CITY GARDENS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2775, 19 May 1916, Page 6

CITY GARDENS

'A YEAR'S WORK

REPORT BY SUPERINTENDENT

The year's work in tho City gardens, parks, and reserves is reported on by the superintendent,. Mr. G. I l '. Glen, as lollows Newtown Park. A rosery Ims been formed, in conjunction with the Jf-ose and Carnation Club, at the southern end of tho lake. Tho improvements have been completed at the main entrance, and tho bank and zigzags will be planted as soon as the wet weather comes on. Tho expenditure totalled .£1572, of which wages amount to ,£1303. Wakefield Park. . This park has been kept in order during the year, but owing to the extremely dry summer the turf has been very mucli scorched. This will bo righted as .soon us the weather changes and good ruins sot. in. The expenditure amounted to Jißol, wages totalling J657A. Seats are urgently required in this park. Tho same would be a great improvement, and are much inquired for by visitors. i Botanical Gardens. The area of this reserve is li 3 acres 2 roods 11 perches. Tho newly-formed lake, with its surrounding rock garden, flower plots, etc., all add to the attractiveness of this new and picturesque corner. The penstemon banlc and begonia house have been much admired, and have attracted many, visitors. Tho flower beds, in spite of the extremely dry season, have looked splendid. 1 have to placo'on record that live of the garden staff have enlisted and been called. up for active service at tho front. Tho expenditure was J82228, wages absorbing-,£18(i9. The proposed new entrance to the Botanical Gardens, whicli was previously brought forward, is very urgently . needed. Iron ..gates are most essential, being more durable than wood, and also less liable to injury ,and'_ dishgutation by vandals; A good specimen of what,would be likely to happen to. a wooden erection is' ■to he seen in the adjacent tramway waiting shed.' Kelburn Park. The usual work has been carried out in connection with this. park. Owing to. tho wax. there.has been less, cricket and sports than usual, but croquet clubs have made good use of the grounds. Tho expenditure amounted to ,£420, wages accounting for ,£'377. One hundred and sixty yards of jarrah fencing is required to'replace the present unsightly fence on the front side of this park, with top rail, and three wires underneath. Cost about .£ls. 110 yards of lin. water pipe from the main to the centre of the park; the present supply is totally inadequate for necessary requirements. All labour for the above can be done by the park staff, except ■ the pluuvbing. Cost of pipes about .£l2. ' . ■ Queen's Park and Thorndon Esplanade. The usual duties of keeping!'these reserves in order have been carried out. Owing to the very exposed situation of Thorndon Esplanade it is very difficult to know what improvements to maito. 'This is a very unsightly place, and the trees and shrubs have not been improved since the shelter fence was removed. The expenditure here was Ji!>B6,'. of which wages totalled <£2<D. Kilbirnie Recreation Ground. This new park has been muchi improved during the past year, and a good deal of levelling off has been done. The prospects for this reserve in tile future are great, owing to the increasing population of the adjacent localities. The expenditure amounted to £'M 7, wages totalling .£234. ' \

Anderson t'ark.. Much' needed improvement has been effected by the making of a zig-zag oil the eastern side leading to Wesley Road. This has made 'the bank more attractive in appearance, besides'being a great convenience as a thoroughfare. The park lias a pavilion, dressing rooms, etc., and is in -great demand by sports bodies. The expenditure'was ,£4ss—wages, MOO. Thie City Gardens. ...Those comprise the following, plantations:—Kent Terrace, .Courtenay Place, Oriental Bay, Oriental Terrace,. Lindum Terrace Kennedy Street, Dixon Streel steps, Hankey Street, Basin Keserve (gardens only), Sewtown Library, I'ublic Library/and Oriental Bay Kiosk. The lastmentioned place has been laid out as a rock garden and is a marked improvement. The other mentioned reserves have been kept in their usual order. The expenditure totalled .£274—wages, ,£250 9s. 2(1. Works of the. Future. . The City Engineer (Mr. W. H. Mortonj reported:— The large areas which have : been planted during tho past three years are now requiring a considerable amount of attention in keeping down gorse, grass r ;weeds,- etc., and heoliiig up plants. Consequently, tho position niiw is tHat no very large additional areas,can be planted, sav .for the next two years. I propose during, this year to make a plantation on that portion of the Town Belt opposite Hall Street, through which there is an approach to Hutchpson Road for Vogeltown residents. This placo is exceedingly windy, and if a strip on each side were fenced and .planted great benefit would result, and in addition tho up. pearance of the place would be improved. The cost of this work is small. I also propose that an area of about 10 acres ati Kilbirnie (formerly leased by IV Lamberg) have tracks constructed, and approximately five acres of native trees and five acres of exotic trees planted in selected 'positions.