CITY RESERVES.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20807, 17 March 1933, Page 13

CITY RESERVES.

ANNUAL INSPECTION. PARKS AND GARDENS LOOKING WELL. The annual inspection of the City'* parka and reserves by members of the Christchurch City Council was made yesterday, and those who took part in it expressed themselves as well pleased with the appearance of the parks and with the work done on the plantation reserve at Bottle Lake. Regret was expressed that not more than six members of the council took the opportunity to see the work done by the Reserves' Committee, and by the Superintendent of Parkß and Gardens, Mr M. J. Barnett, but as the inspection took from 9 a.m. till 4 p.m. it is understood that many touncillors iouud it inconvenient to attend. Those who made the inspection were: —Crs. E. Parlane (chairman of the Reserves Committee),'J. \V. Beanland (cbairmai of the Works Committeo), Annip I. Fraer, a former chairman of tha Reserves Committee, G. T. Thurston, J. S. Barnett, and F. T. Evans. Messrs M. J. Barnett, Superintendent of Parks and Gardens, and H. S. Feast, committeo clerk, accompanied the councillors. Lunch was provided at Victoria Park. Parks Visited. Elmwood Park was first visited. At St. James's Park the improvements made last year were noted. The Bottle Lake plantations were next inspected, and councillors were impressed wifk the improvements made, especially tha formation of roads through tho whole block. It is considered that in the event of fire there are more opportunities to reach tho seat of it tham there were formerly. At St. Albans Park the. councillors were interested in the result of the work done last year in lifting the turf on a portion of the area and levelling the ground and then replacing; the turf It is proposed to treat the remainder of the park similarly this winter. At Victoria Park the extensive treeplanting done, including the planting of many native trees, was noted. __ A substantial stone wall, which provides shelter to those visiting the park, has been erected. Barrington Park waß looking extremely well. The,hutments from the sanatorium have been erected and are to be used as dressing rooms. Work on the laying out of the Spreydori domain practically has been finished. At Beckenbam Park interest was shown in the rockery, on the side of one of the ponds near the springs, which it is considered will make that part of the park very attractive. The inspection concluded at the nursery at Linwood Park, where the councillors were much impressed with the fact that there is scarcely a foot of land not under cultivation, and with the fine display of flowers, shrubs, and trees, ready for next planting season.

A Councillor's View. After the inspection* Cr. J. W. Beanland, who is not u member of the Reserves Committee, in conversation with a reporter, said that it was about three years since he visited the Bottle Lake plantations, and he had been , much impressed with the great improvements made. .-The work was so successful"that'he'thought that the citizens generally should know what a wonderful asset they possessed in these plantations. One could not speak too highly of the work done by Mr Barnett, and it reflected the greatest ■ credit on him and on his staff. After , seeing the wonderful display .at the Reserves Committee's nursery at Lin- . wood Park he had • told Mr. TBarnett- .' that he would like to.see a greenhouse erected on a park . nearer #he City, so that citizens would hare. an opportunity to judge of Mr Barnett'a !" capabilities as a nurseryman. If ,th* money were available he thought such , a "house should be buiHv so that what was grown at, the nursery could \"b* shown to advantage.