NEW RECREATION GROUNDS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 192, 8 May 1908, Page 8

NEW RECREATION GROUNDS.

THE RUSH AT THE FINISH. POLICY OF "TAIHOA." ■ It is nearly two years since a poll of tho ratepayers of Wellington was taken sanctioning a loan for recreation grounds at Kclburno, Sydney Street, Duppa Street, and Kilbirnie. None of those grounds is available to-day, though one at Kelburne was three-parts completed when .the loan . was raise;!.' The recreation grounds proposal did not have its genesis with tho Mayor or City Council, but was the result of persistent agitation on the part of various sportsi,bodies in the city, and nobody worked harder than tho "sports" in getting electors to the poll, convinced that these grounds were a necessity. So they were. But if they wore- a necessity then,> how much more are they now; yet this winter and next summer will probably pass before any of tho grounds are ready. No blame for this is attachable to the City Engineer or his Department, who have proved in every way that they can shift earth with the best, but what is complained of is the delay that has followed upon the completion of the engineering part of the 'work. Kelburne park. Tako Kelburne Park as an .example. This work was practically completed a year ago —some of the top dressing was spread before this date last year—and yet the green sward of grass that should "mantle the area is missing, and it will be next summer at the earliest before the ground will b,e ready for any sort of recreation. The excuse that a portion of the park is made ground, that should bo left to settle, will not serve, for people will remember that fully half the area has been levelled for years past, and over two-thirds of the total arei is solid ground—a decapitated hill-top. If tho park had been sown with grass at this time last' year, sports bodies would be scrariibling over ono another for the use of the ground this winter. Anderson Park. Anderson Park in the.making was a revelation in modern methods !of altering, the face of Nature, arid, had the work beeen pushed on, a splendid playground for the children of Thorndon • could have been provided by. this time on the solid portion of tho ground. " Taihoa" has bben the watchword since the City,. Engineer's department completed its portion of these works. Duppa Street Grounds. It will, surprise, m'ost people who do not make tram-tripping to Island Bay a practice to knojvi that, as far as the' makiif| of tho actual grounds at Duppa Street is concorned, tho work will be completed in about a month. This- does not mean that tho great mounds of top-dressing that, havo shown 'up black against \the yellow clay filling of the new ground, have been spread. The engineer in .charge of' the job (Mr.; 'Paterson) intends .to allow the' winter rains .to., fall over.* tho ,playing areas, "'and;-' so settle , tho earth solidly before v ' giving it- a " topcoat of rich loam. A top-dressing will be administered early in spring, and,if the grounds arc.sown in time to gain tho advantage of the spring rains, the new park at Adejaide'-Road should bo ready by next' Christmas. The rapidity with which the work has been done, at Duppa Street only emphasises the time that lias been lost , in the final preparation of tho other grounds. 1 If the Duppa Street grounds arc to be ready for ule noxt year it stands to reason that if they had been commenced first,instead of' Kelburne, they would have bcenJ I in full .swing this winter; instead of wliiclv. I none of the grounds .is'likely to bo of any service until .next year. . , Really Two Grounds. A- visit to tho Duppa Street recreation ground works made by a Dominion reporter yesterday, was amply repaid. The ground is really two grounds ori different lovels—ono : (the top or northern) will enable occupiers to get "a gate," and will bo seated, fenced, and provided with a grandstand for,-the accommodation of those prepared to pay for their pleasure. Tho playing area "of this ground 5 measures 135 yards by 180 yards, which provides for two full-sized football grounds (110 yards- by 75 yards) with ten yards 'in' between . and ten, at each side. Largo gates 'at the north-east corner will admits to the ground, opening ori to drives leading between easily-graded turfed banks v to tho different points of vantage arourid tho playing area. The grado of tho banks' is such that spectators will bo able to sit or stand (according to the season) anywhero.and still get .a fine view of the games in progress. The nakedness of the yellow clay cuttings is still exposed round the southern end of tho top ground, >but -stacks of turf squares tell of future beautifying operations. It will bo impossible to turf tho sheer cut : at the back or western side of tho ground, grid there is no money left to terrace it, "which would be the best thing to do, but as little time, as possiblo should be lost in planting some pretty flowering creeper that will spread vwith the seaspns arid hide the bare face' of tho cut. jSKie. grandstand is to .be erected on the street side of-the grbund. The, lower or,public ground is not to be so elaborately finished. The filling of this ground is within threp weeks of. completion. Then it will be allowed to settle during .the winter, and, as in the. caso of the other ground, will bo top-dressed next spring. This ground will also accommodate two football matches, so that, -though in. coming, there really will be more, "grounds available for the national game if patienco is exercised.