PUKEKURA PARK BOARD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144778, 7 September 1915, Page 4

PUKEKURA PARK BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Pukekura Park Board was held at the Town Hall on Monday evening, Mr. AY. L. Newman presiding in the unavoidable absence o) the chairman, Mr. S. Percy Smith. There, were also present: Messrs. R. C. Hughes. R. Cock, H. Ford and C. H. Drew (secretary). Tlio curator, Mr. iV. A\. 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 termed. During the mouth Mr. Robert Stevens, of Eltham, sent a package of native plants to the park; Miss Davcnish and Miss Douglas have also sent parcels of native plants. 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, but 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 ho could got 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 lie would bo only too pleased to send some. If the board couid send Mr. Haughs anything of tho kind by way ot exchange it would be much appreciated.- Mr. Tribe added that he tried to do the same thing at Fiji, but the office of tho department was dosed. If Mr. Smith would like seeds from Fiji it was suggested tiiat tlio board write to Mr. AYhitcombe (an old New Plymouth boy), who had said he would bo pleased to see the" Agricultural Department and do what ho could jii tlie matter.—lt was decided to forward a letter' of thanks to Mr. Haughs, and also to Mr. Tribe for his interest in the matter. 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. . Mr. C. Denny-Brown, was accorded a vote of thanks for a donation of £2 2s to tho board’s funds, • Mr. Ford was appointed overseer for tiio month. 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.