CITY’S DOMAINS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22371, 7 April 1938, Page 16

CITY’S DOMAINS

FORESIGHT OF EARLY SETTLERS ADDRESS BY MR HENRY KITSON “We have to thank those who came before us for the reserves and domains of about 500 acres in the city,” said Mr Henry Kitson, chairman of the Christchurch Domains Board, in an address on the growth of the board to the Christchurch Ro-ary Club. I “In the last 20 years, and especially in the last 10, tremendous strides have been made, and it is the policy of the Domains Board not to stand still, but to go forward, and look to see where it can help further generations.” , . , The first house to be erected, he said, was built by a surveyor named Pollard, at what la now known as Pilgrim’s corner, said Mr Kitscn. However, he did not stay long, and shortly after he left a man named Herriott settled in Deans Bush. He was followed by a man named Malcolm McKinnon,- who had to leave the house when some Maoris burned the grass round it. The plan for the settlement of Canterbury was drawn up in 1848, and Captain J. Thomas, and his assistant, Edward Jollie. came but from England to survey the province in 1849. Jollie drew a plan in which 1000 acres of land were provided for the city area, and one-half of this was to be reserves. He must have been fond of horticulture and agriculture, said Mr Kitson, for he also provided for wide streets along which trees could be planted in the plan. However, this latter proposal was not countenanced by Thomas. , Not much was done until 1864, when ' the Acclimatisation Association, which included in its work the planting and acclimatising of trees, was formed. The Domains Board sprang from this organisation. A grant of £IOOO was made by the Provincial Council for the work. Rolleston avenue was planted with trees in 1869, and about the same time a pinus knoll was planted near Victoria, Lake. When the Provincial Council was abolished it was laid down “that the domains were to be held for the people of Canterbury for pleasure and recreation for ever.” It was not until 1910 that any serious attempts were made at horticultural work, this being mainly due to a lack of finance, but from then on much progress had been made.