TREES IN RATA STREET.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19112, 22 September 1927, Page 11

TREES IN RATA STREET.

TO THE EDITO* 0* TBS PBXSS.

Sir, —Being the €( person" vrho applied for and was granted permission to plant trees in the above locality, may I reply to tlie letter which appeared in Tuesday morning's PftESS over the nomde plume, "No More Trees." The people who have already gone to tlie expense and the labour involved in planting trees in Rata street, are those .who' have devoted considerable time and care on their gardens and street frontages, which I consider is a credit to ■ the Borough, and has made Kata street what .it is—one of the, prettiest thoroughfares in and around Christchureh. It took the Council nearly six weeks to consider my application, with the result that it was then practically too late, for planting this season. Further, more, owing to the fact that men have been grubbing the sides of the roadway, which .had been left higgledy-pig-geldy for two months or more, several people who were entirely favourable to the idea stated their intention of waiting until, the Council put the street into something like respectable order. As regards the statement that Rata street is too narrow for an avenue of trees, this is~ absolutely ridiculous —the roadway is the usual width, and being only a side street with comparatively little traffic, with . the exception of tradesmen's vehicles, which some day's might amount to the huge total of twenty-four, the place is ideal for the. purpose. In any case one side only is planted in this area, and taking from the tree line to the opposite side channel gives a clearance of practically forty feet, which is ample. Some there are who, if they had all their own way, i would, asphalt right up to the fence line on a street like this, and maybe have their lawn put down in concrete too and painted green to resemble grass, as the pleasure of gardening is unknown to them. No doubt when the pioneers first set aside the reserves known today as Hagley Park, and planted tl;e area with trees, someone then too rose up and shouted from the house-tops—-".Not Enough Room,"-and "Too Many Trees."

To enumerate a few advantages of treei-planting in this particular street. (1) There is considerable scapagc from springs' at the sides of the roadu-ay, and the planting of trees will, consider, minimise, to a great extent, this trouble, •as the surplus water will be absorbed by the roots. (2) Motors have frequently come too close into the channel in this locality, and as there is ho metal foundation live or six feet out from the sides, they have through the grass-covered clay to a depth of nine to fifteen inches, and besides cutting up,and making a quagmire of this strip, have several times put me to considerable inconvenience in helping to dig them out, and haul them back on ,to the .hard road again. I have seen in wet weather as many as three in' on<s week stuck' in this vicinity. The trees at the sides will obviate this. (3) The sight of a line avenue: of trees in a'residential area is something to be proud of, and is appreciated by anyone with an eye for beauty. . If tho advantages pointed out do not prove themselves in two years' time, and the Council insist that the trees be removed, I am quite prepared to.*pay the cost of trees to those people who. were good enough to fall into line and give the scheme a fair trial.. Also, if the Council do not appreciate, the efforts or those residents who take a pride in their gardens and street frontages (besides saving the" Council money in attention on those parts which are kept regularly mowed and trimmed), and thereby show an interest in their street and borough, let them make a public statement to. -that, fact, wc will "down tools: .. and let the street A 'go'."H&hg. In aify. case the more we improve our homes the higher.-we are rated, so perhaps we are somewhat foolish in our efforts. Yours, etc.,■ •' . • M . vllTl? Tt

" / C. MANHIBE. '•Rata street, Lower Riccarton. ; September; 21st, 1527.