WINTER GARDEN PLAN

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 92, 15 October 1940, Page 7

WINTER GARDEN PLAN

USE OF BASIN RESERVE

"I know-this is heresy, but I think the tram-lines should'1 be run right through the Basin Keserve and the •Winter Garden built on each side," said Mr. A. Richardson at the monthly meeting of the Wellington Beautifying Society last night, when consideration was being given to a letter from the City Council approving of the society's suggestion that a Winter Garden should be provided and stating that a site in the Botanical Gardens on the level area near the band rotunda was regarded as the only suitable location. The council further stated that the site would be reserved for the purpose and that .the project could be proceeded with when the necessary funds were available.

The president (Captain S. Holm) said it was heartening to think that the council had agreed with the Winter Garden proposal, but the Botanical Gardens were very beautiful as they were and it seemed a pity to have to use part of them: He would like to see a site somewhere in the city. "We have to push this Winter Garden scheme, though I don't suppose we can do much during the war," he said.

Elaborating his proposal to use the Basin Reserve, Mr. Richardson said it was a dead end now. It was useful when there were no other playing areas, but the ratepayers had chopped the hills out and spent an enormous amount of money making golf links and other playing areas. "Those grounds were not in use when the Basin Reserve was donated to the city," he said. "The sports bodies should be content to see the tram lines going right through there to make a really broad highway right up to the park. Then we could have a Winter Garden