OUKEKURA PARK BOARD

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144666, 28 April 1915, Page 5

OUKEKURA PARK BOARD

ADJOURNED MEETING. The adjourned meeting of the Pukckura Park Board was held in the Borough Council Chambers on Monday night, when there were present: Messrs, j i. Cock (chairman), S. Percy Smith, J. E. Wilson, Harris Ford. \V. A. Colhs, \U. L. Newman, and C. H. Drew (secretary). THE SPORTS GROUND. The chairman stated that the meeting had been adjourned so as to enable the Sports Ground Committoa to bring down some proposal in connection witu the control of the sports ground. Mr. A. L. Humphries, on behalf of the Sports Clubs, detailed what had been done at # tJie meeting convened to discuss the position. Until the meeting of the various clubs had been held and delegates had boon appointed to form the new committee, he could not define their position. He pointed out that the committee had the .sympathy of the majority of the public in their efforts to right matters, and he hoped soon to have something satisfactory to report. Mr. Gray, of the Technical School, had promised to give tho assistance of sixty pays in clearing up the ground, and was also prepared to go on the committee. Mr. Brooks was to be thanked for painting the flag-pole. It was. said Mr. Humphries, their intention to go ahead with a big function in aid of the grounds. The chairman said lie was pleased to see tlie enthusiasm that was bo'iug evinced in tiu» matter. Through the help of the Technical School boys tho flagstaff would soon be placed in a position on the terraces, where it would show right down Devon Street. He felt that the board should not interfere if tho committee was prepared to work, and if the same energy was displayed as in years pone by the grounds would look better than ever. Ho also expressed his pleasure that Mr. Gray had interested himself in the grounds. Mr. R. C. Hughes urged that more care should he taken in seeing that the terraces were not destroyed, after they had again been put in order.

Mr. S. Percy Smith considered that the wrong grass had been used on the terraces, and he pointed out whore a good holding grass could be obtained. It wns decided to defer consideration of the control of the sports ground until the annual meeting, which will be held about the middle of May.

LIGHTING THE GROUNDS. Mr. Hughes remarked that the board had gone further into the matter of lighting the grounds by electricity, and as soon as a plan of the ground was prepared by Mr. W. \V. Smith, the borough electrical engineer (Mr. Black) would submit a report. (THE JOCKEY CLUB DRIVE. The secretary of the Taranaki Jockey CJttb (Mr. E. I*. Webster) wrote ns follows:—*‘As your board is no doubt aware, it is the intention of the club to form a members' carriage drive from our main entrance, coming in around the hack of the outside public stand; and in order'to do this, certain earthwork filling is necessary to obtain the required width to the drive. It will also he necessary to remove certain pinns insipnis trees. The proposed lining is on part of reserve 'M. which is pait of the land vested in the borough under the New ITyinontli Recreation and Racecourse Reserve Act, ISS7, and ■ which the Borough Council advise is leased by your board. On our club applying to the council for the necessary permission to carry out the work, the following resolution was passed by them : ’1 lint, subject to the consent of tho Pukckura Park Board being also obtained, permission be given to the Taranaki Jockey Club to form a carriage drive over reserve 'M, 1 owned by the council and leased to the Pnkoknra Park Board, such permission, however, to he at tho will of the council.' We therefore respectfully request that your hoard grant the. necessary permission to enable ns to proceed with the work at onee.”

The Chairman stated that he hart boon shown over the proposed work with several members of ihe board, and considered that it would he a distinct improvement. The Jockey Club also undertook to keen the paths in order if the earth from the filling rolled on them. Mr. J. E. Wilson said that the proposed drive would open up some beautiful views across the park, and those visitors to the races now unacquainted with its beauties would, from the glimpse they obtain in driving past, be anxious to become belter acquainted with the park. Members generally favoured the proposal . Mr. R. C. Hughes considered that a plan of the proposed work should be submitted, as it would be very unbusinesslike to grant permission otherwise. The Chairman did not think a plan was necessary. Four or five of tho members had been over the ground. - Moreover he pointed out that the jockey Club was anxious to proceed with the work. , . In further discussion it was stated that the board only had a year-to-year lease of the piece of ground in question. The Chairman moved that the request be acceded to. This was seconded by Mr. C. H. Drew ■ind carried, after an amendment, proposed by Mr. R. C. Hughes and secondbr Mr. Harris Ford, to the effect that‘Hie Jorkcv Chib bo asked to submit a plan of the ground required, had been lost.