CITY RESERVES

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 33, 8 August 1933, Page 8

CITY RESERVES

PARKS AND GARDENS

DIRECTOR'S REPORT

COMPREHENSIVE SURVEY

"There is no, need to stress the •obvious growth of tlic department in recent years, as this also applies to most other departments of tho council. I do, however, wish to point out thnt during theso years there has been no increase in tho administrative chargo in connection with the work, i'or the cost of administration hns been kept down to tho absolute minimum in this respect," statod the Director of Parks and Reserves (Mr. J. G. MacKonzio) in a report of considerable dotail prosonted to membors of tho rosorvos coinmitteo of tho City Council yostorday afternoon. "Tho reserves department will bear favourable comparison with any other dopartmont in this city qr elsewhere. Tho ovorhoad esponsos are only such as aro neoossnry for clliciency and economy. "Tho staff is small, but efficient, and ovorything possiblo has boon tlono to keep down, oxpensos, both in tho oflloo and outside. Even so, the dopnrtinont has only been nblo to carry on with tho assistnnco of tho No. 5 scheme, which scheme hns loaded us with further liabilities. Tho position, then, is thnt au entire -change of policy by tho council }s neccssnry before any further important economies can bo effected. It is not economy to neglect work thnt has already been done nt considerable expense. £10,000 IN FEES AND RENTS. "The wKolo cost of tho reserves does not come out of the rates," continued Mr; MacKonzie. "In fees and rents, over £10,000 was received last year, but this does not represent tho full cost of the services rendered to tho sports bodies, etc. While: these organised sports pay towards services rendered, the reserves aro always opon to the public seven days a week and no chargo is made. Tho general public take an interest in tho parks and reserves, baths, beaches, etc., and use and appreciate them to an extent that is 1 not always realised by those whoso interests confine them to the business soction of tho city. "Every amalgamation that it has made with an adjoining district has meant an increase in the number of reserves and also in the number of interested ratepayers who wish their own district to come into line with what is going on in the way of recreational facilities. elsewhere. Tho needs of each district have been met as far as possible, and the general- effect is that Wellington stands well to tho fore in this country with its reserves, parks, and gardens." ROUND THE PARKS. Mr. MacKenzie then dealt with particular reserves, sports areas, and beaches. • . • Though the great lack in the Botanical Gardens is a large show house or winter garden, the begonia houso had attracted thousands of visitors, and a rough record' kept by the attendant indicated that Sunday- visitors alone had numbered 20,000.: Were a large show house provided, perhaps as a gift as' in other centres, it would be possible to have a display under glass all the year round. As funds permitted, efforts were being made, to introduce more, botanic features, such as a fern collection, a bamboo garden, an Australian section, a South African section, and so on. The record and labelling system required bringing up to date. It was pleasing to record the increased patronage by the public of the gardens in recent years. OTARI PLANT MUSEUM. .'Referring to the success of the Otari open-air native plant museum, (formerly generally known as WiltonV Bush), Mr. MacKenzie said that many of the features planned six years ago, when the scheme was started, are already established, including the Gresley Lukin alpine garden, the kauri forest, where over 20.0 trees have been planted, lowland coastal forest, part of the forest of the Otari Gorge, an avenue of kowhais, and fern collection. The work in tho reserve was unique and was attracting much , attention from horticulturists of the Dominion and from overseas. • The reserve has been cleared of blackberry and. gorse, and paths have been formed throughout, and it has become a very popular resort with the public. Each of the reserves was then dealt with in turn. It was remarked that whereas Central Park was almost a hopeless proposition owing to visits by trespassers at night before a resident custodian was appointed, is now a beauty Bpot, and its accessibility adds to'its valuo. When the tip near the Brooklyn Road is completed it is intended to form three municipal bowling greens, and theso will bo in an admirable situation. ■ , OVAL AT THE BASIN. When the new pavilion was built in 1924 it was placed in its present position on the assumption that the ground would be made into an oval, and plans of the ground were made for that purpose, Mr. MacKenzie remarked. This was a work that should not be lost sight of as until it was completed the pavilion -would not be made full use of by the public. Owing to this reserve being formed over an old swamp tha surface required constant attention. The old water courses showed up, and that meant constant and expensive topdressing to retain the level surface essential for good cricket. Pines round Newtown Park aro being gradually removed and replaced with more suitable trees. Working on the principle that a small ground adjacent to the city is. much more valuable because of its accessibility than a large ground several miles away in the suburbs, a chain of grounds has been formed on the Town Belt and other reserves, the director continued. Anderson, Kelburii, and Wakefield parks were formed by unemployed labour from 1904 onwards, and are splendid playing grounds. Within recent years the chain has been srdded to by the formation of Keith Izard, Northland, and Prince of Wales parks, the Pirie Street reserve, and the Tanera Crescent reserve. Emerson Street park and the Nairn Street reserve have been remodelled and made fit for play. The following works are in hand:— Anderson Park extension; ground, Te Aro Town Belt; (near, school), Rolleston Street reserve; Sutherland Crescent reserve; and the Hataitai recreation ground. These will complete the chain and finish tha work put in hand many years ago. A number of small areas have been turfed and laid out; theso are not large enough for organised sports, but make fine grounds for the children of the district. The outer area reserves were also surveyed in some detail.