BEAUTIFYING WORK.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18693, 26 January 1923, Page 5

BEAUTIFYING WORK.

ST. JOHN’S HILL BRANCH

ANNUAL MEETING OF MEMBERS The annual meeting of the member, of the St. John’s Hill branch of the Beautifying Society was held last evening. Mr R. Murdoch presided over a Kmall attendance. The annual report was as follow* —• Your committee have pleasure in reporting on the work carried out on Vitginia Park durinyg the past twelve months. The Aiken pergola, whicn ha* been ujider consideration for several years, haw now been completed under the supervision oi Messrs Rhodes and lucker, and the Society may congratulate them on its successful completion.; It is a work they may be proud of, which will last for many years, and when the 40 different roses on its pillars are in blossom, will make a charming walk of beauty. Every rose has its naiue neatly painted on ita pillars, and when in blossom will be a souice of great attraction to al! visitors Another notable addtion to the park is the ornamental tiki, erected on Kuril point, in memory of the late Mrs Gregor McGregor, who gave us great help as the Queen of the carnival. I his has been earned out under Mr J. H. Burnet’s supervision. It is a very old and fine Maori canoe erected on its end, and painted in true Maori style, and is visible from all parts of the lake. It is enclosed in a neat iron fence. Anetlier new work in progress is the avenue of jKingas at the far end of the lake. The Borough Council have cleared the ground of rough timber and other rubbish ready for planting. Another important work, which is very necessary, is the erection of a caretaker’s cottage. Your committee have not yet been able to get this erected, but we still live m hopes of it being ca tried out, as the knowledge that a, gardener is living on.i the park will help to deter the petty; thefts that so often occur. Your committee have the pleasure to announce] that Messrs R. Murdoch, E. M. Silk.f E. S. Barton, C. H. E. Rhodes, A. zj right, A. 8. Burgess, and L. Wright have presented eight scats for the park, and the lechnical College are making plates with the donors’ names to be fastened on them. Tltese are valuable] gifts, which the committee feel very' pleased to receive. As in past rears we have again io thank the tw o hand* for concerts given in the park. These! entertainments are always well attended and appreciated by the public, and' we hope, as the weather becomes more settled, they will be continued. Our rose beds at the far side <i! the lake liave given great pleasure to many visitors, who are glad to make selections of roses out of the 120 named varieties that have been in blossom for some time.

In conclusion we take this opportunity of thanking all our kind friends whe have made presents of plants and shrubs for the park; end to Mr Tucker, the borough gardener, for his constant supervision and assistance in carrying out all our extensive improvements; also to Mr Kincade, our gardener, for keeping the gardens in such excellent order Mr Murdoch said the report was a very satisfactory one He felt they owed a lot to Mr Babbage, whom they regarded as the mainstay of the Society.

Mr Babbage «a’d it was a labour of love, and despite his 82 years, he hoped to render the society still more service., Ute election of officers resulteod:—Patron, Mr J. Williams; president, Mr \\ .G. Bassett; secretary and treasurers Mr C. W. Babbage. The election ol officers resulted * here of the committee were re-elected/ tihe latter with the addition of W. R. Storey and John Coull.

Mr Murdoch was deputed to intel* view the borough engineer with regard to the danger to people caused bv stock traffic in \ irgina Road and Parsons Street, also the damage caused to ornaw mental trees.