PUKEKURA PARK BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 September 1915, Page 3

PUKEKURA PARK BOARD.

MONTHLY! MTETLNG. The monthly meeting of the Pukekura Park Board was held in the Borough Council Chambers on Monday evening, Mr. AV. L. Newman presiding •in the absence of the chairman, Mr. S. Percy Smith. There was also present: Messrs. R. C. Hughes, R. Cock, H. Ford, and C. H. Drew (secretary). The curator, Mr. W. W. Smith, reported that the fine weather experienced during the earlier part of the month enabled the staff to proceed apace with the reforming and gravelling of the walks around the upper lake and part of the racecourse walk. The new walk leading from John Street gate at an angle on to the main walk around the top of the sports ground valley had been formed. During the month Mr. Robert Stevens, of Eltham, sent a package of native plants to the park; Miss Devenish and Misa Douglas have also sent parcels of native pfants. A gentleman residing in the Mokau district, who had sent trees for three seasons, also sent a package of seeds and seedlings. He did not know who the gentleman was, hut the seeds, etc., were very gratefully received. Mr. Tribe, who recently returned from a trip to Hawaii, brought back with him a large package of seeds from the Agricultural Department of that country. As an exchange was solicited, he would shortly collect a good series of varieties of seeds of our best native plants and post them in exchange to Hawaii. He was extremely pleased to have those brought by Mr. Tribe.—Hearty votes of thanks were accorded to the various donors of seeds, etc. Mr. E. H. Tribe wrote that on arrival at Honolulu he went to the Bureau of Agriculture to ascertain if he could get some seeds of native flora for the park. Mr. David Haughs, the director of the department, was exceedingly kind, and gave him a packet of seeds, which he (Mr. Tribe) had handed to Mr. Smith. Mr. Haughs said if at any time they required any more he would be only too pleased to send some. If the board could send Mr. Haughs anything of th» kind by way of exchange it would be much appreciated. Mr. Tribe added that he tried to do the same thing at Fiji, but the office of the department was closed. If Mr. Smith would like seeds from Fiji it was suggested that the board write to Mr. Whitcombe (an old New Plymouth boy), who had said he would be pleased to see the Agricultural Department and do what he could in the matter.—lt was decided to forward letters of thanks to Messrs. Tribe and Haughs.

Owing to the impossibility of the Borough Council's representatives attending, meetings on Monday evenings, it was decided to meet in future on Tuesday evening. It was resolved that the seats In the Park be overhauled and repaired. Mr. Ford was appointed overseer for the work, and a vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Black, borough electrical engineer, for a special report he had presented in connection with a proposal to instal electric light in the park. Accounts amounting to 19s 6d were passed for payment.