NELSON BEAUTIFYING SOCIETY.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13412, 9 May 1912, Page 1 (Supplement)

NELSON BEAUTIFYING SOCIETY.

ANNUAL;: MEETING.

(From "The Colonist," April. 18.)

The first annual meeting of the Nelson Beautifying Society was held m tho City Council Chambers last evening, Mr. Percy Adams presiding over a representative gathering of members from the various wards.

.The chairman .said that he miiln have Hk&d to have seen morei present, but he was glad to notice that the gathering was a very representative one, and air were ■exceedingly enthusiastic. The annual report was read by the secretary* Mr. R. Warren. It stated: It is with much gratification that the eommittee_and management,of the Nolson Beautifying Society in its first annual" report, is able to chronicle a highly successful year. Organised quietly, and backed up by a sympathetic Press, the- Society started out on a rork to which Nelson particularly lends itself. Operations were carried out in all parts of the city, with the single exception cf the Wood, where but little interest was manifested. More particular reforcpioe will be made later to the work done in the various localities, it being fitting that a tribute should first be paid to those who for some ysars past have been interested in beautifying the city. The pioneers of the movement were the few who took in hand the iraprovemejit of the Church Hill, and effected an immense change in. the,appearance thereof, and those citizens who at their own residences demonstrated what could be done. Then followed a scheme for making tho old cemetery in Trafalgar street a beauty spot, and it was during the ~intial stages of this scheme that the idea of forming a beautifying society t-r gloated and ultimately was carried to such ia successful issue. The city owes a debt of gratitude to these pioneers,' and the committee takes this opportunity of putting it on record; and having' mado this reference, wo may review the operations of the past season. In Brook street-efforts were mainly concentrated on Brook Park. Alton street was taken in hand by the Society. The northern end of the street has br-ei; planted with suitablo shrubs, while* the southern end was taken charge <>i by M:\ X. Renwick, who. at his own <xpeiiS'2 dug and planted it. Much work ' w;\s done in the old cemetery. Ik-si-rler.ts of Waimi\a road ami the r-^i^h-bourhood. ontered keenly into the beautifying movement. In Washington Valley a considerable amount of panting was done, and in addition the triangular piece of ground at the junction was converted into pleasure resort At the Port attention was manl.y given to the stretch of road from .the Beacons to the Basin. In Toi Toi Valley, Vanguard street was planted for almost its whole length, and another important undertaking was the construction of a zig-zag track to the Britannia Heights reserve. In cpnnectiou with Toi Toi Valley reference may be made to the proposal to have a public highway from the Queen's Drive to the Sands. Mr. Francis Richmond was approached . v the matter, and he generously consented in allow a road to be made through his property. Difficulties in connection with tho survey have prevented' anything being done up to the p:o:-;ent; but the survey has now been completod ami steps are to be taken imme.Hackly t-3 push en with the proposed \\«olr. The Society notes with pleasure- that t\u& City Council has again given attention to the long-talked of proposal to form a drive. Mr. J. Henrys lias oxpressed a willingness to help forward tho proposed drive by an exchange- of land to give a better..route. Tho pos■sib'ilitiesfin connection;.with the iK'tuvt-;-f\ing of the banks of tho Maitai were fully realised by the executive. The City _ Council generously assisted by fcrmitig" a footpath from Coll in ■_>;•.? cod street bridge to Normanby bridge, and later continued the pathway to the Nik> street bridge. Between Trafalgar street bridge and Coilingwcod stroet bridge the Society spent a considerable sum in clearing and planting. At Milton's Acre and the Tip, the Council has made a- vast improvement. In December a carnival of flowers was organised in aid of the funds of the Society, and the Horticultural Society held its summer show in connection with the carnival. Although tho financial reßuilt was extremely satisfactory — £200 being banded to the Society—it is rogretted that circumstances prevented the carrying out of the original programme owing to the second ballot. To all who assisted at the carnival the Society returns its. grateful thanks. Th<j Society notes with pleasure that the Hockey Association, at its annual meeting decider] to devote one Saturday afternoon to tho work of the Beautifying Society, and to give attention to the Botanical Rrsprvc. The footballers might follow the lead of the hockey players, and form a bbG on some Saturday afternoon for work at Trafalgar Park and Victory Squai-e, in both of which recreation grounds some planting might be, done. Mention maybe made-of the Society's action in initiating a movement to render til© Grampian Hills accessible by the forn-.ation of a track from Coilingwcod street. The City Council was approached, and gave its consent to a track• being made. The thanks, of the Society are due to those who gave gifts of trees and shrubs for planting; to thoe& who contributed such liberal donations ; to the Citizens' Band for valu•ab&o assistance!; to th© Press for its \interest in the work of the Society; and finally to all who in any way helped. To the Mayor (Mr. T. A. H. Field) the Society is much indebted for tho interest he displayed in the Society's work, and the valuable assistance ho rendered.

