ELLERSLIE GARDENS.

Auckland Star, Volume V, Issue 1480, 7 November 1874, Page 5 (Supplement)

ELLERSLIE GARDENS.

Persons who maintain that Auckland stands still and makes no progress will find it hard to account for the wonderful alteration made within the last few months at Ellerslie. More important improvements have been carried out here than anywhere round Auckland, and Mr Eobert Graham is the parson to whom they are due. A few more months and we have not a doubt that what Kew i s to London that will Ellerslie be to Auckland. Mr Graham has set off 40 acre 3of hia estate adjoining the Ellerslie railway station as a garden and recreation ground for the citizens of Auckland, It has been laid out by Mr Purdy in the moat tasteful manner, and stocked with plants, trees and shrubs from the choicest collections both in this colony and in Australia. The spot is one that looks as if it was intended by Nature for the very purpose. A beautiful undulating; surface ; rich natural verdure luxuriating in the scoria soil ; as fine a grove of blue gums as is to be seen round Auckland ; the Manukau shining in the distance on the one hand, and the white villas of Kemuera dotting the slopos on tho other ; the picturesque heights of Mount Eden, Mount Holmou, One-Tree Hill, and Mount Smart standing like sentinels at respectful distances around : —When these and other natural features are mentioned, it will be seen how little really is left for man to do to make the spot attractive and lovely. Yet Mr Graham has not been satisfied with doing that little, lie has gone into tho work determined to make Elleislie Gardens the finest place of the kind in the colonieg, and that he has succeeded cannot for a moment be denied ; iadeed, we do not know any recreation grounds _ throughout either island which can be mentioned in the same breath with the3e. The Gardens, as we said, adjoin the railway. On leaving the train at the station we have merely to cross the line —we ought not to have to do this if the station wa3 on tho proper s ifl e _and we are at tho entrance gate for pedestrians, which is to the right of a pretty little cottage inhabited by tho manager of the grounds, Mr James Brown, and decorated by a small board on one of the door posts, intimating that the admission is 6d, children half-price. THE HOUSES. On entering we turn to the right and see close to us a row of houses with wire-work fronts. These form a menagerie and aviary, and already contain some rare animals and birds. Mr Graham intends at an early date to enlarge thi3 feature of the Garden. Close to the animal house is an hot-house filled with the choicast exotics, tropical ferns, fuachias, and other plants, in rare perfection. GENERAL PLAN OF THE GARDENS. The plan selected by Mr Purdy and approved by Mr Graham in the laying out of the grounds is one that cannot fail to please. That variety which according to copy-books and general opinion is charming, has hore been studied very carefully. We notice a diversity in the arrangements which ought to result, and no doubt will, in everybody finding something to their liking. On the south-east side, or that which is furthest from town, we have a small fiat of five or six acres, which has been turned into a flower garden, with winding walks aud croquet lawns, interspersed with verbena, geranium, and dahlia beds. A small stream meanders through this part, its banks fringed with weeping willows, under which rustic seats invite with delicious coolness. This forms the outlet of a prettily-shaped fish-pond, in the centre of which is a fountain throwing a spiral column of water which finds its source of supply in an artesian well on ono of the slopes to the south, outside the gardenfence. Flashing in its perlucid waters ■we see the forms of innumerable gold and silver fish and carp. Round the edge is a fringe of scoria rockery, arranged in singularly grotesque patterns, and planted with ferns. To the right of this as we walk from tho entrance is a large strawberry bed of about an ace, the fruit of which is just ripening in time to supply the demand of next Monday. On the rising ground on the left we see under the shelter of the gums several swings, somo adopted for juveniles, and others of stronger construction suitable for weightier subjects. Close by is a dancing platform 70 feet by 30 feet. This is formed, of kauri flooring, and is supplemented at one end by a raised platform, for a band of music. There is also in thia part of the Gardens a merry-go-rouud, the machinery of which has been well tested, and which ought to prove a fertile source of attraction to the juvenile visitors. On prominent points are rustic vaseH of manifold shapes. If instead of pursuing our walks in this direction we return to the entrance, go out and re-enter by ' the carriage gate to the left of the manager's cottage, we find our wav to another part of the Gardens altogether" A fine broad roadway takes us in almost a direct line across the Gardens to the Ellerslie ricecourse, skirting the cricket ground on the left, and the orchard and deer park on the right. Of these important features we shall presently speak. Along the road on either side are rows of young trees, ches nuts, limes, oaks, &c, which will when grown make a fine avenue. Brauching from this roadway at a point about 60 yards from the gate is a winding path following the fence by the railway. By this we arrive at several pleasant glades on which the young trees already show rapid growth, and at the nursery where are to be seen thousands of young cuttings of plants coming on for next, yew. We also pass what ia known, a.a " The '

