CENTRAL PARK.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1891, 28 October 1913, Page 8

CENTRAL PARK.

THE CITY'S NEW RESERVE. FIRST SOD TURNED. The work of forming the now city playground, provided for by tho proceeds of the last Easter Carnival, was officially commenced yesterday morning, when tho Mayor of Wellington (Sir. J. P. Luke) turned tho first sod of Central Park, Tho new park lies 011 the high lands between Nairn Street and Ohiro l!oud, and is easily accessible from every part of tho city. It will form a most valuable addition, to the recreation grounds of the city, and will provido a largo area for all kinds of sport. Thero will also bo a children's playing ground, and rockery, and an artificial lake —the whole area being somo 40 acres. In tho presence of about 100 citizens, Councillor G. Frost, chairman of the Reserves Committee of the City Council, formally invited the Mayor to turn the first sod. The now park which they were about to create, he said, would go far to remove from Wellington tho long-standing reproach that it did nbt provide its citizens with so many public "breathing-spaces" as did somo of the other cities. Ho expressed pleasure at the prosenco of so many of these who had worked hard to make the Easter Carnival tho great success it was. After the Mayor had turned tho first sod, he delivered a short address. At the outset he paid a high compliment to tho members of the Citizens' Carnival Committee, and to tho Mayor of the time, Mr. D. M'Laren. The whole* hearted enthusiasm of tho people of Wellington, he said, had ensured the success of'tho movement-, and had furnished an object-lesson for all time. The new re-servo would combine the beauties of a park with the usefulness of a recreation ground, and there was no site in Wellington so admirably adapted to tho purpose. Tho plans of tho park, ho felt sure, would meet with universal approval. The success of tho last carnival should encourage citizens to make the next oven more profitable. (Applause.) In the past, the City Council had dono its duty in the way of providing playgrounds, and thousands of pounds per year had ■ been spout on the resorves. At Evans Bay and Lyall Bay large areas had been reserved for recreation. At tho present time tho council had difficulty in supplying sufficient grounds for ths numerous and varied sports of the people 011 Wednesday and Saturday , afternoons, but even in tho case of a universal half-holiday it would see that all were provided for. (Applause.) The second sod was turned by tho Mayoress (Mrs. Luke). . She remarked that it was peculiarly appropriate that tho spot 011 which they were standing should bo part of tho site of tho cliildrdh's playground. _ The city owed a great deal to its children ill the way of open-air playing spaces. (Hear, hear.) Tho next sods wero turned by Mrs. Frost, and . the two council officers who aro directly responsible for the plans of tho park—Messrs, W. H. Morton (City Engineer), and J. M'Pherson (City Forester). Mr. 0. G. Wilson, tho principal promoter of the carnival, was-next handed the spade. He said that all who had taken part in the carnival had received much real pleasure from the work. He felt sure that tho next carnival could bo mado an. even greater success. Councillor M. F. Luckie, who spoke on behalf of the 3port-s bodies of Wellington, said that it was only by the continuance of the efforts of those to whom they already owed so much thatthey could hopo for a successful completion of tho work which had been so well commenced. As compared -with the three other large contres, Wellington had been unfortunate in tho lack of public-spirited men who had put their hands into their pockets to provide publie parks. The donations to tho Central Park had not been so great in proportion to the fine gifts mado to tho other cities. Ho hoped that tho exannplo sot by tho citizens generally, as shown by the excellent results of the carnival, would encourage wealthy men to make similar gifts to Wellington. Mr, J. B. Hopkirk, oft bokalf of the residents of the districts most closely situated to the new park, emphasised its usefulness to tho children. Mr. C. R. Smith, chairman, of the Finance Committee of the carnival, praised the work of the Mayor and Councillor Frost, for whom three cheers were given on his call.