PUKEKURA GROUNDS

Taranaki Daily News, 13 November 1934, Page 3

PUKEKURA GROUNDS

COMMITTEE’S ANNUAL MEETING. SUCCESSFUL YEAR’S OPERATIONS. The annual meeting of the New Plymouth Sportsground Committee was held last night, when there were present Messrs. E. Jackson (chairman), H. J. Larkin, S. O. Jones, F. J. Hill, F. S. Varnham, C. N. Johnson, V. Garth, A. E. Kretchmar, J. Garcia, J. Hollowes and L. Little (hon. secretary). The annual report stated that during the year several permanent improvements had been carried out, including concrete steps leading up to the Press stand and concrete risers were now being put on the southern terrace, replacing the dangerous wooden ones. For a number of years the drain along the eastern side of the playing area had been a source of expense and danger, and after consultation with Mr. C. Clarke, borough engineer, six-inch field tiles were placed along the bottom, the drain was filled with chips and sand and finished off with a layer of earth, a very fine job resulting. Thanks were due to Mr. Clarke for his advice. Thanks were also expressed to one who wished to remain anonymous for paying the cost of a radio transmitting room, which had been built on the end of the Press stand and would be very comfortable on wet days. Considerable maintenance work had been done. The mowers had been overhauled and the tractor had had its first thorough overhaul, being as good as new. It had done excellent work. The fence facing Fillis Street had to be strengthened and heightened on account of the street levels having been altered. The pavilion had had new spouting and down pipes fitted. The roof dnd wood work were to be painted. Additional fencing had been erected near the Press stand along a high lY.nk, which was dangerous, and the whole of the fence around the sports area had received a coat of white paint. Advantage had been taken of the early closing of the football season to thoroughly scarify the playing field, and eight bushels of ryegrass were sown and 50 yards of soil spread on a part of the ground which had been badly torn up by football. Thanks were due to Mr. A. R. Gudopp, Westown, for the loan of spiked harrows. The ground had been liberally top-dressed and at present was in better condition than at any other time during the years tne present committee had controlled the ground. The executive had had in view the cutting back of the eastern terraces and lowering their height, thus making them safer for patrons, also the roofing in of the pathway leading from the front entrance to the eastern terrace gate, a much-needed improvement owing to the wet weather during the football season. Thanks were due to Mr. T. Horton, park superintendent, for his capable attention to the requirements of the committee and to Mr. G. Finlay, groundsman. The balance-sheet showed that receipts totalled £245 15s 5d (Taranaki Rugby Union £l3B 17s, North Taranaki Cricket Association £67 6s 9d, football clubs £ll 0s 6d, Labour Day sports £9 4s, New Plymouth Athletic Club £7 18s 6d, primary schools £2 3s 9d, tin hare racing £1 Ils 6d, Hockey Association 10s, interest £7 3s sd). Expenditure totalled £284 18s 4d, the principal items being wages £l2l, maintenance £59 3s, depreciation £39, repairs to tractor and motors £29 13s lid, benzine and oil £l9 18s 2d, seed, soil and manures £l6 3s 3d. Expenditure exceeded income by £39 2s lid. The assets totalled £1202 6s, being cash at bank £321 6s, mowers and rollers £46, tractor £25, sheds, fence and rail £lll, and pavilion £699. The chairman congratulated the committee on another successful year’s operations. No large expenditure was incurred, but the ground was maintained in splendid order. He thanked the members of the committee for their co-oper-ation. The roofing of the roadway from the main gate to the eastern terraces would cost only from £75 to £BO and would be revenue-producing, as by providing shelter they would induce the public to attend football matches on wet days. It could be erected in such a way as not to be detrimental to the appearance of the ground. He did not want to appear pessimistic, remarked Mr. V. Garth, but he considered that with the increasing interest now being taken in golf the committee could look for smaller football gates and a consequent decline in revenue. It was decided that the West End jubilee committee be granted the use of the ground on March 9, and he recommended that that date be regarded as one of the two days set apart in the season for the use of the ground by the park committee. The auditor was voted a fee of £2 2s. Votes of thanks were accorded the secretary (Mr. L. Little) for his work in the interests of the ground for 13 years, to Mr. C. N. Johnson (the grounds supervisor) and to the chairman.