ATHLETIC GROUND COMPANY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXII, Issue 154, 3 July 1888, Page 3

ATHLE TIC GROUND COMPANY

The annual genera! meeting of the sbara- : holders in this Company was held last night, ■' Ur Coleman in the chair. The Direotors' report was read qs follows : — . . ''■ , a In presenting tbe accompany''l irjg balance sheet for the past year, your ' directors congratulate the shareholders upon the progress made in the undertaking, notwithstanding the nianyjunexpeoted difficulties and disappointments they have had to contend with. Of these, node was more serious than the damage whioh occurred to the • ground by the giving way of the Northern . > „ wall during the spring tides and almost ' •- anpreoedonted gales whioh red about the end of last year. To repair the damage done Was absolutely necessary, and your directors had to devote to this object sums of money whioh had been set aside for many works —

originally intended for improving and beautifying the Park. The work, so executed has befia carried out to the entire satisfaction of your director*, and it oombiheV with it a irritable fence protection for that aspect of the ground. On the- 21st day of April last the Park was formally opened by His Worship the Mayor of Kelson, and the opening was followed by a football match— the first of several which have taken plaoe since. Though nraoh damage was done to the grass by the salt water in the catastrophe described, yet a orioket pitch has been laid down, whioh bids fair to become a first-class sward ready for playing upon in the Bpring, and in addition to this a practice pitch has also been laid down by the members of the "Nelson Cricket Club. The bicycle traok, undertaken by the members of the N. B. 0., is rapidly progressing towards completion," and it is anticipated will be opened on. the first of August next. From the above it is. anticipated that during, the ehsuing year*-, the Company will become in receipt "of a fair return, of income, which will, they trust, enable them to carry out by degrees the many objects contemplated when the Company was first established. It will be remembered that at the last \ annual meeting a fresh issue of Bhares was determined on, and which upon the whole '■•"" have been fairly taken up, still your . directors would point out the great assistance thl undertaking would derive oould some more of these shares be, disposed of,. The ' Secretarial duties of the Company have changed hands, Mr F. H. Cooke, being now .. the hotU Seoretary, and the registered office of the Company being at his offices. On * consideration your Board of Directors have considered it desirable that they should plaoe in your hands their resignations, at the same time they are quite willing to undertake their duties.for another year if it lie f the desire of the shareholders they should • ab'so;; '.:,'■, . •■• . „ The Chairman said that though the year "Bad been one of great .anxiety they were [Skbio to lay t of ore the shareholders a far 'more satisfactory report than they at one Jime anticipated. Matters had not been %oit»g Well when thera came the orowoing , misfortune, the dcatr action of tho sea wall. With the assistance of th* Savings Bank, however, they had besn«ble to pull through, jgod thanks to Mr Akersten, the repairs had fwell and faithfully executed. He ! •d to thank Mr OUmie and Mr Sooner-: * the Engineers, whd had had £teat. , allies to con lend' with. He wished also to ackDOwledgd with thanks the esrvices ; Mbdefed by the .Mayor ab the ope u ing of the *Park, 'th* action of Miss Sharp in planting « th<» first; tree, and Mr Halo add others in presenting trees,. He also desired to thank the garrison Band ,f or playing at the opening of the Park, and Mr Wix who acted »s Hon Secretary for several months. The .Wttipanj wore largely indebted too, to Mr F. W^Oooke who, had undar taken the dmiea of *$&?< **«P'®A«ry : "«nd performed them most "efficiently. He hoped that a % i least 100 *ba«s ; would be taken np thns enabling >l|«m to oomplete some works that urgently required doing. , f r It'was then rasolved that the number of Directors for the year be twelve, and the following were eleoted:-?-Dr Ooleman, Messrs Cooker Scaife, Bannehr, Green, TopUss, JErkpatnok, Walker, Mercer, Kodgers, Shallorlisß, and <J. I^out. Messrs % t Rout: and B,£. Cloustoa. were appointed Auditors and Mr F. H. Cooke Hon Secretary. Votes of thankd were accorded to the Directors of the Building' Society for the use of the room, to the Directors, and to Mr XJpoke^r.hisjseryices as Secretary. .. , /MrQopke impressed upon the shareholders 1»e Hejise^sity of taking .up, "say one or two Snares eaph. to, enable them to do some necessary worlc, and the meeting then adjourned. ! *