A NEW RESERVE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 12, 15 January 1937, Page 8

A NEW RESERVE

IN SIX OR SEVEN YEARS SHELTER BELT SUGGESTED As the completion of the filling work at the Chaytor Street gully appeared to be so far ahead, the question of what may be the best use of the extensive area which will be formed has not been discussed. Now it is evident that the gully will be filled in in six or seven years, and a suggestion is made that the most effective treatment of the gully would be had by not filling to the road level, but by stopping the work while the made ground is ten or fifteen feet lower, so as to give shelter from the wind, by the bank itself and by a shelter belt ot trees on the slope. Some planting has been done at road level, but the single line of trees and shrubs will be a screen rather than a wind break. If shelter trees were planted now they would be well established by the time the new ground becomes ready for public use, and, with' such shelter, the land would have a very real value to the city for reserve and recreational purposes.

| It may be that here is the solution of (Wellington's motor-camp problem—a | piece of level, well drained, and sunny [ground within a few minutes of the ! city—that is, if Wellington is to be jwithout a camp for six or seven more years. There would probably also be room for tennis courts, bowling greens, or other play areas. One of the chief claims for the Bradford tip system of- getting rid of city rubbish is that waste ground is made good for public use, but so far the ground made in Wellington has 'not been much appreciated by the public. On one small tip a house now stands, on another the city paving plant is established, and on the Central Park area, which was spoken of as a possible motor camp or tennis and bowling green area, the band rotunda from Oriental Bay has been re-erected, andj may even, on very rare occasions, be used by a band. These areas are not large, but the Chaytor Street land will add such a considerable piece of level reserve space that planned and not mere makeshift use will be called for.