PUKEKURA PARK.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 December 1924, Page 8

PUKEKURA PARK.

WORK OF THE PAST MONTH. MEETING OF THE BOARD. T'he monthly meeting of the Pukekura. Park Board was held at New Plymouth last night. Present: Messrs. H. Dempsey (chairman), C. E. Bellringer, W. C. Weston, A. T. Moore, and W. F. Short. The superintendent (Mr. T. W. Horten) reported that during the month the staff had been employed mostly at general work of maintenance, etc. He had been unable to fell the two extra trees and now proposed to leave them until after the holidays, as the staff would be fully employed maintaining the park in a creditable condition for the holiday season, when, no doubt, a greatly Increased number of visitors would be there. He asked authority to put an extra man on for a few days to assist with mowing the grass areas, which were now ready to be cut. On the sports area the grass on all th® terraces had been cut and cleared up, and the playing ground kept cut and rolled. As far as he knew everything necessary there had been done to the satisfaction of the Sports Committee. The Yogeltown entrance required putting in order, added the report, and certain improvements effected at the Carrington Road entrance. The work should be put in hand as soon as possible to prevent straying stock from entering Mr. Huggett had promised to have the work of removing firewood, felling trees, etc. completed by January 1. The new boat had arrived in good order and condition, and appeared to be in every way satisfactory. He had shot th® shag which was playing such havoc amongst the fish in the large lake. He expressed thanks to an anonymous donor of about £2 worth of flowering plants. The report was adopted, and the superintendent was given authority to employ the extra man as required. It was decided to endeavour to procure a pair of swans for the park. It was also resolved to thank the donor mentioned in the superintendent’s report.

On behalf of the fernery committee, Mr. Bellringer reported that they had visited the site and done some preliminary work. It was not proposed to do anything further until after the holidays. The ferns already planted were making good progress. SPORTSGROUND MAINTENANCE. Mr. L. Little, secretary of the Sportsground Committee, notified that the time had arrived when a permanent caretaker should be appointed for Che sportsground, and he was instructed to ask if the beard had any objection to the present arrangement terminating at the end of December, so as to enable the committee to make the appointment as suggested. He po'inted out that the committee wished the board to understand that they were more than satisfied with the attention that had been given to the sport aground by the board’s staff’ during the time the present arrangements had been in operation, and they fully appreciated the fact that it enabled them to keep the ground in good order at a minimum cost at a time when their funds were required for further improvements to the ground. It was, however, felt that the termination of the arrangement would be in the interests of the board, and would not only relieve them of a responsibility but would also be a saving of labour, as the time spent on the sportsground by the board’s staff had been considerable. Members agreed to the suggestion, considering that though the arrangement had worked satisfactorily, the time had arrived when the Sportsground Committee should employ a permanent man. GENERAL. ft was resolved to approach the Sportsground Committee with a view to having the Liardct Street entrance tar-sealed. The chairman was authorised to order any gravel required to maintain the paths. Accounts amounting to £l6 7s 7d were passed for payment.