THE FUTURE OF THE DOMAIN.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11510, 17 February 1903, Page 5

THE FUTURE OF THE DOMAIN.

DISCUSSION AT THE BOARD. > At the meeting of the Domain Board yes- t terday, Mr H. G- Ell suggested that the < various local bodies should be approached ( with a view of giving a grant to the Board. , He had seen a member of the St. Albans ] Borough Council, who said that he would i be prepared to move that a grant be given to the Board. He 'intended to move, as the Park was for the benefit of all the sur- , rounding boroughs, that the City Council j and the Sydenham, Linwood, and St. Albans i Borough Councils should be approached and I asked for a grant. ( Hon. C C. Bowen pointed out that the . time was most inopportune, as the local ibocjies' outside the city were practically moribund, and, therefore, it would be better to wait till Greater Christchurch came ■ into force. Mr Ell said he had -gone through tho Park, and found that not a tree or a plant had been named, in the Ashburton Domain he, found that every tree and plant had the common and botanical names. Hon. C. C. Bowen said that some years ago the trees and plants had all been most carefully named under the superintendence of the late Mr J. B. Armstrong, but he regretted to say that the public had not protected their own property, and they were I all destroyed. Tho work in the gardens had ' been done under ' great disadvantages, as. they had not funds to pay rangers to look after the Park, and the police were apparently not able to do «o. He looked forward to the concentration of power under Greater Christchurch when some good steps could be taken. Mr Ell moved—"That letters be sent to the City Council, and to the Borough Councils of Sydenham, Linwood, and St. Albans asking»them to contribute towards the funds of the Board." Mr Jacques seconded the motion. The Mayor of Christchurch said that as the financial year ended in March next, he did not think any local body would give a grant of money. . Under these circumstances he quite agreed with Hon. C. C. Bowen, that the time was inopportune, though he quite sympathised with the idea Mr Ell had in view. There was no doubt that when Greater Cliristcliurch was estab-, lished one of the important points which the Council would) no doubt have to deal with would be the improvement of the Domain. But the time was now, as he said, inopportune. The Mayor of Linwood did not think the local bodies would contribute towards the Domain. ' All the outside Borough Councils were going now to be incorporated with Greater Cliristcliurch, and he felt sure that they would not agree to make the grant. He thought perhaps they should approach Christchurch only, leaving the other Councils out. Mr Staples felt with 'Hon. Mr Bowen and the Mayor of Christchurch that tlie time was inopportune. His Board would, he might say, contribute if they could legally. Hon. C. C. Bowen pointed out that if they had applied without effect when the Borough Councils were in full work, they would not be able to get any more success when the Councils were going out ot office. He wished most heartily some energetic action should be taken in the way of improving the gardens, but that he felt was not able to be done properly until the former was concentrated, as it would be under Greater Christchurch. Mr Ell expressed the opinion that no rooTe of the capital should be dealt with. They had some £1200, which he thought should not be touched. Hon. C. C. Bowen said what had happened was that the Board- found itself unable to carry on. They had applied to the local bodies, but nothing was given. Then the Government promoted a Bill, which enabled their capital to be spent, and now the £300 had been drawn for the present year. He hoped before the next £300 was required there would be no need to touch their capital. The motion was then put and.lost, only the mover and seconder voting for it.