SCHEME TO EMBRACE MARINE DRIVE

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 284, 28 August 1935, Page 8

SCHEME TO EMBRACE MARINE DRIVE

Tree and Shrub Planting

SECTIONS OF PROJECT NOW IN HAND

A comprehensive scheme for treeplanting along the entire length of Wellington’s marine drive is being formulated by the Wellington Beautifying Society. At present the society is negotiating with departments and bodies having control over such areas as Shelly Bay, Mahanga Bay and Karaka Bay. So far the actual work of treeplanting ou the harbour fringe has been limited to the Hutt Road and Island Bay, but the marine drive scheme eventually will link these two points. To date 500 pohutukawas have been planted on the border of the Hutt Road adjacent to Kaiwarra Park and Rangiora Avenue. It is proposed shortly to begin the planting of 10,000 more in an area of 21 acres to the north of the new railway bridge. Representafives of the society are to meet members of the Makara County Council and' discuss future planting activities. The Wellington City Council has made available to the society plans of the Hutt Road, which will be of great as sistance in mapping out a properly coordinated planting campaign. Another link in the waterfrout scheme as a whole is Aotea Quay, which is considered by members of the society to be a sn .table area for the planting of low shrubs. It is believe! that there is little likelihood of th>> greater part of this area being used for building or other purposes for some time to come, and when it is taken over, the presence of shrubs will be little or no embarrassment. In the meantime they would serve a decorative purpose. This suggestion was discussed at an executive meeting of the Beautifying Society on Monday night, and it was proposed that an effort be made to secure the co-operation of the Railway Department and the Wellington Harbour Board. The general manager of the board (Mr. A. G. Barnett) was present, and explained the problems associated with the project, after which the question was referred back to the sub-committee dealing with it. At the same meeting a report was received from the deputation which had approached the Government with a request that Somes Island be made available to the public as a picnic and holiday resort. In spite of the unencouraglng nature of the replies received, it was decided to urge such a move and to write to the Ministers concerned.

At Island Bay the society, with the assistance of the City Council Reserves Department, has had planted 94 trees, all pohutukawas, on The Parade. Of these, 18 have been allocated to children under the “own your tree” scheme, and each will bear in perpetuity the name of its young donor. The remainder of the trees planted are also available for allocation in this manner. Although a load of soil has been delivered to the Island Bay foreshore by the reserves department, bad weather has prevented its transportation to the island where, under the direction of the society, tree and shrub planting is to be carried out The work of placing the soil on the island has been undertaken by Island Bay fishermen, who intend to ferry it over on the first suitable occasion. The first, work on the island will be the planting of hardy trees to protect other flora from biting southerlies.