HEDGES TO GO

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 167, 2 August 1937, Page 6

HEDGES TO GO

Council's Proposals for Corftwall Park HYDRANGEAS FOR DRIVE Extensive alteraRons to the outskirts of Cornwall Park are under consideration by the Hastings Borough Council, and, if given efl'ect to, wili result iu tliis fine scenic reserve being definitely Ihrown open to the general public, for it as proposed to do away with tlir.ee o±" the present boundary fences. The Mayor, Mr G. A. Maddison,. mentioned this morniiig that the council proposed to eliminate the hedge along Ihe main drive to tlie park and to plaut in its place a row of, hydrangeas. This would skirt Eoberts street for a distance of 23 chains. When the trees Were in full bloom they should present a magnificent sight, for On either side there would be a wido strip of green turf. "It is also proposed to do away with the very unsigktly hedges along Cornwall road and Tomoana road," said Mr Maddison. ' 1 They have outlived their usefulness and noW require constant attention, because there is a tendency for them to d'ie out in places, leaving wide gaps. Then again, they block the view of people passmg. It is contrai'y to modern conceptions of beautification to have high hedges or fences, and in Los Angeles, for Cxampie, Cven the dividing fences to residences are being done away with. The proposal was to root otit the hedges and have a sward of turf leading right from the roadways to the pavk, allowing people to have full '-access to the park and also every Opportunity of sCeing the many beautiful scenes that made this 1 reserve one of the outstanding parks in the Dominion. This is only one of the proposed works the council is considering as part of the supplementary estimates for the now current year. The cojuneil met in committee last Thufsday to consider the estimates, together with the works tliat are to be carried out with the graht Of £5000 from the Employment Promotiou I*dnu Towards finding employment v for men now on sustenatice. The main borough estimates for the expenditure of the greater part of the revenue denived from the borough rate have been decided upon, but the council will again meet this evening further to consider the supplementary estimates of work to be carried out of the revenue from the Eeserve Fund, which includes the annual payments of the Hawke's Bay Electric Power Baartf for the purchase of the borough electricity department together with the surplus of last, year. Including the special £5000 grant, tho council will be preparing a sehedule of works estimated to cost in the vicinity of £15,000.