SEASIDE SOCIETY

Opunake Times, 13 August 1948, Page 3

SEASIDE SOCIETY

FINANCES IMPROVED MABDI GRAS PROPOSAL A meeting of the Opunake Seaside Improvement Society was held in the Council's Chambers on Wednesday evening, Mr. A. E. McDonald, occupying the chair in the absence of the president, Mr, T. H. H. Sinclair, Present: Mesdames M. Alvis and A. Cargo and Messrs. R. H. Hughson, G. C. Clouston, J. J. Chapman, G. Morton, D. Julian. K. Somervell, L. M. Julian, D. McCrone, A. Cargo and the secretary, Mr. H. E. Collins. Apologies were received from Mrs. Pope and Mr. Dew. The Chairman and Mr. Hughson, both referred to the excellent services rendered th society by Mr. Sinclair and the secretary was requested to write thanking him for his active Interest jri the welfare of the beach over a number of years.

In ■ spite of the poliomyelitis restrictions during the _summer months the financial statement presented at the meeting showed that the Society's activities had been most satisfactory under the circumstances. Camp fees were nearly half last years record, but with a government grant of £l5O, a net profit from the gala of £164-12-4"and over £6O in donations, the Society had been able to reduce the debit balance from £668-6-0 to £355-8-11. There is still, of course, the mortgage liability of £SOO to be liquidated. The payment of accounts totalling £234-14-3 was approved.

An inspection by the Health Inspector at the beach revealed that rubbish was being scattered indiscriminately and not always placed in the tins provided. After a short discussion it was agreed to ask the Borough to make regular rubbish collections at the beach in line with the normal Borough collection. Improvements to and the need for additional ladies" conveniences, were also set out by the inspector. The committee agreed to improve these facilities when concrete was more readily obtainable and certain repairs suggested were left to the caretaker to handle.

A complaint from Mr. G. Morton that storm water flooding periodically left a lake under nis dwelling at the beach, accompanied with a request for satisfactory drainage to overcome this, was carefully considered and it was left to the Works Committee, Messrs. McDonald, Clouston and L. M. Julian, to inspect the area with Messrs. Morton aid Somervell, with power to act. The secretary notified that the. lease of the Pavilion expires on September 29th and it was decided to follow the formal procedure of calling tenders, a sub-commit-tee, comprising the Secretary, Chairman, and Mr. Clouston, being appointed to peruse the existing lease and to bring it up-to-date, in order to facilitate . the calling of tenders without delay. Mardi Cras Discussed The • proposal to conduct a "Mardi Gras at the beach in the Christmas holiday period was further discussed and the Chairman undertook to interview a prospective organiser and to report back to the next meeting when the scheme could be fully considered. Mr. McDonald gave notice of his intention to move a motion, at the annual meeting, that rentals for beach cottages be increased.