Beautifying Society

Northern Advocate, 25 March 1937, Page 4

Beautifying Society

Work At Kaitaia A meeting of the Kaitaia Beautifying Society was held on Tuesday evening, Mr C. McKinnon presiding, and others present were Messrs. H. McDonald, W. Berry, Rev. Blackwood Moore, Lloyd Peace and Clifford and Knight. The secretary to the A, & P. Association, writing in reply to a request that an amount due for the hire of the hall be spent in tree-planting, stated that the association had already planted a number of trees. , The Kaitaia Town Board wrote stating that it had decided to make an annual donation of £lO/10/- to the funds of the society. 'lt was decided to thank the board for its generous gift. The Kaitaia Theatres, Ltd., wrote offering the use of the theatre free for a concert in aid of the society’s funds on a non-picture night. A charge of £1 would be made for cleaning and lighting, but this would be refunded as a donation. Mr McKinnon said they might be able to get the Whangarei Orphans’ Club to give a concert. The matter was left in the hands of a committee, consisting of the president, secretary, Mr Moore and Mr Timbers. Quotations were received from different firms for supplies of winterflowering bulbs. It was suggested by the president that members requiring bulbs be asked to put their orders through the society, and it was decided to circularise members with a view to ascertaining their requirements, and offering them a rebate of 10 per cent, on the ordinary cost.

Reference was made to strips of land fronting the main street which were being made available for planting by property-owners. Messrs. Berry and Knight were appointed a committee to arrange for the digging of the strip granted for use. Messrs. Clifford, Knight, Peace, and Miss Wattridge were appointed a committee to select suitable bulbs. The Napier Concrete Company wrote advising that they were forwarding as a gift a seat for placing in some suitable position in the town. Two calico framed signs relating to horticulture were being forwarded. -\ , It was stated that the seat would arrive at Kaitaia the following day. Mr McKinnon said it was to be hoped the business people would follow up the good example set, as quite a few seats would be necessary. A good place for the seat donated would be at the entrance to the swingbridge. A resolution thanking the cement company, was passed. A letter was received from the Hon. Frank Langstone in reference to land in the Hei;ekino Gorge, which the society had asked should be brought under the Scenery Protection Act. It was pointed out that with part of the land (.Sections 1,2 and 3) there was no necessity for this, as the land was already reserved for State forest purposes, and there was no intention of milling the kauri on these sections. Only dead trees would be removed. Advice was received that a conference would be held in Wellington on April 2nd, on tree-planting. Some members thought' that in view of the possibility of allocations for tree-planting by the Government, it might help to get in on the ground floor if they had a delegate at the conference. • Mr Peace was appointed delegate. The chairman: We can offer to assist the Government in every way possible in any tree-planting work undertaken in the county. He would like to see an avenue of trees from the Bluff to North Cape. The secretary was asked to write to the Department of Agriculture requesting that the parasite for the destruction of white butterflies be liberated in the district. Mr McKinnon urged that in connection with the Centenary celebrations in 1940, a scheme should be devised for making Centenary Park into a Children’s playground. They should try and arouse interest- throughout the country, and could make suggestions to the local bodies. It was stated that the society’s credit at the bank was only £4, and that some effort would be necessary to raise funds.

A committee was appointed to expend £5 available from the Town Board, on tree-planting. Five new members were elected.