MARSLAND HILL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 78, 28 April 1909, Page 4

MARSLAND HILL

Hi'. CuyU-, tilO guiller at .New l>w. uouth prison, u USII , nu „ ; ill assisting uii: Aliivor lo elcir in, u ~ j-iiiH. Hinnv-ofrtzr 1 ,: UK place „ icrt iu , m [t , „, w: Unit, iwoiity-nvo in™. m charge 0l jeveml warders, were at work there yesU'lday, U,c majority of tiiem were engaged in inakin- a carriage drive from ltoue street to uie top ol uie mil, U sin» the route of tile ruau „-J»ic-Jj did service m the days wiiou Hie military- i.arracks covered lue crest of the hill, utners were eattmg the fennel and other , w . ation whicn had made a wilier too luxuriant growth of late, and a ullmk . r felled some large primus insignia trees on tlie western slopes of the lull. Xae prisoners tried their prentice hands witn tne cross-cut saw, and the woou from these big trees will save the gaol authorities something on the incl hill tnis winter. Ihc felling of the trees Jias opened up a line view of the west end, Western i'urk, the harbour, and me Sugarloavcs. i-uniicr trees are to have some iiftccn or twenty feet lapped oil them, to broaden the aspect, lue path, and terraces around the front of thei hill are lo be trimmed up and improved by the prison labour.

Jt transpires that the gentleman who anonymously promised a donation ol £4O or thereabouts to bring lue Trims vaal Patriotic Fund to <.>( H) i s _\Jr. I'isch, the -Mayor. His oiler i b conditional upon a drinking fountain being erected as a memorial to our men who fought and fell in the South African war. Mr. Tisch's idea in desiring anonymity -was to prevent the idea getting abroad that this donation was a ''sop to Cerberus," or a ruse for securing votes in the mayoral contest, had there been any opposition to his' election as mayor. He had intended to "keep it dark " until after the municipal election, lull in the absence of an election the necessity for secrecy no longer exists, and, besides, the committee is anxious to get to work. .Mr. I'isch purposes inviting competitive designs for the laying out of the hill, or, us it should now be termed, the domain. He ha* a fancy for a maze at the south end, towards the gaol, and will be pleased to receive suggestions from anyoae having experience ill forming them. It is proposed to construct tin entrance from Brougham .Street, connecting with tile carriage-drive at the top of the hill, which is to be planted with native shrubs.

In reference lo the proposal to erect a protective fence around tile memorial now being completed, and particularly in reference to Colonel Ellis' proposal to have the niunuiueiit surrounded by a shallow sheet, of water, the suggestion is made that a slight excavation be done and a tank formed, say, three feet deep. Thus sufficient water might be provided for some gold-fish or other ornamental li-.li- a tiling that is noticeably lacking in our artificial ailommc.it of the town.