NORTH END

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19673, 15 December 1933, Page 7

NORTH END

ANNUAL MEETING OF ASSOCIATION PROGRESSIVE YEAR A year of activity and progress was reported by the executive to the eleventh annual meeting of members of the North End Ratepayers’ and Improvement Association, which well attended at the Waimaitai School last night. The president (Mr G. H. Andrews) occupied the chair. Annual Report. The annual report stated that the Association started the year with a balance of £6B 11s 7d, the majority of which (£SO) had been spent on a grant to the bath fund. The Association was bound to continue to support the bath fund until it was completed, and until then the Association would not be able to embark upon any other large district improvements. Ashbury Park was now considered to be one of the show places and recreation grounds of the town and it is largely due to the efforts of the Association, with the generous co "°Pf r " ation of the Borough Council, that such a condition has been achieved. The trees, shrubs and flowers w r ere now at their best and the Association expressed its appreciation of the atten- * tion and co-operation of the park curator, Mr A. W. Anderson, during the year. The Association was informed that the Council intended to proceed with the completion of the croquet lawns early in the New Year, and this improvement would be welcomed by visitors and players alike. The Committee collected and planted a large number of spring bulbs in the . park this year, and an appeal would be made for a much bigger planting next ; autumn. The land between the pines , and the railway line was being levelled | and sown for a hockey ground. The football ground was now ready for : play and would be in good order foi the coming season. j Flowering cherry trees procured by , the Association had been planted in Te | Weka Street by the park curator, and , they were doing very well. Thanks were due to Te Weka Street residents who ( had contributed towards the cost. A dial had this year been fitted to the stand in the Waimataitai School. The Association expressed thanks and appreciation of the co-operation of the Mayor and Councillors in all matters requiring their support and the courtesy extended to the Committee by the Borough officials and staff at all times. A Successful Year. In moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, the chan man congratulated members on the successful year and thanked them for then efforts towards the beautification of the North End. There was no doubt j that the Ratepayers’ Associations m Timaru were doing good work m the interests of the town generally. He had been very impressed by the A ccnniat.ir.n

activities of the West End Association which had accomplished good work at j West End Part, the recently-completed new pavilion being a very fine one. He I recalled that some years ago the Associations had combined in staging a floral fete in Timaru Park when i £ISOO had been raised and divided. . This money had been faithfully spent, j the North End Association using its , share to improve Ashbury Park, while i the West End Association had been j able to commence the erection of its j very fine swimming bath and generally improve West End Park. “Now that the depression is over.” said Mr Andrews, “I hope that another similar fete will be possible, and I am sure that the North End Association will put its weight behind any such proposal to raise funds for the necessary playing areas for our children and for the upkeep of Timaru’s fine open spaces.” He thanked the executive for its support, and spoke highly of the work of the secretary (Mr A. M. Parker), who he said worked cheer-

fully, freely and well in the interests of the Association generally. In seconding the motion Mr R. Stewart said that very valuable work had been done by the Association, material evidence of which could be found in several parts of the district. The motion was carried. Election of Officers. On the motion of Messrs F. Ward and C. H. Johnston, Mr Andrews was

unanimously re-elected president, tribute being paid to his past services. Other officers elected were; vicepresidents, Messrs A. E. Lewis, G. Benstead, C. G. Baker, A. L. Lamb, R. J. Runciman, G. J. Wallace and S. H. Sullivan; Executive, Messrs C. H. Johnston, R. Watson, G. G. Lewis, J. W. Wakefield, B. Manning, F. I. Washbourn, F. Lewis, E. C. Wallace, H. Stuart, W. Duncan, E. Darroch, W. J. Hogg, F. Ward, R. Stewart, and K. Davie; hon. secretary and treasurer, i Mr A. M. Parker. General. The chairman said that the Association had considered the question of the charge for parking cars on Caroline Bay, some members considering that the charge should be reduced

while others were of opinion that it • should be abolished. The matter was referred to other Associations and as it seemed debatable, it was decided, when ] the Council agreed that 1/- be charged, to leave it at that. The executive had not lost sight of the ' need for additional seating accommodation at Ashbury Park, but as funds were not available nothing could be done last year. He expressed pleasure that a number of new members had joined the Association, and hoped that the coming year would again be one of progress. Mr C. H. Mason said that he had worked out a scheme for the reclaiming of the Waimataitai Lagoon, and invited the executive to discuss the matter with him on the ground. The scheme, it was stated, provided for the continuation of the present road round Richmond Street. The invitation was accepted. Votes of thanks were passed to the auditor (Mr C. G. Baker) and to the Waimataitai School Committee for the use of a room for meetings.