Mound," an eminence which, is planted i thickly with- brilliant flowers, arranged in circles according to the latest fashion in garden decorations, and comprising rows of verbenas, petunias, scarlet salvias, and cineraria maritima. When this is in fiill blossom it will be one of the most splendid objects in the Gardens. We understand that the roses planted about the Gardens came from Mr Lippiatt's ; the plants were supplied from Mason of Parnell, and Wren of Remuera. Specimens have also been brought from that paradise of flowers, Nelson, and from Sydney. In one of the byepaths near the railway we observe a nursery of 20,000 quicks, to be used in planting a maze next year. The path we have followed brings us to a grass'iplat prettily situated, i across which we arrive at the Cricket ground. Another broad path leaves the main road near the grass plat just mentioned, and bearing away to the right, describes a complete semicircle, enclosing the orchard and rejoining the road near the boundary furthest from the entry. When we have added that near this point there is a large rustic pavilion being built for the accommodation of visitors in wet weather, as well as for flower shows, &c, and have informed our readers that all over these extensive grounds are trees planted of every description —English, American, and Colonial—which will in future years make the place an intensely refreshing retreat on a hot summer day; and have also said that here and there are interspersed little bowers, both ornamental and useful, where tea and coffee may be had or strawberries and cream discussed in quiet, we shall have succeeded in giving some faint idea of the general features of the gardens. A few of the more important parts require more especial notice. THE CRICKET GROUND. Seven acres of the northern portion of the Gardens have been levelled for a ci'icket ground. An area of two chains square in the centre of this has been turfed, while the rest has been sown with the best kinds of grasses. The turfed portion is already quite fit to play upon: in fact the Auckland Cricket Club played their opening match upon it last Saturday week. The sown portion is coming on well, and, though not so fchickly covered with herbage as it should be, already presents very fair fielding ground. Oa the side nearest the station a pavilion has been built of a composition of shells and plaister. The structure is hexagonal, and about 25 ft. in diameter by 20ft. high. It will serve splendidly for dressing-rooms for the players. An improvement would be ' made if the roof could, be utilised for a gallery from which to view the sports. However, for this purpose a grand stand has been erected a short distance to the right capable of accommodating 200 persons. Close under the railway fence, in the opposite direction, there is a Jittle rustic bower where ladies will be able to secure a good stand point for witnessing the games going on. This cricket ground will prove one of the bast in the colony. THE RUNNING RINK. Round the Cricket Ground is being constructed a runuing rink, fifteen feet wide and one-third of a mi'e long. The track is to be composed of shells and sifted scoria, which should afford excellent going, and as there is no hill throughout its entire length, we shall expect to see some good " time" done over it by our local amateur and professioual peds. We understand that Mr Graham intends offering prizes at periodical intervals for handicaps at different distances. THE ORCHARD AND STRA.WBSRRY BEDS. Of great importance are the orchards and strawberry beds. There are various parts of the grounds devoted to these purposes, but the chief is the four acres spoken of a3 enclosed by the semi-circular road. Here are rows innumerable of psaches, pears, apples, plums, and other fruit trees. Fine young trees they are, just coming into bearing, and at th ir feet we can scarcely help treading on the thickly clustering strawberries, which dot the entire surface of the ground. We venture-to say that the Province of Auckland can show very few orchards so well stocked as this. THE DEER PARK. This consists of three acres of v ell enclosed land near the racecourse. It is at present only occupied by an emu and a few rabbils, but. some English and Scotch deer are on their way out to stock ifc. When they a-rive they will do much to iucreaso the attractions of the Gaidens. THE HOTEL. Close to the station, and adjoining the entrance to the Gardens, Mr Graham has had a first class hotel built. Messrs Winks and Hall have just finished furnishing it, and it now affords a most attractive suburban residence for bachelors or families, for all of whom there is ample accommodation. Here aio large rooms for meetings, dances, or assemblies; spaoiou3 dining-rooms and airy bed-rooms. The hotel is so built as to be capable of being enlarged very easily at small expense,—a great piece of foresight,.of which we anticipate the wisdom, will, before long, be exemplified. Mr Page is in command, and his name i 3 a guarantee of good management. THE TOWNSHIP. Last, but not least, we must say something of Ellerslie township, which "skirts the southern boundary of the Gardens. It is not to be supposed that Mr Graham, in ! spending the vast sums he has on these grounds [on (lit £10,000), has had no intention of profiting himself as well as imparting a boon to the citizens of Auckland. Should these Gardens become popular, as they undoubtedly will, the value of the land in tho vicinity will be vastly increased. ' Part of Mr Graham's estate here is to be sold in allotments on the 13th instant by Messrs B. Tonks & Co., at their auction, mart. We should advise all who wish to build a suburban residenca, or "who wish to speculate for the rise in land, to go out aud take a look at these allotments. The plan of the township shows great taste in the arrangement of the streets, crescents, and thoroughfares. One broad roadway a chain wide strikes off from the station past the Gardens, and ia carried right across to the Retnuera road, affording a series of beautiful froi-tiges. Reserves are marked out for churches and schools. We hear that a site will be giver, free of all expense, to the first religious body building a church on the township. We have not the slightest doubt that the lots will provoke spirited competition at the sale. The surrounding scenery of the place is so pretty, and the advantages of transit to and from town so great, that few localities can rival it in their claims for attention from intending investors.