BEAUTIFYING SOCIETY.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12889, 16 July 1913, Page 2

BEAUTIFYING SOCIETY.

MEETING OF ST. JOHN'S HILL

BRANCH

Tho St. John's Hill Bean:iTyfn.e Society's .annual meeting was held in Miss Bayly's schoolroom on Monday evening, .Mr. J. Williams presiding* over a fairly-representative meeting-of ladies and gentlemen. Tho secretary read the following report:— ANNUAL REPORT. Your committee have pleasure in reporting on tho work clone during- tho past twelve months by the St. John's rliU 80-uitifying Society. It will bo seen by tho halanco-shoot that: "Tho committee received £75. i from the .parent Society, and ar, this appears to bo a diminishing quantity, wo shall have, to look for moro help from tho residents of ■ tho "hill. With, this object in view, it has been decided to endeavour to induce all residents to qualify for membership by giving a small annual subscription of ss. So far only twenty members have rcsporxled. but-wo hope many more will .assist. Wo desiro to tliank thoso ladies and gentlemen who have given donations amounting to £13_, and also the many friends who havo given presents and assisted in various ways, iand tho Alexandra Baud for their kindness in giving an afternoon performance at the .Rotunda, which drew a very large number of tho public to'-hear' their excel'o.'it programme. We hope ns the fine weather comes on both bands will frequently visit tho Virginia reserve. .During the past year cur funds o?ily permitted, a man heino- employed for about 22 weeks, and nearly half has been taken up in yru-jbinpr tho gorso, which, was. becoming a serious menace to "tho trees planted out. The rest of his time has* been spent in weeding and -planting trees and shrubs, including what will in time prove a most interesting section of Australian trees and shrubs. The work of 45 acres of reserve to bo maintained and improved, has been found to bo quito beyond the power of your eommitteo with tho limited funds at their disposal. They have, therefore, nnplied to tho Borough Council to assist in maintaining: a permanent man to work on tho Virginia reserve, which is one of their meat . beautiful recreation' Grounds; nnd the Boroueh have agreed to do so. tho .St. John's Hill Beautifying ■Society payinc £50 nor annum towards his wages. Tho balance sheet showed receipts of £91 35.; out of this sum £59 was expended in labour, and £18 in trees and shrubs. Some discussion took place en the amount spent on grubbing corse, it being thought this work should bo dono by the owners of the reserve, ramelv, tho Borouch Council.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Tho following officers were elected f*~r tho ensuing year:—Patron. Mr. D. Peat: President, Mr. H. F. Christie; Vice-Presidents, Mosdames Ha trick, Burnet. Krull, nnd Messrs. W. G. Bansett. R. Russell, J. B. Murray, **h! ■Halziel. Chairman of Committee. Mr. J. .Williams:' treasurer and secretary, Mr. C. W. Bnbbage: committee. Messrs. Bur-^t, Gibson. DmV F. Parkes. Rates, W. Ashwcll. Hioiginbottom. J. Aiken. L. Bissett. Jack Wildinrr. McMillan, Len Bassett. and Jas. Watt; auditor, Mr. H»c.criibottom. GENERAL. Tii-> rimi-mp- p +.f,-,..vl that tTio Alexandra Band will shortly, possibly next Sunday, givo another of their delichl?'il in tho Virginia Lake Rotund?.. " Mr. Ashwell states! that Mr. J. .Alderton had kindly erected two pedestals and mounted tho lio"s thereon, which h;ul I)een -monUled and presunte<l by Mr. Cnddy. juu. Tho secretary was instructed to cn'ivv the thanks of the Society j to Mr. Alder ton for his generous assist- j anco. i Votes of thinks to the chairman con- ' eluded tho mor-ti^^-