THE TOWN BEAUTIFUL

Hokitika Guardian, 28 June 1921, Page 4

THE TOWN BEAUTIFUL

HAMILTON MEMORIAL PARK. (Auckland Star). Hamilton, in the North Island, has not been neglecting the matter of keeping the town and district as beautiful as may be while its people have been engaging themselves with the more material matters of successful business, and the activities of the Hamilton Beautifying Society give residents of this provincial centre ample reason for pride. Founded some ten years ago by a band of enthusiasts headed by Mr AY. H. AVorsley, who lias been president of this energetic body for the greater portion of its existence, the society lias now more than 1200 trees planted in the streets of the town, but its finest work to date is the foundation and establishment of what is now known as Memorial Park, on the eastern side of the river.

With the Ferry Bank and the lovely river walks, the shores of the Waikato, its it Hows through the borough, have been made very beautiful, and the Memorial. Park, laid out upon a scheme first, suggested by Air W. H. Paul, the society’s enthusiastic secretary, will, wluyi .completed, bo a unique and very beairtiful new public park for the town. This park is considered by many to be the best work of the society, but the people of Hamilton are rather prone to overlook the fact that in the years to came this happy project of Air Paul’s will develop into a- public reserve of a beauty that will be made more manifest by its unique plan. The society in Hamilton is not unknown in other parts of the Dominion, and in fact scarcely a meeting passes without the receipt of inquiries and requests for information from other towns whose residents have become acquainted with the schemes that are now being carried out with the aim of beautifying Hamilton. But this idea of a- Memorial Park, conceived by Mr Paul some eighteen months ago, promises to make

a bounty spot that -s' l in time to come be one of the features of the borough. Situated right on the river-bank, opposite the town, in full view front many portions of the main street, and in sight of both bridges, this park comprises seven acres that extend downstream from the traffic bridge. In it thoio is m band rotunda, with a large open space of greensward for meetings, where one memorial service has already been held, on Anzttc Day this year. Immediately inside the entrance there is a piece of land planted with till manner of native trees, and the whole length of the lower path along the water’s edge is also to be planted with New Zealand flora. Along by this path is the original landing place of the first Hamilton settlers in the days of the Afaori War, and the remains of the old river steamer Rangiriri. which brought them tip, also lies here. There is a bank just inside the entrance, gently sloping towards the liver, and planted with shrubs, while all along the wav different sections, embracing flower bods in shapes representing the emblems of various bodies, are laid out with careful thought for the general effect. On the green sward that covers the whole park to be are hundreds of memorial trees of different binds and sizes, each one planted to the memory of some lad of Hamilton "ho lias fallen in the war, and hearing his name and rank. Two hundred and twenty of these trees have already been planted. There l is another entrance downstream to the River Road, and provision lias also been made for a fountain, a tea kiosk and a caretaker’s cottage. Even now the park is very impressive. and its unique features offer a marked contrast to the appearance of this land a few years ago. when it was covered with reeds and rushes, with rude and unsightly fences, whereon shredded flax fibre was lutng to dry in the sun.

This is by no means the only fruit of the activities of the society, which spent £llOO in maintenance work last year. £9OO being supplied by the Hamilton Borough Council, and the remainder from the private subscriptions ot enthusiasts of the society. The Hamilton railway station is another place that has attracted the attention of Hie society, which lias done much to beautify this by the laying out of lawns and gardens, and the planting of flowering shrubs and trees. So successful was the work there that the Railway' Department expressed its gratification and made a small annual grant for maintenance work. Then there is Garden Place, a grassy sward right against the middle portion of the main street, set with leaty bowers and shrubs and trees, with shady resting places for the people. Then there are miles of pathways and pretty walks along the hanks ol the river; there is Ferry Bank, and several other pretty places, to say nothing of the a veil nos of frees and the natural beauty of the lake, a sheet of water covering hiaiiv acres, which is ot great depth, and lias neither inlet nor outlet, so tains is known. In till these beautifying

schemes the Borough Council takes a v.*,v keen interest, mid gives the society on "ooiageiuent and assistance. In fail, almost, all of its movements have be "i made in conjunct ion with the mmiiiioality.