HOW BEAUTIFY?

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1702, 19 March 1913, Page 7

HOW BEAUTIFY?

TOWN BELT AND CITY SPACES.

FORESTER'S REPORT. WORK TO BE PUT IN HAND AT ONC& Beautification of tho Town Belt formed tho subject of a recent report by tho City Forester (Mr*. John M'Plicrson) to tho Koserves Coinmitoe.' ■ Tis report was approved by tho council lastMiig-ht, and authority was given for tho work to )>o put Reserves Committee. Tho report was apwith a. genoral scheme of planting, and secondly with particular plans for treating particular sections of tho Belt. On tho conspicuous portions of tho Belt tho forester suggests that plantations bo hud out with a view to providing shelter and ornament, and that they be formed on prominent ridges and along tho skylines\_ Tho plantations would bo forinedprincipally of pines, with tho admixture of a few deciduous trees. In suitable situations, picias and abics would be introduced to add variety, and, rising up over tho pines would break the uniformity of the sky-lino. Laid out with bold sweeps and curves, they would form prominent nnd pleasing features of tho landscape. Tho plantations where, tlui exposure is most sovero would bo formed with a convex exterior, and in the most exposed situation the. cost of a few chains oif turf dyke would not bo such a- heavy.item, and if planted with voronioa or coprosma' would form a good fence, and provide shol•j i "tho dykrc native" shrubs suitable for sea, exposure could'be planted, and then the forest trees. : It is pointed out by the forester that s ?n Pj^j^t l °ns > would shelter largo areas °£ ii i i improve the grazing value' of the shdter portions. In slielter plantations and standard trees would bo introduced, giving- tho whol© area a parlc-liko appearance. .

Newtown Park. Referring to Newtown Park, tlm foixi-' considered that ns the fenco. around. j is- in a vorv unsatisfactory state, it should 1>& enclosed with a soc*t hedge, composed of a variety of hedging Tjlnii/ts that would offer resistaiico a.s a fence, and also provide shelter. On the routli-n-est comer pines would /require to bo planted. As the existing pines nra very coarse grown, ho suggests- rooting out every second tree, and nndcrpkntinfrwith suitable shade bearers. |Bv- this moans a much better variety of ornamental tress would be established.';. ' Rock and Water Garden, ' An extensive scheme is put forward for dealing with the Brooklyn tram line. Referring to this the forester says:—"That part of the Town Belt boumled'by Hauka otrect and Oliiro Road, is, in niy opinion, a most ideal place to form a roclc and water garden. I would suggest that in t'lio valley next to , Oliiro Koad a path he formed alongside the stream, which would be dammed back, forming miniature, lakes and cascades, crossed rjid recrossed by little rust:i6 bridges.. When near tho, ■head of the valley the path would, gradually rise up the right bank, Crossing 011 a rustic bridge to the loft side would wind its way up the bank to, near "thesummit and passing under the path oji ilw ridgein a grotto, descend into the talle.v on the left next the tram line', winding its way towards tho road. In this valley, which is of more open formation, a Ixiwi- , lng green or lake could be formed, dr in'" all probability space could be. found for both, with very little excavation. l'atliß could be formed _at higher levels and little bits of rustic stone and wood-work introduced here and there, the whole, \hen planted with suitable shrubs ami trees., would.have tt very charming effect. Other Parts. For Mount Victoria' and the hill extending to and beyond. Constable- Street, plantations and,lpaths aro suggested, and also for certain 1 sections, of the Town ■ Belt near Island Bay 1 and Vogoltown.. A recreation ground, of ail nrea of, about 11,000 square yards, is recommended for Baldwin s Flat, near Oliiro,Road, while for the Tinakori Hills, it would have to be, considered whether it be advisable lo plant portions for ornamental purposes or convert the whole area into a municipal forest to be managed on commercial lines.