TE NGUTU O TE MANU

Taranaki Daily News, 29 September 1933, Page 10

TE NGUTU O TE MANU

HISTORY OF DOMAIN BOARD MONUMENT TO VON TEMPSKY. BEAUTIFICATION OF THE PARK. The Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu Domain Board was constituted by Order-in-Council on February 26, 1884, under the Public Domains Act, 1881. It contained an area of 50 acres and was of special historic interest by reason of the massacre of von Tempsky and his valiant band which occurred on the spot 16 years previously. The domain was vested in a board consisting of Charles Allan Wray, Lieut.-Col. John M. .Roberts, the chairman of the Hawera County Council (Mr. M. Hunter), James Livingston, George Francis Robinson and James Charles Yorke. The first meeting was held on March 13, Mr. Yorke being appointed chairman. It was decided to reserve ten acres and call tenders for leasing the balance. At the next meeting Mr. Livingston was authorised to indicate to Mr. J. R. Stewart the portion it was proposed to retain as a memorial ground. Mr. I. Bayly became the next -representative of the county. In 1886 it was decided to erect a temporary cross at the spot where von Tempsky fell, to be replaced by a permanent monument at a later date. Accordingly in 1889 a memorial on lines suggested by Mr. G. Syme was erected on the site where von Tempsky was killed. The next record of the board’s activity is on December 10, 1891, when the first meeting of an elected board was held in the Waimate Road Board office, there being present Messrs. Robinson, H. Cook, G. Raikes and H. Downey. Mr. Downey was appointed chairman but Mr. Raikes declined to act except temporarily. Mr. G. H. Maunder was recommended to fill the vacancy. Mr. S. Forsyth represented the Hawera County Council. The board’s income was about £l4 per annum and there was a credit of £66. At the following meeting it was decided to plant ornamental trees to replace those destroyed by fire. Mr. G. Muir was the lessee of the domain. The erection of a caretaker’s cottage was embarked upon at the meeting in November and Mr. John Anderson was engaged as caretaker. In 1894 Mr. W. L. Luscombe replaced Mr. Downey and Mr. Maunder was made chairman. The planting of macrocarpa trees and protective work to the native bush occupied the board’s attention for the following year. In 1895 Mr. J. Hislop came to the board

as county representative. Mr. Robinson resigned in 1896 and Mr. W. R. Wood was nominated as his successor. The annual meetings of 1901 and 1902 lapsed owing to lack of a quorum, but the board continued the planting and beautifying of the area. Mr. J. Winks came to represent the county. Mr. Maunder resigned as chairman and Mr. Luscombe took the office. Mr. G. McLean was added to the board in 1905 as county member, and Mr. H. White took Mr. Maunder’s place. Messrs. J. Marx and W. Goodland held office in successive years on behalf of the county. In 1907 Messrs. White and Wood resigned and Messrs. G. Preece, J. H. Sellars and W. Johnston were nominated. Mr. Preece was elected chairman. On a request from Matapu residents a tennis court was constructed in 1908, the residents undertaking to supply the gravel. On the resignation of Mr. Luscombe Mr. E. G. Betts was appointed a member. Messrs. G. Hurley and T. Walsh came on the board in 1912. In 1914 it was decided to proceed with the erection of a new cottage for the caretaker at a cost of £307. In 1915 Mr. A. H. Davies was made caretaker. Mr. J. B. Murdoch joined the board as county representative and has been a. member ever since. Mr, Preece resigned as chairman and Mr. E. G. Betts was appointed to the office. Mr. T. Christiansen replaced Mr. Davies as caretaker. Mr. J. E. Meuli accepted office in place of Mr. Preece. Mr. W. Betts was latex’ appointed to the boai’d and in 1919 Mr. J. C. Barclay accepted a seat. By 1921 the board’s finances were in a flourishing c&ndition and there was a credit balance of £147. In 1923 it was projected to lay down an additional tennis court and carry out a scheme of beautification of the park. Mr. C. Revell was appointed caretaker, which position he occupied till last year, when Mr. W. E. King was appointed. In 1924 Mr. Barclay was appointed chairman and Mr. Betts secretary, but Mr. Betts resumed the chairmanship the following year and is chairman at the present time. A public meeting was held in 1926 to elect a new board, all sitting members being returned. A credit balance of £125 was shown at the annual meeting last May, when Mr. T. Walsh resigned after 21 years’ service. Mr. G. Preece junr. was appointed to the board.