EAST END BATHING RESERVE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144859, 10 December 1915, Page 4

EAST END BATHING RESERVE.

ANNUAL SMOKE CONCERT. AND OPENING OF ADDITIONS.

The annual smoko concert m connection with the East End Bathing Reserve was hold at the pavilion on Thursday evening, a representative gathering being present. Additional interest was centred in the gathering on this occasion, as it also celebrated the official opening of the additions to the building. The pavilion and tables had been very prettily decorated by Mr. Geo, Feek and members of tho ladies’ committee, and a light but very dainty repast was provided. In the unavoidable absence of the chairman of the commitfee (Mr. S. J. Smith), Mr. F. C. J. Bellringer presided. After the usual loyal toast had been enthusiastically honoured, Mr. H.iCock proposed the “Army and Navy.” At the outset the speaker related a number of interesting reminiscences in connection with tho army and tho navy during the early days of settlement in New Plymouth. Referring to tho present war, he expressed the hope that all eligible young men would volunteer for service and said that so far as he was concerned h© would be prepared to do all he could to keep the* “pot boiling” whilst they were Away, and he felt sure others of his age would gladly corao forward also. Song, Mr. M‘Clusky. Captain Allen, in responding to the toast, referre'd to the compilation of tho national register and to the fact that 34.000 men had stated in their returns thoir unwillingness to' serve in any direction in the matter of protecting tho Empire. v To him this was rather a disgraceful return. Still, there might bo reasons of which he was not aware. At the same time he would urge the young men to remember that w© were up against an ? enemy whose strength he felt we sometimes oven now underrated. It was tho duty of every able young man who could and who could be spared to join their comrades in the defence of the Empire. They should remember that in answering this call they were protecting their own homes in this Dominion. With regard to the’navy, it must be a matter of great thankfulness to know that although there had been no naval battle, still our enemy, which had been preparing for so many years and spent so many millions on its navy, that its ships should stand, as it were, utterly useless. In conclusion, Captain Allen referred to Lord Kitchener, in whom all had the greatest confidence and placed implicit trust. Ho hoped and prayed God that sou & unlocked for event would transpire and that this devilish war would be brought to a speedy end. Sergeant-Major "Williamson also briefly responded. He referred to his connection with the marine branch of the service and attributed tho success of our arms in this great war to discipline, which was, .he said, the very foundation of the training of members of the army and navy. Recitation, Mr. Farmer. The Mayor proposed ‘‘The East End Bathing Reserve Committee.” At the outset nis Worship remarked that ho was a member of tho first committee, which was elected in 1903,' and then went on to say that the sea front was on© of New Plymouth’s greatest assets: it was of value not only to the residents of the town, but also to the large numbers of country people who cam© to spend their holidays at the seaside. He was pleased to see the great interest being taken by the people of New Plymouth in the sea front as evidenced by tho work of the different seaside committees. The townspeople could not pay too many compliments to tho energetic committees who had taken in hand the controlling and improvement of the foreshore. Before dealing more particularly with tho East End reserve he expressed the hope that at some future day there would be a carriage drive from the Breakwater to the Waiwakaiho River. To .do that, some definite and comprehensive scheme was necessary in order that there should be no overlapping by the different committees and to prevent any of tho efforts of the committees being wasted. His Worship incidentally referred to tho visit some time ago of Mr. Davidge and to tho fact that he was preparing a report with reference to treatment of the foreshore. This was expected' shortly. Reverting back to the East End, Mr. Burgess said it was interesting to see how it had grown from a very small beginning. In December, 1903, at the instance of a few’ East End ratepayers, who donated a portion, of tho purchase money, the Borough Council purchased the land on which tho pavilion stood for £IOO. and in 1904 the council erected a bathing shed and protection wall at a cost of £250. This, however, was not altogether a success, and it was not until 1910 that the real popularity of the reserve started. At this time the shed was divided into two portions, one for ladies and one for gentlemen. A ladies’ committee was also appointed, and since then, thanks to the energy of both tho ladies and the men’s committees, the popularity of the reserve had increased each successive year. Tho bathing shed accommodation was soon found to be inadequate, and before the end of March of that year a largo addition, more than doubling the original accommodation, was provided. The Borough Council contributed £ for £ up to £Bo for this and other improvements, and in 1913 a second story, costing over £4OO, was erected, the necessary funds being raised by the efforts of tho committee. supplemented by a grant of £l5O from the council. Still the committee was not satisfied, the accommodation again being considered insufficient and the present additions were therefore made this year at a cost of £5lB, the council again contributing £l5O towards the cost. It would thus be seen that the building had cost approximately £I2BB, of which, thanks to the efforts of the committee, tho council had only been called upon to contribute £OBO. These figures only represented the money spent on the pavilion. Large amounts had been spent in improving the reserve itself, to say nothing of the improvenv'ets effected by tho voluntary labour of tho committee. Tho committee starter U;i work with a little over three acres of land, but the council had since nurchased other lands, so that they

