IMPROVING THE PARK.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3221, 19 June 1909, Page 5

IMPROVING THE PARK.

WHAT IS BEING DONE.

GREAT IMPROVEMENTS STILL BEING EFFECTED.

VALUABLE RIVER-PROTECTIVE WORKS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

The kafieformation of the Park extension frort gullies and flax swamps to lakes, islands and pleasure grounds is rapidly consummating. The Park represents perhaps thfe most striking example of progressive and economical municipal enterprise of all this town's public institutions, and it can safely be classed as a district asset of rapidly increasing value. With an enthusiastic Park Committee, a sympathetic public, and a proverbially energetic custodian the community's playground has in a remarkably brief time been improved almost beyond description from its appearance of, say, ten years ago. "Still achieving, still pursuing," is the motto of the Committee and tbe caretaker, as a Wairarapa Age reporter learnt when visiting the Park, yesterday, in company with Cr J. C. Ewington. No one has displayed a keener interest in the welfare of ihe Park than Cr Ewington, who for years was Chairman of the Park Committee, and through whose industrious advocacy so many reforms in park administration and beautification were effected. "W&will visit an important work now beiag pushed on," said Cr Ewington, and he escorted the pressman to the farther side of the Park extension. Here there was found to be in course of construction a continuation of the stop-bank already erected on the west side of tne extension—a bank which has effectually kept out the turbulent flood waters of the Waipoua river. "We intend to take this bank right round the ex tension, arid it will render the newer area quite immune from inundation, and so keep many acres not occupied by the lake, in a dry and cultivable condition. Further, we intend to make the stop bank a promenade, and you will notice that it has an ample crown for such a purpose, being six feet wide on the top. Visitors to the cemetery will thus be enabled to stroll out of the north-east corner, complete a semicircle lound the lake area, and come out at Bruce street."

"When the stop-bank is completed, and a lot of necessary filling-in effected, we shall have enough hockey grounds at the farther end of the Park to supply Masterton's needs for a good while. The beautifying of the vicinity is to be pushed on as vigorously as funds will permit, and it will not be long before a surprising difference tu the appearance of this end of the park will be noticeable." This fact was indeed apparent, as the pressman found that already very considerable strides had been taken in the direction of shrub and treeplanting, and in other ways improving the appearance of the extension. Along the western side a long line of sycamore trees has been put in, willows have been planted along the river front, flotsam deposited by the river in flood time on the central portions of the extension have been removed, flax and manuka have been grubbed, and a levelling process effected generally. The lake is fast adding to its aesthetic qualities, as the fruits of the industry of the custodian (Mr D. Jackson) in planting toi-tois, flowers, willows and shrubs, are ripening, and next summer will bring new beauty to the surroundings. The paths round the lake are still being strengthened and widened, adjacent hollows filled in, and a neater appearance than ever encompassed. Shrubs are springing up in new places as if by magic, the custodian being the preslo-digilateur. A [scheme ifi native "cabbage" treej planting around the near shore of the lake gives promise of showing lucidly how artistic a landscape gardener Mr Jackson is. Certain it is that his efforts are meeting with wonderful success, at a minimum expenditure, pecuniarily at least, and the Park is a distinct credit to him. Sir Christopher Wren's tomb in St. Paul's Cathedral reads "Si quaeris monumentum, circumspice." (If you seek his monument, look around you!) So may this succinct epitaph apply to the Park custodian.