WELLINGTON AND CHRISTCHURCH GARDENS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 771, 21 March 1910, Page 9

WELLINGTON AND CHRISTCHURCH GARDENS.

Sir,—A.short time, ago a paragraph ap-' pcared in a contemporary ■when- commentin" oh the success -of the' garden fete held on. behalf' of the Boys' Institute, in .which''was a statement that the Christchurch people would liko to .exchange-their .gardens, for those of Wellington. I do' not - think the Christchurch peoplo; will feel much flattered at this,' and as a resident for many sears of .the former, city I am sure the exchange, if possible, would not be accept; cd. No doubt the gardens here from the natural' surroundings are very pretty, and, being of an undulating nature, lend themselves in. a way that'the Christchurch gardens cannot. No one .■ can question the beauty of the Christchurch ,garden's; -<the-.river alone is worth a lot in making them beautiful,.' . To compare the two so far as tho vegetation is .concerned, however, the- gardens here are not, in it. The -variety in Christchurch ■is v very- large, and comprises plants from all parts, and the. bedding-out is well worth ioolcinglat. No wonder if .the Wellington gardens should' look .the.best—small credit.to them con-' sideriiig. the enormous .difference in - tho upkeep, but.there is, far,.and away.moro bedding out (which is the costly part)-in--. .Christchurch ihan there, is ' here. ■ Tho cost in Christchurch is .-EiOOOfor an area of 53 acres: Those who' have, been to Auckland and Dunedin, and seen tho gardens there cannot but compare them most '-favourably', with those here—and ; again the cost .is;so much less—that for ?Auckiahdr,being,\£7oo for six-acres under cultivation. Thevoost in. Dunedin,' including that of.the large winter'garden (the only ..one -in tho colon)'), -is .£1250 for; 65 - acres under !-'actiial- v: cultiv'atio'n. The cost of the Botanical' Gardens here, the area of .which is. 63 acres, but certainly not', more than , six'. acres. under cultivation, is very, close to : 'J!U00. The ratepayers will naturally ask'why sucha large sum should be spent on a few. showy flower beds and bordefs/'whils't a large portion' of the garden is nothing bnt a. wilderness of. manuka scrub. I' think the ratepayers will be surprised,at this, and wonder, how the'money isspenthere,'and.will want to know—l am, etc., J - : ;'-.. '- 'LESS WASTE..' j