BEAUTIFYING THE CITY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 29, 3 February 1905, Page 3

BEAUTIFYING THE CITY.

3BEE-PLAHTING ADVOCATED.

WANTS THE DOMAIN IMPROVED.

. T n parr started a long discusV* , kpCitv Council last night when sionattue_oi> & the be "jSSnT of the streets of the city, very necessary summer a Sal committee be set up to and advise upon systematic treeTtT" He said it required no arguP r+n'show that the streets could be AU6t 'r there in this matter. Trees £ U be pt on the pavements, as the in Auckland were very wide. ■WrfnS for instance, could be Wetoloot'bc.mtiful by planting judili'ly Bdected trees. In other cite, f Ltine van pone into in a systeSK ni; and: the same should be T i Auckland. In liepburn-street.. ° ne trees had a fine effect. We have had six applications to have these very same trees cut d °Mr' AJ. Entrican seconded the mo tim He was proud of the tree 9 in Hepburn-street. He also considered Howe-street was a perfect picture. Ho considered Councillor Parr was moving in a right direction. jlr J McLeod said when they were discussb" officials' salaries Councillor Pan- objected to oxtravagence, but now he wislied to go into a matter that involved heavy expenditure. Each tree planted cost about 15/ to be put down, and then they required looking after. Mr J. T. Julian said it cost £1 a year to" clean up after each of the trees in Giev-street. Mr MeLeod said while the footpaths in side streets were so bat,, and the drainage required doing, he could not gee the wisdom of tree-planting in the streets. In the back parts of Ponsonby there were streets that required, footpaths very badly, also in Karangahape, and these should have attention before money went in planting trees. Mr J. Court opposed the proposal for the same reason as that given by Councillor McLeod. They must do without luxuries while the streets were in their present condition. Mr G. Knight supported Councillor Parr's motion. They would at once beautify the city and improve the health of citizens by planting trees freely. It. was their duty to plant tree 3 as a Couucil for the general benefit of the community.

Mr L. J. Bagnall said deciduous trees were a great nuisance when the leaves fell in the autumn, and the roots destroyed the footpaths. Councilor McLeod was right to ask for bettt r streets and paths beiore tree-planting was indulged in.

])r Rhpvman supported Councillor ParrS moticm. It did not even commit the Council to planting trees. Personally he was much in favour of planting trees in the street, but in the middle, end not the sides.

Mr C. D. Gray said he did not object to tie appointment of a committee to consider the question, but they had already been asked to cut down the trees in O'Eorke and Princes-streets. H thought they should carry out the drainage and water schemes before undertak-

■faj-tree-planting. The Mayor did not object to the motion, as.it did not commit the Council to anything; but at the present timo there were many important works that required attention. Before he went oui of office he should also like to see the Council committed to some expenditure «n the Domain. During the last year or too a little had been done in that direction, but Auckland was far behind other towns in its domains and public gardens. Forty-eight years ago, where the Chinese gardens were recently in the Domain — now a waste —was a beautilul place, planted with rare specimens introduced by Sir George Grey during his first governorship. Those trees had now nearly all disappeared. He would like to see that waste again planted with flowering trees and shrubs. He agreed that Councillor Parr's motion was deserving of consideration, but-the trouble was that children in Auckland were not taught to care for' these trees. In the Western Wk much damage had been done by children breaking off the youn" frond ■■ « the newly.pknted ferns. The chil torn required educating to protect pro perty. The small reserves in the city were planted with shrubs, but most o'i these had been destroyed. ifr Parr said in Victoria the Government gave a subsidy of £ for £ for treeplanting, but there was no hopa' of that in J<ew Zealand. In Auckland the-, oust rely upon themselves His motion really only-provided for the pothering of formation. They might tlins avoid thwors of the past. He believed £50 n year expended on one street each year would make a great difference to the «ty. It would pay to make Auckland anattractive city to live in. fnvt •° tlon waH tilCll carried, and th>' roiiwnng committee was appointed : — Jfsrs Hutchison, Entrican, Bngnall. v-asey, Sharman, Parr, and the Mayor.