Hastings Reserves Committee

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 138, 28 June 1937, Page 9

Hastings Reserves Committee

"CITIZEN".

Sir. — I would snggest that too much iiberty bas been given to our new caretaker of reserves. It looks as if he had been told: "Go ahead. Po your best (or worst). Don't bother us We are busy." He is, we kncw, well grounded in the theoretical botany, but what instances has he given of an understanding of the laying-out or preservation of seenic beauties? That ruay come with experience and supervision. itun over in the meantime the experiments that have been made and the waste of time, labour and money ■ not blaming him, but blaming those who gave him that free hand. Here are examples ; 1. The rooting-out of a long row of weli-growii white-flowering acacias, which only needed topping, in Railway road. 2. The planting, instead, of a long row of exotic palms with high protection o t wire-netting and firm posts to each; a long job and expensive. The palms died in a few weeks. Posts and neljting Were removed and that long strip of land which runs the length of our popular racecourse and the main entrance to the town is again awaiting the next move. 3. The destruction of some 15 to 2q dignified pines in our spacious but already shadeless Windsor Park. 5. The planting of insignificant shrubs in Karamu road, opposite an outstanding example of how beautifui proper plantihg can be. Tho very sides pf the entrance to the showgrounds had only to be looked at to see how kowhais or matipo or karamu itself- can flourish. 6. The sheltering hedge (ake-ake, I think), between the gardens in llnsseil street and Railway road. 7. Latest, but not last, pSrhaps, the wholesale removal of the town's real beauty-spotH— that peaceful oasis of lace-barks some twenty strong aDd some twenty years in gtowing ; a fitting background to the Memcrial to our Fallen Soldiers Now, Sjr; who is reeponsible for all this P Not alone one young curator' of reserves and he a newcomer to our town ; nor our town clerk, energetic and anxious for progress. but also a newcomer; nor yet our self-appointed Government architect and town-planner from Wellington, even more a stranger to our town. No, Sir. This has been authorised by our reserves committee and its chairman, and I suggest that they should have sounded the opinions of the rqtepayers and citizens of Hastings before each change that has to take place; more especially in such vital spots as the centre of the..town. Sir, a Progress League was formed of people anxious to help. Have they been consulted? Should they not be considered, when they have shown their interest and desire to help p I suggest tliat they should, and that tbereby the wishes of the citizens would be represented. — Yours. etc.

Hastings, June 26, 1937. •