THE TIMARU DOMAIN.
Our readers are doubtless aware of the change that has taken place in regard to the office of Hanger for the Timaru Domain. This has been effected through the retrenchment policy of the Government, but in the retiring Hanger’s case, the reduction instead of being the official ten per cent, has amounted to no less than thirty per cent, rather a poor return for the services of an officer who has converted a dreary waste into pleasant ilower beds, plantations of forest and other trees, and with promenades for the recreation of the lovers of nature. Mr Hislop, who has been Hanger since May, 1878, naturally felt the great injustice, and on ascertaining that such a reduction was about to be enforced, he resigned his position. We now learn that he will be succeeded, under the reduced scale of payment, by Mr William Semmens, who, from his testimonials, appears to have been employed for a period of about two years in the propagating department of the Eoyal Botanical Gardens, at Kew, near London. Prior to Mr Hislop’s appointment, the Domain, which has an area of fifteen acres, was known as the police paddock. When Mr J. Hall, the present Premier of the colony, became Secretary for Public Works in the good old Provincial days, it was officially proclaimed a public park, and shortly afterwards it was entrusted to a local Board of Commissioners. Nothing was done in the way of cultivation till about 1872, when the ground was broken up and fenced, the central portion laid down in English grass, and a few trees planted, fronting on Queen street, Main South road. As before stated, Mr Hislop was appointed ranger in May, 1873, and previous to his coming down to commence operations* he secured a liberal supply of English forest trees, shrubs, plants, &c., from the Christchurch Domain, through the kindness of the late Mr Cyrus Davie, who was at that time the Chairman of the Christchurch Domain Board. On Mr Hislop arriving in Timaru and inspecting the scene of his future labours, ho found that provision had been made for a half chain belt round the Domain. That space was planted during the first season after his arrival, and whilst the young trees were establishing themselves he devoted himself to the preparation of plans for the future laying out of the ground,and the extension of the plantations. His designs were laid before the Commissioners and adopted from time to time. Money being plentiful, trees <&c., were obtained from various parts of New Zealand and the other colonies. The grounds now planted amount to about 27 acres, and present a very picturesque appearance. The 27 acres include also the triangle which is intersected by the cemetery road. The grass paddock in the centre contains 25 acres, and there were also four acres which some time since were cut off for the erection of the Timaru Hospital. At first after his appointment, Mr Hislop had two men allowed him to assist in his arduous task, which afterwards dwindled down to one, and since that time he has had to struggle on with prison labor. As instancing the usefulness and desirability of properly maintaining so important an institution, wo may mention that Mr Hislop has during his tenure of ollice distributed in all about half a million of plants and cuttings to the various public parks, Cemetery Boards, Hoad Boards, School Committees, &c. The domain is now a favorite place of resort for the inhabitants of Timaru and visitors, but we regret to learn that the Commissioners, although they have funds at their disposal, have for some time past been trying the effect of weeds in the borders that were wont to be decorated with flowers, and that, through parsimony and neglect, a nicely laid out pleasure ground is slowly degenerating into a waste.
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/SCANT18810103.2.18
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
South Canterbury Times, Issue 2431, 3 January 1881, Page 4
Word count
Tapeke kupu
645THE TIMARU DOMAIN. South Canterbury Times, Issue 2431, 3 January 1881, Page 4
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
No known copyright (New Zealand)
To the best of the National Library of New Zealand’s knowledge, under New Zealand law, there is no copyright in this item in New Zealand.
You can copy this item, share it, and post it on a blog or website. It can be modified, remixed and built upon. It can be used commercially. If reproducing this item, it is helpful to include the source.
For further information please refer to the Copyright guide.