had now eleven acres, which were capa- | hie of being made into a very fine park. • In this time of stress the committee ; bad not confined itself to raising money j for its own purposes only. Last year’s i balance sheet showed that £SO Is 3d ! had Been raised for the Belgian Relief Fund and £&5 10s for the Wounded Soldiers’ Fund. Six members of the* committee, Messrs. Fletcher, Sole, Davidson, Sadler, Mason and Hardgraves, had gone to the front, and two of them, Messrs, Solo and Davidson, had laid their lives in defence of their country. In conclusion, his Worship said that all should appreciate the work that was being done by the Seaside Committees, not only the East End, but also at Kawaroa Park and at Moturoa. Rivalry, so long as it was not too strong; was a good thing. Ho wished all every success. Mr.- Cock, ns a member of a kindred institution—the Pukokura Park Board —extended hearty congratulations to the members of the committee upon 'the magnificent work they were doing on the reserve; He was very glad to see the -Ngamotu and other foreshore committees entering into competition with them, and was equally glad to see that the East End was entering into competition with these other commit*, tecs, for the town in the end would . get the best of the lot. He hoped to see the time when, as the result of the gratuitous work of the committees, a carriage drive would be formed along the whole of our foreshore. \ Song, Mr. Brookman. j Mr. Bellringer, in responding, tbank-ed-tlie Mayor Tor the manner in which he had proposed the toast- and the company tor me enthusiastic manner in which it had received it. It the committee needed any encouragement to persevere with ite work that encouragement had been received that evening. The idea of the committee was to make this one of the most popular parts of the Borough of New Plymouth, that it should be a meeting ground every year of the country people throughout the province. To a very large extent this had already been achieved at the different picnics. The huge crowds that visited the reserve and availed themselves of the accommodation provided were increasing each successive year and they anticipated that the coming season would be the most successful they had ever had. The sentiments of Sir. Cock he fully endorsed, and was quite certain that the committee of the East End was in accord also. Subsequently if it was thought necessary the East End Committee would be prepared to work in accord with other committees. Referring to the pavilion, Mr. Bellringer said it spoke for itself. Ho was sure they would all agree that it was a very fine building and one of which the town should be proud. Every consideration had been given to the comfort and convenience of the public and he had no hesitation in saying that no finer building was to bo found on any foreshore in tho North Island than they had hero. In conclusion, he expressed the hope that this would not be tho last time tho committee would have tho pleasure of the company of their guests, but that they would from time to time visit the reserve and friTlIJ themselves of all the facilities that were provided free for all. Unless on sjjoctal days no charge was made, everything being available free.* This ho' thought was unique as compared with other parts of the Dominion. Song, Mr. A. Courtenay.

