EMPIRE WALK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 May 1938, Page 6

EMPIRE WALK

PROPOSAL FOR CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL PLANTING SCHEME ON WAIPOUA RIVER BANK A proposal to establish an Empire walk along the southern bank of the Waipoua River is put forward by Mr H. E. Gardner as a centennial memorial. Mr Gardner's suggestion is to plant a length from Queen Street to Jean Street with trees representative of different parts of the Empire. The area available for planting varies from half a chain to two chains in width, and sections of the walk could be devoted to particular countries. Mr Gardner is most enthusiastic as to the claims of his scheme for consideration, as he believes a particularly beautiful walk could be made along the river bank. The river improvement work now in progress should be completed in a few months, in ample time for planting next winter, provided the public approve of the idea. The walk, Mr Gardner stated yesterday could start from Queen Street and proceed to the Allan Memorial Bridge and thence along the river bank. The first section, for instances, to the bridge might be planted on both sides of the walk, to form an avenue of gums, together with other trees, to form the Australian portion of the scheme. Other sections could be devoted to the trees of New Zealand, Canada, India, Africa, England, Scotland and Ireland. Care would have to be taken to select the trees suitable for the conditions, but there were plenty of varieties that would succeed. He mentioned the acacia as one tree that grew well here, while Canadian maples and oaks would make a glorious show. Although the scheme embraced the southern bank only, Mr Gardner observed the scenery on the other side of the river, on which a short route was to be constructed, was quite pretty and would form part of a picturesque setting.