WHANGAREI BEAUTIFYING SOCIETY.

Northern Advocate, 5 September 1919, Page 3

WHANGAREI BEAUTIFYING SOCIETY.

A meeting was luMd on Wednesday night in the supper-room of (members, and those present, though few in number, were eager to achieve the society's objects. Mr I). W. Jack, the president, occupied the chair, and iihere were present Messrs S. J. iMcCornriek, Ramsay. 'Higginson, L. "W. Nelson. Sandford, D. W. Miller, Rishworth, L. T. Pickmere, tiiven, T. L. Drunimond, Rev. J. it Clark, Dr. Mcllraith, and Mrs 1). W. Miller.

After the minutes of the last provisional committee meeting were read and confirmed. }l r 1). W. Jack gave a resume of the work undertaken by

Hie coiiwnittee, and was most optimistic as to the response shown nnd promised. He referred to the initiation of the society some years ago, and was glad that the removal of war activities gave rthe opportunity for renewed energy in the beautifteation of Whangarei. The postmaster had been approached with reference to the planting oi flowers and shrubs in the post office yard and the upshot was deemed satisfactory. The district railway manager had been approached with reference to a beautiflcation pllan of the ground in and around the railway station, and he had expressed 'himself as in full sympathy with the objects. When particular railway matters now under discussion were settled, a anost comprehensive scheme of improvement was possible and every help would Vie given by the railway department. No difficulty was suggested re taking in hand a small portion of the ground at the entrance to the station.

The Borough Counei'l had agreed to tlhe society undertaking . improvements to the triangle, and financial help was probable in the near future. ■A large membership was desired, and several life-members at three guineas were in sight. With this accession of funds it was hoped to engage a landscape gardener as had been done in Hamilton, New Plymouth, Feilding,

aml other places. (So difficulty was anticipated in getting willing, even eager, assistance. Reference was made to tfhe splendid parks in Whangarei, and Mail , Park, Dobbie Park, and Marnier Park were instaoiced as providing abundant scope for the society's ai-tivity. It had been thought that a bridge from Mair Park across the river to Dobbie Park would be undertaken, thus introducing the publice of Whangarei to a most beautiful bush. The park of over a hundred acres was stated, by a Government expert, to possess a greater variety of native flora in tine same area than any place in New Zealand. -And, said Mr Jack, we must take care of it. Marnier Park was also referred to ami mwny a charming possibility was amide nearer by the preliminary steps to secure a practical and artistic gardener. Work wonld be expedited greatly had the borough the income from endowment lands. G'ENIBROUS EXPERT ADVrCE. * Mr S. Watt, of Parua Bay road, had intimated that, owing to his own personal work at beautifying his own property, he was unable to take an active part, but he would be pleased to provide the society with , plants free of cost to make a start, and if seeds and boxes are found, would undertake to raise and niu-.se the young plants until ready for planting out. He udvlsed that seed merchants should be approached re securing donations of seeds, manure, etc. Mr Waitt recommended that the triangle plots should be dug now, and allowed to ramain until about, the second week in October to avoid the danger to young plants by a possible cold snap. Dr. Mcllraitih moved that a very hearty vote of thanks be accorded to ;Mr S. Watt for his valuable advice and assistance. Mr iMcCormick seconded the motion which was carried unanimously. KDBCTION OF COMMITTEE, Mr McCormick moved that all present be elected to the permanent committee. Mr Jack seconded the motion which was carried. The following names were also nominated and elected, subject to ttheir consent: — Mesdames Harington, Steadman, Boult, A. R. Pick-mere, Miss Marshall, Miss Carter, Miss iClark-Walker, Messrs Clayton-Thorne, 11. Weaver, W. 0. Webster, Xonman Drummond, W. D. Heather, L. llanlon, A R Pickmere, Rev. G. W. Lochore, and Councillors Holmes, Cutforth and Tibbits. 'PRIA'CTTCAL WORK. The meeting was at one in feeling , that something should be put in hand at once as an earnest of g*ood intentions. The triangle plan having been prepared, Mr Sandford agreed to lay out tlie beds on the succeeding day. On the nomination of Dr. Mcllraith, seconded by 'Mr L. Pickmere, it was decided to institute a work-ing-bee to proceed with the preliminary digging, and that work be put in hand on the succeeding daj', commencing at 2 o'clock. CONFERENCE WITH PARKS' COMMITTEE. The secretary announced that the chairman of the Parks' Committee had expressed his desire to assist the work in every way possible, and had suggested a conference of the Parks' Committee and the committee of the Beautifying , Society, to facilitate a speedy expansion of the work. Mr 'MoCormick anoved and Mr iMiller seconded that Mr Jack be asked to arrange such a conference. Carried.

