SCENERY PRESERVATION.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4646, 26 April 1902, Page 7

SCENERY PRESERVATION.

Tho annual meeting of the Wollinglington Tree Planting and Scenery Preservation Society was held last night 6,t the Exchange Buildings, and was attended by about twenty members. Mr L. G. lioid (president) occupied the bhair.

Tho annual report was of a satisfactory character. Tho amount to the credit of tho society was stated to bo £39 O.s 2d, and it was mentioned that Iho roll of membership had increased from 300 to 410. Tho total number of trees and shrubs planted on reserves by tho society and growing up to the 18th February was 2403. Tho adoption of tho report was moved by Mr Oeorgo Wright, and seconded by Mr J. S. Jameson.

Tho chairman announced that it was not his intention to seek re-election, lie gave a review of the society’s work, and spoko of incidents in its history. For seven years it ho,d been struggling ■with adversity, hut it had now attained a very satisfactory position. The Way in which the society was treated by tho City Council was in marked contrast to tho treatment accorded to similar societies in Dunedin, Christchurch and Now Plymouth, where they received a lot of assistance from the local authorities. Mr Reid went on to reiterate what ho said on former occasions, namoly that ho would like to soo tho Town’ Bolt taken in hand tty tho City Council, and systematic work dono in the direction of planting it and opening it up to the public. Tho society should make a big effort to get something dono to Kelbnrno Park, which was a hideous-looking place as it now stood. Nothing had been dono to it by the City Council beyond tho planting of some of tho banks. Mr J. M. Richardson said that recently tho City Council appointed a gentleman to look after its reserves. Ho thought it would have been a good thing for that officer, or some other representative of tho Council, to attend the society’s annual meeting. The report was adopted. A letter, dated the 23rd inst., from tho Town Clerk was road. It stated that (ho City Council had adopted a recommendation of tho City Reserves Committee, offering tho society £25 on account of work done by it on tho Salamanca road reserve on condition that tho amount was spent on some other rosorvo.

In reply to a question, the chairman Raid the committee had boon assured by tho Victoria College authorities, or those who were most activo in having the Salamanca road site sot apart for tho college buildings, that they intended to keep trees which wore planted on tho land.

Some strong adverse comments were made upon tho action of the City Council in regard to the Salamanca road reserve. The point was raised, however, that tho college buildings might bo so placed that many of tho trees planted by tho society would not bo interfered with. In reply to this, it was stated by one member that it would be impossible to put a seven-roomed house on the site without interfering with some of the trees. On tho question of whether tho college grounds would bo open to the public, varying statements wore made. Tho opinion was expressed that they might be expected to bo open during the college vacations at least. One member said he had been informed by a professor that the college buildings and conveniences would fully occupy tho site. A' voice; Ho is too extravagant in his ideas.

It was resolved, “That it he ah instruction to the incoming committee to set up a sub-committeo to draw up reasons why the £SO claimed by the society on account of the Salamanca road site should bo paid in full.” It was decided to recommend the incoming committee to take steps to act in concert with other similar societies, with the object of representing to the Government that Arbor Day bo made a movable holiday, so as to suit tho conditions of different localities. \ Another recommendation to tho incoming committee which was agreed upon was that it should request tho City Council to make a road from Constable street along tho ridge to Mount Victoria, and to give attention to the plants in Victoria Park, on the western ,sido of tho bill.

Messrs John Strauohon, George Campbell. W. T. Glasgow, J. H. Wishart, and 'A. I. Masters woro elected .as.members of tho sociotv.

The election of officers resulted as follows President, Mr J. M. Richardson ; vice-presidents, Messrs George Wright and George Denton: committee, Messrs A. Jorgensen, W. F. Barraud, W. L. Mook,,W. Callaghan, A. do Castro, J. B. Speed, G. A. Hurley, J. S. Jameson, aftid N. Von Stumer; auditor, Mr W. T. Glasgow. A special vote of thanks was accorded to Mr L. G. Reid for his services as president during tho past seven years. Votes of thanks were also passed to Mr W. Callaghan, honorary treasurer; to Mr N. Von Stumer, tho retiring secretary; and to the Wellington Acclimatisation Society for tho use of a room for committee meetings. At a meeting of tho newly-elected committee, Mr J. B. Speed was elected as honorary secretary, and Mr Callaghan was re-el ectod as honorary treasurer.