REPORT ON CAMBRIDGE DOMAIN IMPROVEMENTS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1877, 17 July 1884, Page 3

REPORT ON CAMBRIDGE DOMAIN IMPROVEMENTS.

♦ Me PuriilE, lindscape ga-idener, employed by the Cam budge Domain J>naid to draw up specifications foi the n»pio\eI ment of the lake Te Kouto lescive, has completed his wotk, and lv& repoit was laid before the meeting of the boaid on Tuesday morning last. He lecommends that the entire reserve be fenced w ith a substantial post and wne fence, the posts to be painted white. That a ticnch Bhould be dag skirting the fenco, in whfcli to be planted a hedge of JCnglish .JJpllie or HaUea— the toimer lecoininended as being the moie oinamental and substantial. A walk, Sft. vide, sunounding.the Lake on the lower level, leeesses to be left at com cment intei vals for seats, A walk, 6ft. wide, on the higher lex el, skirting the margin of the slope, and to connect with the lower walk in seveial places, and at the most advantageous grades, more paiticnLuy wheie turnstiles and posts are to be erected ; walks to be easy and reveised angler, or zigzagg zag forinniation, so as to avoid steps. Branch walks to be foinied, Oft. wide, where the ground widens out Where flower beds or sluubberies are formed walks to be defined with boxw,ood. The space between the maigin of the Lake and the lower walk to be turfed and laid down in shoit glass ; also the' various pieces of around between the Walks and the flat dips of land in the slope to be tieated in the same w ay. The margin of the Lake is to be defined with "weeping willow poles and English alders. Ornamental arches to be constructed at certain places throughout the grounds. A few bowers or summer houses to be constructed and placed on the most commanding positions overlooking the water. The ground w here excavated on lower level for the forming of walks to be terraced, so as to answer the purposes of grass -seats, and tin fed to prevent the land from slipping. Owing to the historical connection of the old redoubt on the top of the hill it is suggested that it should remain in its present formation with the exception of laying the BUi'face down m short grass and terraces with specimen tiees. The water in the Lake is to remain at about its piescnt level, as raising it would interfere with many portions of the ground adjoining being converted into shoit grass. The level- of the water could be regulated by a self-acting sluiccboXt A few small islands to be formed ih the Lake, for the encouragement and oheltett of wild birds, the rough vegeta—tion and broken ground to be excavated for this purpose. A fountain and basin for ~fsh to be constructed in fiont of the gummer-house. Rustic bridges 4 feet • wide to be constructed with rough titree flooring and hand rails, and resting on stumps of trees to connect with the islands near the edge. All rough vegetation to be cleared off the slope. The ."upper part of the reserve to be planted with low flowering, shrubs, and roses. 'jjjjft'' rhododendrons, ghents, azalias, ggjEgwlias, weigelia, roses, guilder-rose, jPPik-orange, with magnolia, grandiflora, fand! other plants and flowers, The lower ft ground to be planted with clumps and an^ planted in groups of -^■different varieties of flowers and plants. ,/i (phe planting of slopes to be in clumps of Jifrpm 5 to 11 plants, the whole comjikprising a variety of foliage and of Muknts, The outer boundary of reserve %tS *^ c planted with dense- treea. To against land slips suitable plants %t&(%> c planted in the slopes where accisMenis are likely to occur. After the trees j^ay&'been planted a few years, and have R|||i|orough hold of the ground, a tfalk to i&Kpfjonstructed round the slope midway, lifojsjkeries to be formed at mutable places, ijjlljl&.report includes several other minor ffiffiigeAtions. It will be seen by the re■fjiii£of t^e. meeting at which the report ■sSp^subniitted that it was unanimously ■KtjflS^Clerk of the Cambridge Domain Board lenders for clearing and fencing WBwgft* iKouttt* up to * p.rai on Saturday, 19th