TREE PLANTING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1418, 19 April 1912, Page 2

TREE PLANTING.

ON THE BARE HILL-SIDES, I)E FORE THE COUNCIL. Tho planting-out with trees of the hare spaces and scars on the hill sides within the city area which are not already planted out with houses is at last receiving tho attention of the City Council. Last night the council adopted tho following recommendation of the Reserves Committee:—< "J h.-a witL a view; of making a start with ,i comprehensive <cheme to beautify (he Town Hell, the City J'.lignicer, acting under instructions from l lib Reserves Committee, has r'" I'hiii to improve the block ol 10 acres lym,; U> the west, nf WelImgU.n l errac- known as .Section '18. J own belt. 1 commilleu has upproved ol Iho plan, and recommend the immediate adoption of same so as to give the department an opportunity ot making a start with the workdur--1"B. < " ;,,lII,I H reason. The estimated cost ol the work, including i'eiicl-nr planting, etc., is .0)0. The land lias a ready been cleared of gorse, and the implanted portions, after the fences are erected, cm lie let for grazing purposes m small blocks." The proposal is that the block bo sun. rounded with u bi-ll: of hholU'r trees, mul that three smnll groves or slirubheri'cs Iw laid out in suitable spots over tho enclosed area. Councillor Cameron opposed the recommendation. and he moved that it be referred back to the committee. He suggested that if would be wiser lo defer the matter until the year's estimates wore under consideration, and .also that soma money might be well spent in surrounding tho reserves with live hedges to replace the dilapidated fence? now standing. Councillor Fuller seconded tho Amendment, because, as he said, he thought that those places in tho centre of the town which were used by most people should be beautified first. Councillor Fitzgerald congratulated tho committee on bringing down the scheme, but he was not sure that it was wise to commence operations in the locality named. lie would not oppose tho motion. Councillor Itarlicr believed that \Vellingln, ugly as it was (it present was admirably adapted to be ultimalelv liiado a very beautiful city. He would not oppose the scheme, but he thought the expenditure of .MOD oin 10 acres of land rather extravagant. If the same peals were to he kept in future schemes, the planting our of nil the hills would cost a deal of money. Ho suggested that small portions of reserves be allotted to local committees of citizens, who would care for uikl plan' them. Councillor ll'Laron though I it would 1m wise lo allow the matter to stand over until the estimates .were-dealt with. Councillor Trevor said that if all tho caution urged wore to be exercised until something "comprehensive" could bedone, it \>;ould lie ten years, before a schemo was brought down and ten years mora before any of it could be carried out. He supported the proposal. Councillor Frost, as chairman of lh« committee, spoke in defence of the recommendation. As above stated, the committee's suggestion was adopted on the voices.