Recitation, Captain Allen. Mr. \V. J. Penn proposed “The New, Plymouth Borough Council.” In another capacity he said ho was-sometimes told he was too fond of slating tho Borough Council, so that ho was very glad to nave this opportunity of complimenting them. Nobody knew better than ho did tho tremendous amount of work that fell upon the shoulders of tho Mayor and tho councillors of a growing town like thid, and more particularly at a time when so many new works wero being undertaken. Particularly did this apply to his Worship tho Mayor. It was more than the ratepayers ought to ask any man to do, and for that reason he thought some system should bo introduced whereby a number of borough managers should be appointed. Tho Mayor, to some extent, would then be, ns it wero, a figurehead, tho work being done by tho executive officers, who would be paid to do it. It was not fair to call upon a man to devote the greater part of his time during the day to superintending work of the borough and then to devote his evenings to committee work and social gatherings. Mr. Burgess was comparatively now to tho work, but the town was very fortunate in getting a gentleman like him to take iho position. He congratulated tho committee upon tho splendid work that was being done at the reserve. There was not a ratepayer in the borough who should begrudge the small amounts that tho Borough Council gave to the (vpimitteo to help them in the work they wero undertaking. Tho change that •had taken place at the reserve was really wonderful. It was advisable, however, he thought, that some definite plan of improvement should be prepared, so that the various committees should all be working to the same end. He favoured entirely the present system of working—that was the rivalry between tho respective committees—but there should bo some co-ordination in their plans, and then if this was done Now Plymouth would have in ils foreshore the finest pleasure resort in . the North Island. On tho other hand, it would be a thousand pities if iu the

absence of a complete scheme of improvement permanent work was done which in years to come would be found to bo in the way. Banjo solo, Mr. Gadd. The Mayor, in responding, said that if tho attention given to tho business of the council was anything to go by then the present conned would have a fair record when it concluded its term of office. There was a good deal to be said iu favour of what Mr. Bonn iiad said about the appointment of managers. With so many business undertakings—such as water-works, electric light, tramways—it was necessary that there should lie business management, and it was not always possible for the councillors or tho Mayor to devote tho necessary time, to these important undertakings. Still ho was not complaining of tho work, nor was tho council. They had taken up tho work and they would see it through, doing tho best they couid for tho borough. Song, Mr. Lovell. Mr. D. J. Hughes proposed “Our BoyA at tho Trout.’’ lie said they were all proud of tho men who had gone to tjie front to fight for-'the Umpire to which they were all so proud to belong. They wo.uid do honour to those who came back and revere those who did not.

Song, Sergt.-Major "Williamson. Mr. E. Docknll, in responding, bore testimony to tho loyalty which not only actuated the men of New Zealand but also of their mothers and sisters during tho South African War and was pleased to see the saiuo euihusiasm existing at tho present time in this district. He had never doubted for a moment that tho men of this district would nso to tho occasion and they had doue so. They had come forward in numbers which showed that they were determined to uphold the British Empire and tho liberties for which that Empire stood. Ho referred to tho glorious deeds of tho New Zealanders during tho South African campaign, but tho deeds of tho Now Zealanders and Australians at Gallipoli nad eclipsed ad that. They were asked to do what ho considered was the impossible, but they had done it, and' had leit a mark in histpry that could novel- be obliterated no matter what happened. They had reason to be proud and grateful of our boys for what they had done. Recitation, Mr. Goldsworthy. Mr. J. 11. Hill proposed “1 ho Architect and Contractors.” He said that tho work of Mr. Griffiths had been done gratuitously and all would agree that the contractors had doue .their work faithfully and well.

Mr. N. yanffitliS, in responding, said it had been a pleasure to him to have been associated with such a willing band ol workeis that comprised the East End Committee. If everyone realised what an asset the beaches were to the town and all did their littlo bit New Plymouth would very soon be a beauty spot excelled by nouo. Mr. Hardwick, on behalf of the contractors, Messrs. Hardwick and Danks. also replied. Mr; D. J. Hughes proposed "The Ladies,” which was responded to by Mr. W. Roch.

The Chairman proposed “The Press,” which was responded to by -Mr. Penn on behalf of tlio Herald, and Mr. Garcia on behalf of the Nev.'s, ami both referred to tho ability with which 1 Mr. riannngan carried out his work ns press reporter for tho committee. Mr. E. Whittle pioposed “Tho Chairman of Committee." which was suitably acknowledged. The accompaniments were played by Mr. B. Golding. *