PUBLIC MEETING.

Western Star, 8 December 1933, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING.

There was a very poor response , at the public meeting convened by the Mayor which took place in the Town Hall on Thursday for the purpose of discussing ways and means of beautifying the town. His Worship said that many years ago .an Amenities Society had been in existence and it had carried out good work in planting trees in the Borough. This Society was later absorbed by the Progressive League, which body had done sjplendid work in the •JJorough. Although the present meeting was not- a large one he would like an expression of opinion from those present. - Mr J. A. B. Walker said he had recently paid a visit to-the North Island and had been impressed with the improvements carried out-in many of the towns. Napier, Hastings, Foxton and Temuka possessed splendid parks and these had been beautifully laid out. Many of the parks had been donated by old residents, and it was a pity that x park could not be donated in River;on. There had been a suggestion that the old railway reserve should be utilized for this purpose, and no doubt this could be ■; made a place of beauty if planted with shrubs and flowers. Personally speaking he thought it would be a splendid thing if a portion of the mud flats could be reclaimed. Mr J. A. Martin detailed the work carried out by the Progressive League'. Want of funds had hindered the work of that body, to a great extent, but many improvements to the town had been successfully undertaken. The League was prepared to spend £lO towards widening the bay road near Mr Alex Evans' property. The soil for this work would be taken from the old railway cutting. He regretted the meagre ittendancc. The prosperity of a town depended to a large extent on the interest displayed by its citizens, and it was the duty of everyone to do eomeShing to make the town more attractive.

Mrs Borland said she was in sympathy a ith "the objects of the meeting. The present was not a very - v opportune time to raise -.money, but no doubt the work if widening the road could be carried out with free labour. The work of planting the railway reserve was a good me. ~ She would also like to see a path ?onstructed along the foreshore in South Biverton for the use of pedesrians.

Mr T. Borland said to improve the town. the main street required to be bitumenised. He thought that money would be donated by • individual rateI payers for this purpose. "His Worship pointed-out that this work was now under way. Mr H. C. Johnstone said the Borough should take steps to prevent cuttings from hedges and general rubbish being dumped on the streets. If hedge cuttings' were burnt it would certainly improve the appearance of the town. Mr H. Akhurst said if the bay road were widened and footpaths constructed 'long the foreshore in South Biverton it would be a benefit to residents and visitors alike. On the motion, of Mrs Borland, seconded by Miss Hunt, it was decided' to call another meeting after the New Year to go into the- matter of carrying out the work proposed. A vote of thanks to the chair terminated the meeting.