A BELT BEAUTIFUL. WITH GROVES AND ROADS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 95, 19 October 1909, Page 7

A BELT BEAUTIFUL. WITH GROVES AND ROADS.

MR J. P. LUKE'S VIEW. Some of the houses which abut on the Town Belt have a presentable appearance from the back, and some have not. The stroller, if he passes close to some of the sections, will behold much ugliness, much litter, the forsaken bottle and the discarded tin, and the rejected and dejected old boot. The Town Belt has served as a convenient repository for all kinds of rubbish, from garden refuse to scrapiron. But this unsightliness will all vanish in time, if the ideal of Mr J. P. Luke, chairman of the Reserves Gommittee, is realised, and Beauty will triumph over the Beast of indifference. A well-made road will meander at the edge of the people's estate, and it will be flanked by pretty villas on the private side. Clumps of trees will tower above the grass, and seats will be there to enable the weary to rest and gaze upon the lovely panorama. Paths will lead off from the road, and thus will the belt become gradually a great- park, where old and young may gladly congregate to inhale the high 'clean air, far away from the smoke and dust. THE NMRN-STREET APPLICATION. This vision of the future was presented to-day by Mr Luke, when discussing the application of residents of Nairnstreet for a grant of a 66ft strip of the belt for a road. This matter, which was discussed at the last meeting of the City Council, will be again brought upon Thursday. The Reserves Committee will recommend the council to allot 33ft, the property owners to furnish the other 33ft and bear the expense of constructing the road. The committee's opinion is that, though the council should not agree to contribute towards the cost of the road, it should assist by giving 33ft of the belt for the formation of a thoroughfare for the benefit of the public, as well as private property owners, who would thus secure a frontage for buildings at the rear of their sections, which have mostly a depth of about 300 ft. It is estimated that the configuration of the hillside will make the cost of the road fairly heavy. On that account, says Mr Luke, the committee does not think it would be reasonable to ask the residents to make a betterment payment in addition to finding the money for the road. THE ROAD ALL ROUND. Reverting to the road to skirt the belt, Mr. Luke mentioned that it would not be easy to secure the co-operation of property-owners who would stand to benefit by an extra frontage. In his opinion the cost of such a road should be borne by the holders of adjacent land, and they might also be asked to pay some betterment, but the cases would have to be treated on their " merits. Of course the road could not, at all points, make a boundary between private and public property. The nature of the ground would necessitate a division here and there to avoid steep grades. Such a road would be essential in any comprehensive scheme for the improvement of the reserve. So far as the committee was. concerned, though its great concern was to safeguard the interests of the citizens in their territory, the member felt that they were justified in remitting to the council proposals for the improvemezit of the conditions at the border of the belt. THE PRESENT PROGRAMME. For the present the committee will mainly interest itself in having a care for the young trees that have lately been planted, and others that are to be set. It will also, gradually, as funds permit, widen the road that was made lately on the summit, from Constable-street to Mount Victoria, by the relief gangs. Ihis approach is now only 10 feet wide, but ip time it will be broadened out into a splendid carriage drive. Consideration oi comprehensive plans for the treatment of the belt as a whole has been deferred by exceptional circumstances, states Mr. Luke. The City Engineer (Mr. Morton) and the Chief Gardener (Mr. Glen) have been given the task of drawing up plans to show roading, panning 1 , and; planting, but the stress of other duties has prevented them from completing the chart. Watersupply, drainage, and other work have kept -\lr. Morton very busy, and as these primary matters of public health take precedence over the belt, the belt has been compelled to await its turn. Within vhe next few months the committee hopes to have the plans out, and then wiJJ come^a very important duty ior the council in framing- a thorough wellfounded Town Belt policy.