Southern Parks Toured By Reserves Committee

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27593, 25 February 1955, Page 12

Southern Parks Toured By Reserves Committee

The extent of park, garden and scenic reserve land in and about Christchurch is frequently praised by visitors to the city, but it is unlikely that the residents themselves, let alone visitors, realise just how extensive the lands are. Yesterday, it took the reserves committee of the City Council seven hours and a half to inspect reserves in the southern portion of the city; and even then many parks had to be missed.

With officers of the reserves department providing information to the minutest detail on anything connected with the parks, the committee travelled from the centre of Christchurch through the southern suburbs, over the Port Hills to a point above Governor’s Bay, almost to Sumner, and back to the council chambers. On this inspection, which is held annually, councillors saw what had been done during the year, what needed to be done, and the problems to be faced. x , The reserves department has under its control more than 9000 acres, including 3166 acres of forestry and 3437 acres of form lands. The northern part, which includes the forestry, and forms at Methven and Geraldine, have yet to be inspected in two further tours. Yesterday, 447 acres of the Botanic Gardens and Hagley Park, 826 acres of scenic reserve pn the Port Hills, and a big acreage of suburban parks were fairly fully covered. Those in the party were the Mayor (Mr R. M. Macfarlane, M.P.) and Mrs Macfarlane, Cr. M. B. Howard, M.P., chairman of the parks and reserves committee; Crs W. S. Mac Gibbon, E. A. Adams, J. E. Jones, J. Shankland, W. J. Cowles, and T. Green, all members of the committee; Cr. W. P. Glue; the Director of Parks and Reserves (Mr M J. Barnett); the Assistant Director (Mr H. G. Gilpin); and a committee clerk of the council. Mr A. Freeborn. Rolleston Avenue Elms The party began by inspecting the elms in Rolleston avenue. Letters have been received from the Christ’s College authorities suggesting that the trees are a potential danger, and should be removed. However, councillors considered the trees were sound. Mr Barnett explained that in England elms were. considered dangerous when they approached an age of 200 years—these were only 80 or 90 years old. The proposed new gates at the Armagh street entrance to Hagley Park, for which plans have been drawn up and finance is available, were discussed before the party was shown sites for two dressing sheds requested by the Canterbury Rugby Union in the park. The party drove to the new fernery under construction in the Botanic Gardens. On the edge of the lily\ pond and adjacfent to the Townend House, councillors inspected the progress of work on concrete walls at the corners of the fernery, and hardwood frames for filling-in with tree fern trunks. Addington Park, thb Andrews crescent pensioners’ houses, Barrington Park, and Spreydon Domain were then inspected. Then the party visited Centennial Park, described by Mr Barnett as “one of the department’s problems.” About 16 acres in extent, this park was converted from a rubbish dump. Mr Barnett said it had been found that, although thousands of yards of Soil had been carted in, the ground was still sinking in many places, providing an uneven surface not welcomed by sports bodies. Trees were not growing well because of decomposing matter in the soil.

It is planned to take in a further 14 acres of dump area, and a playground and sports stadium are envisaged in

the plans for one of the biggest suburban parks in Christchurch. From the Somerfield Community Centre the party drove up the hill to Victoria Park, past a parking area being prepared at the park entrance. Mr Barnett, from the top of a rocky knob overlooking Christchurch and the plains, said he hoped some day to see an observation platform built there. Sign of the Bellbird After seeing improvements made at the Sign of the Kiwi, the party travelled to the Sign of the Bellbird at Kennedy’s Bush. Mr Barnett said he considered that it would take £lO,OOO to put the dilapidated building in order, and that the expenditure would be of little use unless a caretaker could be found for the building. The best thing, he thought would De to pull the p/esent building down altogether, and erect another, if any step was to be taken.

Beckenham Park was inspected from the cars; St. Martins Park showed off its almost flawless croquet green surface to advantage; and Hillsborough Park gave evidence that, although a lot had been spent on drainage and levelling, it was still a damp spot in winter and very bumpy. Before returning to the Council Chambers the party inspected the council’s nursery in Linwood avenue, where men were planting out springsown polyanthus to be hardened in the next few months before transfer to parks. About 30,000 wallflowers, as well as forget-me-nots, young pines, and street trees were all seen to be flourishing. In glasshouses were plants from Dublin, Sweden, France, Canada, Portugal, Belgium, Algeria, and New York, acquired free on exchange.