CITY RESERVES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 110, 3 February 1920, Page 6

CITY RESERVES

ANNUAL INSPECTION . EXTENSIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS The Ki-serves Committee of tlio Weington City Council yesterday made iU miual inspection of the city juserves, irks, and playing-gruunds. The tour was made by Crmnciuore G. rost (chairman), J. Shorland <Deputylayor), J. M. Dale, T. Forsyth, C. 11. hnpnini), and J. Glover. The Mayor Mr. J. P. Lul.'e) was unable to attend n account of his presence being required t the Tramways Conference. Mr. J G. Jnekenzie (Director of Parks and lie- 1 erves) coiuhieled the party. BOTANICAL GARDENS. The Botanical Gardens was the first daco visited. On entering the i:«in rate, attention was immediately called 0 the work of clearing the <i'd pine trees rorn the slopes overlooking the entrance. tome of these trees had become neither ueful nor ornamental, and served only ;n litter the main path with pine needles. md it wns found necessary to remove :bem. The stumps will he taken out mil flowering shrubs planted on tlio dopes. The ornainenfcil beds were a daze, of colour, and the recent rains fol-. It wed bv the sunshine had. brought out the phlox driimmondi nnd fibrons isfionias and' a bed of 2300 snapdragon plants along the main pathway, 'lurning to the left, the, path leads to a fiat known as the "enclosure." whew the rhododendrons were wont, to bloom. These have been replaced hy between ;(AO ami sflo roses of various kinds, including verv good specimens of tho "Dai'y Mail' jcuioo prize rose. Passing through the enclosure, the party visited what was formerly the sile of the rubbish tip. This lias been divided with paths and converted into beds for the cultivation of native trees and shrubs.' Further improvements; were met with in the small pond and shady nooks, and pathways through native bush. Begonias nnd ploxinia filled the 'glasshouse, where there are many fine plants. eomo of jlie Rowers ninasurmr more than nine l -dies ■■ in diameter. Among, the improvements c usn«\ste<l is thq-'errction of an imnosmg entrance from '.lie Kanri Road (tins to l>e the'main gateway), and the convjrs'nn <*f the- "enclosure" into a winter tarden., This is one of the items set down in Hie loan proposal which v ill shortly be placed before the citrons, ANDERSON PARK. • The lower slopes of this park have been planted with about 300(1 shrubs, and it is proposed to cut down the hill near the garden, gates and (ill up the tuny at the back, of the park. This will give room for one football ground, or perhaps two. • KT3LBUR.N PARK. The work of extending Kelburn Park is well in hand, and space, enough for four croquet lawns nnd four'basket-ball grounds is almost complete, and should be ready for rise next summer. lho : chairman of the committee has suggested, tlmt the knoll near the tramivny lino should bo rounded off, planted, and terraced to make a natural grandstand, and this will probably be done. CENTRAL PARK. This is a comparatively new reserve, being part of the Town Belt, near Brooklyn. A great deal of work has been done in removing gorse and broom from tlio sides of tho gully in which the park.is situated, nnd in planting shrubs cn tho slopes. This work will be continued, and ( tho lines overlooking tho park thinned out. Owing to the muddy state of the pond, it was found nccewary to construct n catchment ai'ea in the stream, and ■although this lias effected an improvement, tho voter still bears a very urty appearance, which cannot be The council contemplates tue formation of a large sports ground on tho spur behind the chiklron'p- .phiys l '"", l . l ' 1 ' ; for this more levelling and Idling mil ; have to be dono. NAIRN STREET RESERVE. Considerable difficulty has been enced in keeping this place in " riler nrvonnt of its exposed position. ine winds have blown the soil off the gronnd, leaving the clay, and to put the p aco in order it will he necoss-iry to .lowh nnd scarify.tho ground end coiei it * llh earth. It is intended to erect a. breakwind to prevent further destruction. SALISBURY TERRACE GROUNDS. Ten men are at present employed' on tho Town Belt near Salisbury errace. where a football ground w m eou * of construction—to be available the new Technical School is lead/. MUNICIPAL GOLF LINKS. Considerable extensions are to bis wade to the municipal golf links PirV Where a nine-hole .ourse now 'exists it is intended to make i.n eighteen-liole course ny the develop-nont of the belt on tho opposite sado of the road. The block is about .(50 acifo in extent. h; runs from tJriitmnart . Irwt, mill includes Newtown Park. »n attempt is to be made to form a "community centre/' according to the Amencun idea, with croquet, tennis, ami h°w]in? and cliikiren's playgrounds. 1 us, it is anticipated, should be easi y a "[ l ™" 01 icallv worked, as a small stall c ,ly, would be necessary to take .\ue of the • place, with one liinn to supervise <nd a Fady to sell the .tickets for A new pavilion is to be orc.tt.l, ..win tea rooms and all Mnvenionce t % rMI- iho present dressing room? on AA akofield Park, adjacent to the roadway. NEWTOWN PARK. Newtown Park has had made near the entrance to Hie Zoo, h«e the brightly-coloured beds on r the coiner are partxularly attrac jive. ;hctt; ha e. been done in eai-pet bedding W 1 „ms intertwined with h»ron R*w' s S and lobelia border. It ir. intended to set in order the roadway running tu. g tho park. i 11E1N STREET. During tho year one law '" t l 'f® completed, and a pavilion l vlt '"X'ing ences erected. This lawn m iow being used by the Wellington Club. It is intended to form three more tro quel; courts nnd one bowhnff green. kilbirnie recreation ground. This ground is at present 'JfPS ed for the addition of another football ground, and the erection of a I'»^ 110 >4® accommodate about 300 I'!' 1 )"®J ', , nuthorisod. This recrea'wn giomi 1 lias 'become very popular with picnickers. Pit!lE STREET. A good deal of work wis done about Hip ton of the tunnel, wnere seme .00 climbs and 200 climbing roses ivero planted during the early spring. The council ' lias in view tho formation of ennis ' courts and small sports grounds on 1.0 flat to tho north of the tunnel, and this figures in the loan propositi. LYALL JJAY. The ereetioJ of a pavilion, on the 1 football ground has 'open authorised, and , will be begun as soon as possible. DAY'S BAY. ' The reserve at Day's Bay v;as surveyed last year. At present a fire line one chain wide is bein? cut round the block, nnd a strip 10 fee vide is oeii g dne down to the clay to pre\ -.'lit fiie l from burning underneath the t.cad matto and breaking out m Hie bush. Where burning lias been done. : trees are being planted. It is intended to lav six now tennis courts in- asphalt on the site known as No. 2 lackey ground, which is situated near the pavilion. These, will •• 1». available l.ext winter. '