PATEA DOMAIN BOARD

Patea Mail, Volume LIII, 15 January 1934, Page 2

PATEA DOMAIN BOARD

ORDINARY MEETING. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Domain Board was held on Friday, Mr. E. F. Hemingway presiding. Messrs. Ramsbottom, Jenkins, Papps, Roberts, and Austin were also present. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Correspondence was read as under: Mr. B. H. Walton wrote tendering his resignation as hon. secretary, as he was at present working in Wellington. The resignation was accepted wi’h regret, and it was decided to ask Miss Bniith to till the vacancy, Mr. It. E. Moore wrote stating that iabout >7O chains of /fencing! of iho fence between his section and Mr. lloneyfield’s required renewing. It was decided to leave the matter in the hands of Messrs. Roberts and Jenkins with power to act. The New Plymouth Waterside Workers’ Union wrote asking for permission to hold their annual picnic in the Domain on the 24th inst. The chairman said lie had replied granting the request, and since then he had received a telephone message asking if the board would mind the date being changed to the 31st if the watersiders could uot arrange to come on the 24th. The chairman said ho had replied that either date could be had. The action of the chairman was coulirmcd. CUSTODIAN’S REPORT. Iho custodian, Mr. W. T. Lamb, reported as follows; The number of parties visiting the ground tills year lias ucen less than former years. Homo 20 parties visited the ground during the ■ Holidays and stayed a night. With the exception or four, ail have visited the ground for the lirst time, and wore well pleased with it, particularly the shed, which was used by two parties who came in one wet night. A number of picnics wore held at iho Domain during the holidays. I may say that I am only too pleased to render what assistance I can to my similar parties using the Domain. The parades under Lieut. R. W. Haddow resumed after the holidays on January 11, and will be held every Thursday. After a, big day at the Domain such as the sports on Boxing Day, the drain often gets blocked. In time it clears itself. When it has been blocked before I have hosed it clear, but with the restriction put on the use of ho.. . I thought it best not to use it. When Mr. Jackson cleared the drain before, the trouble was at the septic tank, which he says is too small now. The hedges at the south cud arc well under control, and 1 made a start on the north end this week, and by i week all will be trimmed. An offer was received from Mr. .J. Jackson to construct two extra chambers at the septic tank 3ft by 2ft Gin for the sum of £4 15s. At present there are only two chambers to the tank 2ft by 2ft Gin each. It was unanimously resolved that the offer be accepted. The chairman reported that he had arranged for the necessary labour to put the Domain in order for the Boxing Day sports. The track had been put in order and mown with the motor mower, but the oval had not been mown with the horse mower as the latter had been broken. The flower beds and hedges had received attention and the memorial gates were to be re-paiuted after the rust had been burnt off. The pittoijporum trees planted on the southern boundary were coming along well. The report was adopted. Mr. Sedgman waited on the board with the request that on the expiration of his present tenancy on March 31 he be allowed to graze that portion of the Domain at present occupied by him that is not required for tree planting. It was unanimously resolved that Mr. Sedgman be informed that the board will be pleased to receive an offer for that portion of the Domain north of Rutland Street occupied by Mr. Sedgman and the northern half of the -swamp, on the understanding that the tenancy be till March 31, 1935 only, whom- the. position will be again reviewed, the present cowshed to be removed to a site to be approved by the board and any necessary fencing to be erected by Mr. Scdgman with the right of removal. Mr. Roberts brought forward the question of improving Surrey Street by planting it with trees for shelter purposes!. The boxthorn,. hedge, he stated, that had been cut down some 12 years ago had not grown again. After a brief discussion, it was unanimously resolved on the motion of Mr. Roberts, -seconded by the chairman, that 1 the board offer to co-operate with the Borough Council in. planting Surrey Btreet from the Beach Road to Middlesex Street. Accounts totalling £23 12s Id were read and passed for payment and the board rose.