DUNEDIN AMENITIES SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3869, 8 May 1928, Page 68

DUNEDIN AMENITIES SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETING. The. annual meeting of the Dunedin Amenities and Town Planning Society was held in the City Council Chambers, on Thursday afternoon. Mr Crosby Morris presided over a fair attendance of members. The Chairman moved the adoption of the report and balance sheet, and in doing so said that last year they had instituted a new procedure, in that they had got members of the committee to meet on Saturday, afternoons to make a tour of inspection of the work done in the past, and make suggestions for the future. That had been a very valuable move, and he suggested that it should be continded. The particular work last year, of which they would see details in the report, had been planting part of the path at the rear of Maitland street. It had been planted with deciduous trees and would be a fine sight in a few years. Planting at the back of the Boys’ High School had been done by the unemployed about 30 years ago, and the present effect was very fine. Another very good work done had been in the vicinity of the Robin Hood quarry, and 'a great deal of land in the vicinity of the quarry, covered with gorse and broom, had been cleared and planted, chiefly with mountain ash. He thought they could do.some further work there. It was not complete,., to his mjnd, although what had been done was very good indeed. Reverting to the work done in Maitland street, the Chairman said that there had been some opposition because it was feared that the trees would interrupt the view from Eglinton road. He did not think there was very much in the objection, but at the same time he would like to say that the society did not want to do anything that would spoil the view from the heights of the city. At the Robin Hood quarry one view had been spoilt by a number of pine trees, planted a number of years ago, and he thought the City Corporation might be asked to clear some of them away. Mr G. M. Thomson had last year referred to the advantage of . interesting school children in the society’s work, and he was glad to say that planting had been done by this means. The pupils of the Arthur Street School had kept the reserves round the old cemetery in good order. Very valuable work had been done by the pupils, and he thought that they might try to interest the schools generally in the grounds in their vicinity. Their funds were still unsatisfactory, and they had been in a similar position for many years. They received subscriptions from only 160 members, and the income was £72 4s, to which had to be added interest and a few donations. With an income of that kind the society could not do very much. They had made repeated attempts to increase the income, but had not been very successful. He trusted that the citizens would see their way to bring the society’s income up to £2OO or £3OO. Mr Thomson had also referred to the dropping of papers about the streets, and the society had done a little to t'-y and obviate that. Tram tickets and cigarette cases and butts were dropped about the streets, and although there' was a by-law against that, he thought they could best remedy matters by enlisting the support of the citizens generally. The Chairman also referred to the motor car sign posts, which he said he understood were necessary for ; to .indicate parking areas At the same time he thought a more artistic designs might be selected for the notices. Mr G. M. Thomson, in second ng uho motion for the adoption of the. report and balance sheet, suggested that the interest of school teachers might be aroused .in matters in ' which the society was concerned. He .mentioned that he ' often came along''.one of tho reserves and saw cigarette packets thrown about. He thougnt that they should express their t on to the residents of both St. Clair and St. Kilda for what they had done in respect t<s these areas. Other suburban areas might have. taken up the same attitude. He concluded..by paying a compliment to Mr ’’'s.nnoek and the Reserves Committee of the City Council for the work they had carried, out. The Mayor (Mr W. B. Taverner) said ■ he was glad that Mr Thomson had called attention to : . the desirability of planting reserve areas. As to planting with native trees, which had touched .. upon by one speaker,-he said they had a peculiar beauty of their own, which would .appeal strongly to the native born New Zealander. They were very proud of their winter gardens, which were of educational yabio. They had had a 'nuznbor of visitors co Dunedin, particukrly from Australia, and in most cases "they* had gone down to the gardens, and had expressed their delight with what they had seen. Mr J. L. Salmond mentioned that the society had handed the garden competition over to the. Horticultural Society, an l he expressed the opinion that they should congratulate the Horticultural Society. upon the way the competitions had been' conducted. The report and balance sheet were then adopted. The following office-bearers were elected:—President, Mr Crosby Morris-; vice-prcstdent, Mr C. P M. Butterworth; additional committeemen—Messrs C. W. S. Chamberlain, J. Rer.nie and J. L. Salmond; treasurer, Mr .A. W. M. Moodie; secretary. Mr John Ash.