NEW RUGBY GROUND

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 175, 21 April 1937, Page 15

NEW RUGBY GROUND

Anderson Park Extension The director of parks and reserves, Mr. J. G. MacKenzie, stated yesterday that a new ground in Wellington would be made available for Rugby’ football on Saturday next for the first time. This is the ground made on that extension of Anderson Park to the south of the existing play areas. This area of land was formerly a deep gully some 50 feet below the level of the old playing grounds, but this gully, which formerly extended down to Sydney Street, was filled in by unemployed labour under the No. 5 scheme during the five years of depression. To effect the change, about a quarter of the hill to the west was removed by blasting powder ami pick, and emptied into the big rift, which gradually filled until it reached the level of the other grounds. The very fact that the job was a long one was in favour of a solid ground, as the filling was well weathered at every stage. As the result the sinkage since the completion of the ground has been very little indeed. The surface now carried a fine foot of turf, which makes it one of the best grounds in the city. Another advantage of the new ground is that on the eastern side the hill has been neatly terraced, so that a perfect view of the game can be obtained from this point. There is si ill the upper part of the gully to reclaim. This, Mr. MacKenzie states, is in time to be converted into a playground for children, who will be well away from the football grounds and therefore out of harm’s way. He considers that the new ground will be valuable, especially to those teams which have to come to town from Johnsonville, Khandallah and the Hutt Valley to play their games.