NEW WINTER GARDEN

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 64, 9 December 1940, Page 10

NEW WINTER GARDEN

Official Opening In Wanganui Dominion Special Sekvjci - . WANGANUI, December 7. In the presence of a large ami representative gathering, the mayor of 'Wanganui. Mr. Kogers, M.L.C.. officially opened the Centennial Memorial Winter Garden, Virginia Lake, today. Associated with him were the M.P. for Wanganui, Mr. Cotterill, the chairman of the Wanganui City Council Works Committee, Cr. O. Hales, and the chairman of the Wanganui County Council, Mr. A. 11. Collins. Mr. Kogers referred to the part played by Wanganui in celebration of New Zealand’s Centennial, and paid a tribute t - > the superintendent of parks and reserves. Mr. S. I. Cox. and bis stall, for the workdone in making the Winter Garden a fitting memorial of the Centennial. Apologies were received from the Prime Minister. Mr. Fraser, and the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr. Parry.- and Mrs. Parry. The Winter Garden was constructed at a cost of £2OOO. It is situated on Hie northern side of Virginia Lake, a 50aere reserve, and no charge is made for admission. The hours to be observed are 10 a.m. to noon, and 2 p.m. to 4 p.nt.. on week days, and 2 p.m. to -I p.m. on Sundays. Of tlie contract price of £2OOO. said Mr. Rogers, the Wanganui City Council had contributed £1325. and the Wanganui County Council £175. The Government subsidy amounted to £5OO. The Wanganui City Council had contributed £3097 toward Hie celebration of New Zealand's centennial. The council had purchased £5OO worth of shares in the. Centennial Exhibition Company, had contributed £849 toward the provincial section of the Deminion Court, ami had given £155 toward Hie coe’t of tlie provincial memorial on I‘etone Beach. Tlie council’s share of administrative expenses had amounted to £343, in addition to which £2OO had been given toward the expenses of the centennial celebrations in Wanganui. The council had also made a grant of £25 to the Wanganui Historical Committee.

Virginia Lake had aptly been described as one of the beamy spots - of New Zealand, said Mr. Rogers, and the suggestion that Wanganui's centennial memorial should lie a Winter Harden in tills beautiful reserve was made by tlie former tow’i clerk. Mr. G. March Mr. Hales said credit was due .to the city engineer. Mr. L. F. Row. for Hie splendid design and layout of the buildings. The , memorial had been built in the peaceful surroundings of n beautiful and historic lake.

Mr. Cotterill paid tribute to all who had been associated with the work of planning and constructing tlie memorial. Throughout the years, he said, a number of public-spirited citizens had been keen on making Wanganui one.of the garden cities of New Zealand, and it could be said Hint Virginia Lake was a well-known beauty spot in tlie Dominion. Wlien the question of con I ribu 11 ng toward the memorial was discussed, the Wanganui County Council was unanimous in its decision to support progfess, said Mr. Collins.