CITY RESERVES

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 100, 22 January 1927, Page 5

CITY RESERVES

f REMOVAL OF FENCES ADVOCATED BY MAYOR “I return to Wellington full of praise for the beauty and good taste displayed in the style and lay-out of the various decorative street reserves and domains in Auckland,” said the Mayor (Mr. C. J. B. Norwood) yesterday. “In all cases where such reserves supply the function of a decorative effect and breathing space combined. The place of the fences lias been taken by low kerbs of concrete or rocks, whilst the borders within the kerbs are o( a bright, attractive character that compels one’s admiration.” “In short,” added the Mayor, “the people of Auckland do not have to go into their parks and gardens to see them. They can enjoy their beauty as they hurry along on business, or as they pass to and from their homes. Such places used to lie gardens imprisoned; now they are free, and the effect is cheering to a degree, and means an immense deal to Auckland as a "place of residence. The levelling of all fences, too, gives a widening effect on the adjacent streets.” “There are manv Darts of Wellington that could be treated in a similar way with the greatest advantage, and the sooner we get the fences out of the way and open up these little reserves that are so guarded now that no one can see them the better. Auckland has also discovered a way of decorating her road cuttings, that Wellington would do well to adopt. Thev have adopted a system of banked rockeries, by fitting in boulders and rocks that lie to the batter, and giving them just sufficient soil to succour those plants which do so well . among rocks. In a surprisingly short space of time these grow up, and before very long an ugly cutting can be transformed into a verv beautiful rockery, which, bv the very nature of its angle, becomes visible to everyone passing. I have repeatedly noticed this effect in Auckland, and I believe we could copy it to great advantage.” Some three months ago the Mayor moved that the fence should be removed from round the small, reserv e opposite the Terminus Hotel, in C° ur ‘ tenav Place, but when it was considered bv the Reserves Committee, the committee decided tha ttli e fence should not be removed. Thercupoh the Mayor mol - ed from the chair that the word “not be struck out of the report. On that action the chairman of the Reserves Committee asked that the clause be ieferred back, a course that was decided upon. This matter should conic up again at the first mceitng of the cuncil this year. Another reserve that is hemmed in by an.’iron spiked fence .is that opposite the Central hire Station in Jcrvois Quay, a clump of trees of no great ornament that shoulcl, be removed, if oniv in the name of visibility. Formerly’ they served as a means of checking the dust nuisance, but this docs not obtain to-dav, with the whole of Jenois Ovav and Cuba Street permanently paved. It would be a great advantage, too, to the Fire Brigade, if this little reserve were reduced to level order or .cleared awav altogether. It’ is understood that the director of reserves (Mr. J. G. MacKenzie) will be sent to Auckland in the near future to have a look round the various parks, gardens, and Hllerslie racecourse.