Tho balance sheet was presented as follows :— -Receipts : Subscriptions per collector, £90 Bs, sundrjr donations by subscriptions £107 14s Gd, proceeds opera "Boccaccio" £10 18s (3d, proceeds floral carnival £196 18s 7d, balance of unexpended petty cash 8s sd, total £406 8s Od. • Expenditure:—By labour and shrubs: Washington Valley £11 18s Bd, old cemetery £41 Gd, Wood ward £28 9s 3d, Brook- ward £28 18s Od, Port ward £58 7s lid, Waimea ward £10 5s 2d .;• postage on circulars £1 10b, collector's commission £3 Bs, petty'cash £2; expenses opera "Boccaccio" £12 4s, shrubs distributed to wards £1 ss, printing and advertising £10 18s Od, cheque books 4s, bank charges ss, cash in hand 8s sd;. total £225 la lid. This left a balance in the.bank of £180 Gs Id.

In moving tho adoption of tho report and balance* sliest tho chairman said'he never thought the movement ■ would havo {rained such a wide field of operi ation. The support of the various sections of the Society had always bo-en of tho strongest, and the officials of tho body were all that he could wish for to work with. The fact that over £177 w3s in the bank, would ensure them doing something this 'year. Mr. F. G. Gibbs said that tho complaints of some croakors should hj replied to at the annual m<\.\i:r.£. 110 reviewed som& of the alleged iriit>T;!,nv<iF and said he hoped the few who complained of the certain works tiki ?m)cioty was doing would take a broader view. Nelson was largely dependent upon its attractions for its petition as a residential, city, and tlio ivoeietv's work was in this direction. They did not want to havo. the cost of the work now done by the Society rov-ert to the ratepayers, hut they wanted to keep the body as a permanent one.

The report and balance sheet were then adopted..

i The- chairman said tho Society had no ("constitution', and he called upon Mr. Gibbs. to ; read the proposed. clauEes. r Mr, Gibbs said the constitution tho

committee had framed had h{t3n compiled from particulars obtained from other societies. It dontaincd eight clauses, the following being the most important:— Objects: The objects of the Sociufcy aro: (1) To lay out and plant with troe-s, shrubs and flowers such uncultivated spaces as aro suited for that purpose- ; (2) to endc-avour to preserve beautiful ■scenery, and prevent tho unnecessary destruction of bush, and to take any'other steps that may conduce to make the city and its neighbourhood more beautiful and attractive.

Officers: The officers of the Society shadl be a president, a vice-president, patrons, a- committee of at least seven members (3 to form a quorum) a secretary, a treasurer, and an auditor. Seven members of the committee and al] the other officials shall be elected at the annual meeting of members. In addition every sub-committee recognised by the Society shall be entitled to eleci ona member of the committee.

Sub-committee-3: Any members wish ing to devote their energies to any par ticular work or locality may, with the approval of the committee, form a branch and elqct a sub-committee with a chairman, secretary, and a member of the committee.

Disposition of funds: The general fund of the Society shall be devoted to the furtherance of the general objects of tho Society in such manner «« t-r.-. committee may think fit. Sub -committees may raise funcV,. by. rubi-cvi %

tions or-otherwise for tho c:;:.rrvin;r o of their operations, but Ipr <■ : the amounts so raised pfi'r.iJ be co^'t:

uted to the general fund o f ihe Society. The chairman said that Mr. Gibbs had given a great deal of attention to drawing up the-constitution. The constitution was then adopted. The electien of officea-s resulted as follows : Patrons, Messrs C. Y. Fell, J. H. Cock, J. Cawthron, T. A. H. Field, F. H. Richmond; president. Mr. P. B. Adams; vice-president, Mr. R. B.Jackson ; executive committ<M>: Messrs: F. G. Gibbs, F. V. Knapp. W. Simpson A. Day, H. B. Washb&urn, \V McGee, and F. Hamilton; secret-;!rv and treasurer, Mr. R. Warren; auditor, Mr. F. A. Bamford.

Votes of thanks were passed to Mr Warren for his'past services as secretary; to the outgoing executive; and to the chairman for presiding.