a definite knowledge of the nature of plants and trees was required. If retained, Mr Smith would make the reserves the beauty-spots of the town, and Mr Park indicated the steps proposed to bo taken by Mr Smith in this direction, all of which could be done at little expense. As to the Esplanade., described by Mr Park as a grand asset of the town, it could, with capable work, be transformed and beautified with native trees and climbers. It could bo made one of the beauty-spots of the Southern Hemisphere under Mr Smith's capable direction and work. Reference was made to the vesting of the reserves in the town and the revenue therefrom, £600 yearly, the charges upon this being £280, leaving the balance to be expended upon the reserves. Mr Park hoped the resolution would bo carried. It was seconded by Mr J. C. Lane, who stated that he had known Mr Smith for many years in Ashburton. He alluded to the large attendance present, stating that general interest in the matter was essential to success. Reference was made by Mr Lane to the splendid ■work done by Mr Smith in Ashburton and also to the value of the testimonials

ho held from people of known integrity, ) and consequently to be fully trusted. Mr " Lane endorsed the opinion of Mr Park with regard to the value and picturesque situation of the reserves. Mr J. Nash, chairman of the Reserves Committee, referring to the experience he had had with Mr Smith in their respective positions as chairman of the Reserves Committee and curator, said they made a general inspection of the reserves together, and Mr Smith pointed out the many material advantages the town ' possessed in this respect. Since then, Mr Nash said, he had admired the manner in which Mr Smith got down to his work, and the evident knowledge he possessed. Another thing that disposed Mr Nash, in Mr Smith's favour was his friendly references to the late curator, Mr Brough (applause), who did not pretend to be a curator, but still had done good work. Mr Nash said his frequent visits to the reserw>s had made him acquainted with the good work done by Mr Smith, and as a ratepayer he would be sorry to lose him. Mr Smith got on well with his assistants, and took a great interest in them, and each spoke well of the other. The Esplanade was a treat to walk through. Since Mr Smith had come he had worked wonders in getting the native shrubs to grow, and if he remained here the town would have the finest reserves in the Dominion. In his reference to finances, Mr Park had omitted to allow for the cost of casual labour and also to the debit balance left over from last year. Mr Smith had expressed himself as only too pleased to do manual labour and save all the extra labour possible. Mr Nash said they all desired to retain Mr Smith's services, and he hoped all would do their best to keep him here. {Applause.) The motion was carried with but a few dissentients. ; Mr H. Palmer, chairman of the Campbell Street School Committee, moved— " That in the opinion of this meeting it is extremely desirable from, an educational point of view, to retain, for the ■town the services of so eminent an au-

thority on nature study, plant life, and

natural history, and the origin.ator of the school garden movement, as. Mr W. W. Smith; F.R.H.S.. whose presence-and services ■will be of the utmost value to the schools .and school children of the district." j Mr Palmer referred to the importance it was to the town and district school children to have a person of Mr Smith's abilities in their midst, and it. would !bo a distinct loss to all concerned if he went away.

The motion was seconded by Mr F: Mowlem and carried without djscussion after the chairman had expressed himself strongly in favour of it.

Mr K. Wilson, on behalf of the Philosophical Society, moved—" That in the opinion of this meeting there is strong reason to endeavour to secure the association with Palmerston North of a botanist and scientist of the standing of Mr W. W. Smith, F.R.H.S., whoso original contributions to our knowledge of the plant and animal life of the districts he has dwelt in arc widely recognised." Mr Wilson eulogised Mr Smith's fitness for the position ho now held, and he also'dwelt upon his value as a citizen from his scientific knowledge. The value' of a man like Mr Smith to the Society was incalculable, particularly in a'smail community like this. His enthusiasm and knowledge would be of great assistance and help to the Society, and ho was sure if. he remained here for years his enthusiasm would be imparted to others, a consummation greatly to be desired for the welfare of the Society. Mr Wilson said ho wished the meeting to make it plain that they recognised they had a good man, that they wished to keep him, and that he bo allowed a free hand to develop the reserves accord- i .inf to his own ideas. (Applnuse.) The resolution was seconded by Dr. j Greig, who expressed his appreciation of '•

Ie work that had already been done in I io beautifying of the town. However;, s time progressed, expert knowledge was squired, and they were all agreed as , the suitability of Mr Smith for, the osition and the work required. .1 hey now faced with the possi.oihty of lie stoppage of,-tho good work, and ho oped the meeting would express their csiro for the work to proceed without .eing harassed by municipal warfare i-om either side of the political position. Ie looked forward to the classification. if plants, etc., in the reserves, and had jleasuro in seconding the resolution. Applause.) . The motion was carried with a tew lissentients. Dr. Peach amoved—"Tfcat in the opinon of this meeting it is highly desirable hat the Borough Council should procure irom the present curator a comprehensive scheme for the permanent beautifying of the Square, roads, streets, and public reserves of Palmerston, with a view to bringing this city into line with other communities of like importances, and to make it as attractive as possible from a residential *nd visitors' point of view, such scheme to be so designed that it can he graduaJHy worked up to." Referring to the resolution, the speaker agreed with Mr Park as to loss of time in connection -with 'the beautifying of the town and also to the regrettable I cutting down of trees. He eulogised the work of tire Beautifying Society in the town, as ''their efforts had resulted in making the Square what it was now, and he was sure they would agree that it was incomparably better than before. Still, it was unfair to expect these gentlemen to continue drawing upon their own resource's, and ho was sure that very few ratepayers would object to expenditure in the direction indicated. He alluded to t'he desirability of any work ■done "being oi a permanent nature. He was sure no one could do it better than Mr Smith. '(Applause.) The resolution was seconded by Mr Hoben, who also eulogised the work done, 'but pointed out the necessity for doing more upon a systematic plan of action drawn up by a master mind. Mr Hoben referred at length to the qualifications of Mr Smith for the _ work before him and to the possibilities of the reserves from a picturesque point of view. . The motion was carried without dissent. , It was decided, on Mr Park s motion, that the chairman forward the resolution to the Borough Council. The meeting closed with a vote of thenks to the chairman.