PUBLIC SEATS.

Reference was made to the fact that offers of seats had been received although no personal requests had been made. Promises had been received from. Messrs Manloii, Mct'omrick, F. Marnier, M.P., F. White., and Dr Mcllraith to donate a seat. It was felt by the committee that the work beff'iin by 'Messrs D. W. Jack, 1). A. McLean and 1 ,, . Cut forth in supplying a seat each to the triangle four years ago was now being happily supplemented. RAISING FUNDS. This item on tflie agenda, though, necessary, was not approached with the utmost gaiety, but it was felt that .some public gathering was necessary by which the opportunity would be given for the whole community to help. GILI-LDRON'S OPERETTA. Mr Miller moved tlhat a children's operetta be arranged for in the Town Hall, and remarked that the objects of. the; society specially concerned itself, .with the - brightening- of the town and to draw the children into the operations of the society woitld prove most fitting , . There was also an additional reason for the proposal in the fact that children's entertainments were always popular.

Questioned as to the possibility of getting' n person to undertake - , such ■an : entertainment, the secretary intimated that Mrs D. W. Miller had.. ) most -successfully arranged children's operettas in other places, and, he tfhonght. would be glad to assist the society in that way. .Mrs Miller said that she had intended arranging , such an operetta but was rather unprepared for an immediate undertaking. - 'However, if the committee so desired she would, be glad to undertake the work and felt sure it would be a great success.

Mr Higginson, in seconding the motion, instanced the great interest aroused when children are contributing to a programme, and predicted a great success if Mrs 'Miller felt free to take the matter in hand. The proposal was unanimously carried.

Dr. Mcllraith. moved that Mr and Mrs D. W. Miller and Mr Higginson be appointed a committee to carry the business to a successful issue, the-committee having , power to add to their number. Unanimously carried. FLOWER DAY. Mr Nelson thought that the .funds of the soeiely could be' greatly augmented by the introduction of a flower day on the approaching race day;, and he moved that the ladies of the committee be asked to meet and discuss the advisability and feasability of the plan. Mr L. Piekmere seconded the motion which was carried. It was also agreed that the committee should have power to add to their number: ENGAGING GARDENER. The question of engaging a gardener to see to the establishment and maintenance of the converted and transformed places to be taken ,n hand, was generally discussed Jbut no definite action was taken, it being understood that the matter would come up as a later deveolpment. Mr W. A. Given referred to the desirability of having special plots of native and other shrubs laid out nnd labelled. He instanced the gardens in Dunedin where such a policy was in vogue and said that the university students as well as the general public found them most interesting. Dr. Mcllraith thought the idea excellent and suggested that it would be a good plan for the children themselves to paint the labels. * Mr Higginson considered that much could be done in this direction by way of extension in Mair Park; but the matter was deferred until the appointment of a permanent landscape gardener. . MEMORIAL TREES. Mr Rishworth considered that it would be an excellent plan to plant say one or two acorns or young oak trees in Mair Park on Dominion Day (September 22nd) and a motion moved to the effect that Messrs Rishworth, Given and Rev. J. R. Clark be asked to confer with the Mayor on the subject was warmly approved. TREES IN THE STREETS. Mr Rishworth introduced the subject of tree planting in the streets, and considered that a plan might be devised by which property owners could see to trees thus planted in front of their houses. It was necessary to adopt a uniform policy as regards kind of tree and a carefully thought out scheme was necessary. A motion was moved by Mr Rishworth to the effect that a deputation consisting of Messrs Jack, Nelson and Rishworth be appointed to wait on the Borough Council suggesting that the borough engineer be asked to report as to the streets deemed advisable to plant with trees. Dr. Mcllraith seconded the motion remarking that it would be an excellent plan to have particular trees in each street. The motion was carried. SCHOOL BEAUTIFICATION. Dr. Mcllraith moved that the heads of the schools in the district be written to as to what they could do by way of assisting the objects of the society. Mr Piekmere seconded ;he motion wihch was carried. PRESBYTERIAN CO-OPERATION. Mr Ramsay announced to the committee that the church managers had expressed themselves as being most willing to fall in with any scheme of beautifying the grounds that the society might suggest. The information was warmly received,