WILFUL DAMAGE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 30, 14 November 1936, Page 4

WILFUL DAMAGE.

RIBBON BORDER IN THE DOMAIN BICYCLES RIDDEN OVER PLANTS. Wilful damage to the ribbon border, a, feature of the Ashburton Domain and equal to any border of a similar nature in the country, took place last evening. The damage was done by bicycles, believed to have been ridden by boys or youths. The machines were ridden ever the border in several places, and many plants were destroyed. It appears tnat two bicycles were ridden. No footmarks were on the ground. The offence appears to have been carried out with deliberation, as it was in a part of the Domain where bicycles are not allowed at any time. The border was planted out early this week, and by the'adoption of a different design and planting a greater number of plants, the D'omain staff hoped that the border would show a display this year that has not been equalled before. The offence has been reported to the police. Not only will the Domain staff be put to great inconvenience in replacing the damage, as owing to holidays tins week a large amount of work is waiting to receive attention, but there will be considerable difficulty in replacing the plants according to the colour scheme, which was an integral part of the design of the border. In conversation with a “Guardian 1 ' reporter this morning, the Curator (Mr H. P. Clayton), in deprecating the foolishness of the action, said it was the duty of the public to report any offence of this nature in the Domain which came under their notice. He mentioned an act of vandalism which had occurred in the ribbon border two years ago, when some of the plants were stolen from it.

* Instead of the straight lines of flowering plants in the border, which has been the design generally adopted in past years, a curved line has been introduced into the design this year. The curved line of flowers will run down the centre of the border, dividing it into bays, in each of which different varieties of flowers will be planted. The flowers which have been planted to make the curve are geraniums and godetia, and these will make a vivid scarlet dividing, line down the middle. Variegated geranium will also be used in the curved line.

Next to the green box edging of the border a row of lobelias is planted. Behind this the plants are set out in bays. In the front half of the border are the smaller flowers, and among these will be found dwarf petunias, phlox, geraniums, French marigolds and agerathiums. Taller plants at - the back will include coreopses, zinnias, antirrliiniums, tall petunias, African marigolds, lavotecia, jacobea, and summer chrysanthemums. At the back again are tree marigolds and salfiglosis. Already the border presents an attractive appearance, the only thing to mar the lay-out of the 5000 plants being the scars left by the bicycle wheels. The plants are set closer together this year, and when the flowers come out in bloom they should provide the finest display of colour ever seen in the Domain. Another instance of wilful mischief came to the notice of the Curator this morning. The lifebuoy from the swimming bath was taken away and left some distance from the baths, where the rustic bridge used to bg.