THE VICTORIA PARK.

Evening Star, Issue 7651, 29 June 1888, Page 4

THE VICTORIA PARK.

The annual meeting of the subscribers to the Victoria Park fund was held in the Town Hall last night, Mr T. Brown being in the chair.

The following report was submitted to the meeting : —" In presenting their first annual report, your Committee have pleasure in stating that good progress has been made in the laying out of the park, the formation of which was decided on to commemorate Her Majesty's Jubilee. After the planting of the Queen's oak by His Worship the Mayor (Mr Leary) tree planting was carried on vigorously as long as it was possible to do so, and about 14,000 trees were put in, consisting chiefly of oaks, elms in variety, ash, red and silver birch, maple, beech, limes, willows and poplars in variety, horse chestnuts, mountain ash, alders, spruce, oregons, and larch. To these were added (in more limited numbers) hornbeans, tulip trees, laburnums, cuprusses in variety, golden asb, and Pinus insignis, while as specimen trees were put in Picea nordminniana and nobilis, Pinus prinsapo, .Cedrus atlantica and deodara, Wellingtonia gigantea, oaks, limes, and Oriental palms. A number of Native beecjies (Fagus in variety) were also planted, but owing to the delay which took place in transit from the head of Lake Wakatipu, and to the fact that no soil had been put about their roots, they did not survive. The general tendency in tree planting here has resulted in an almost universal preponderance of exotic evergreens, and the object aimed at in the planting carried through last winter was chiefly to employ deciduous trees by way of contrast to the prevailing fashion, so that when the thinning has been carried out the belts and clumps finally remaining will be chiefly deciduous. In going through the plantations this winter for the purpose of filling up gaps it is very gratifying to be able to &tate that the losses sustained are very light, and much under the Committee's most sanguine expectations ; in fact, more loss has resulted from wilful damage than from natural causes. No doubt a greafc deal of the success of the planting has been due to the excellence of the soil and the moisture in the spring and summer, while the configuration of the ground and the shelter of the surrounding higher grounds have been very material aids. It would be extremely difficult to find a more suitable position for a wooded park, and we anticipate it will become a favorite resort of the citizens in the near future, when the effeot of the plantations becomes more pronounced. The hands of the Committee would be much strengthened if all interested in their efforts and visitors to the park would discourage attempts to mar or destroy the work done. The work this winter has up to the present consisted of filling up the gaps in last year's work and the planting of the ground round the ponds with specimens of Auracaria imbricata, Wellingtonias, Oregons, and Pinus pin' sapo, which will be set of by ToiTois flax, pampas grass, cabbage trees, and native shrubs and | trees. Should funds be available it is suggested, in addition to the maintenance of the ground and plantations generally, to place in suitable localities specimens of trees which would thrive well, but "are Hot generally known—b6'that; to quote from the heading of pur subscription lists, "the park would becomethejhbme'pf rare and handsome treeb and of beautfijil yeget'apoh/'—to and continue tfoa pfenljng of "avenues-and clumps, and to replant fche anlkefl and creek beds with native trees and (Shrube, where th> native bash still lingers. The old fcngf WW

! in auch a dilapidated condition that it was found necessary to enclose the whole ground with a ring fence, which consists of posts and barb wire, and was done by contract, entrances being left at suitable points. Your ! Committee were fortunate in securing on very favorable terms the use of prison labor, with which an amount of heavy work was done that otherwise could not have been carried out, and the warder in charge was so well up in the details that it has been completed in a most satisfactory manner. The following is a summary of the prisoners' work, viz.: - The main drive was formed, entailing heavy cuttings at the Serpentine avenue end ; the footpaths cut, the ponds excavated, the creek dammed, and the water led into the upper pond, and from it to the lower; some of the clay banks levelled, the bottom of the east quarry levelled, and only requiring finishing to be suitable for lawn tennis or bowls; a winding path cut from the east to the west quarry, and round the latter ; the gorse and broom cleared off throughout the park, and a considerable portion of the internal fencing erected. The formation of the main drive and paths is a most important work, and has contributed much to render every portion of the park readily accessible. Since early in the year a man has been employed to keep down the grass, to do needful repairs and planting, and to keep a watch on the ground generally. It has been found necessary to enclose the planted areas with temporary fences, which, it is to be hoped, can be dispensed with in a few years, when the trees and shrubs become thoroughly established. The thanks of the Committee are due to all who have assisted either by subscriptions or by donations of trees and plants or otherwise, to the City Corporation for donations of trees, fencing material, etc., and especially to Messrs R.|and A. J. Park for preparing plans and devoting so much time to seeing them carried out in such a creditable manner. The balance-sheet submitted by the treasurer shows that we enter upon our second year with a balance in hand of L 56 Gs Gd, against which there are liabilities of L 59s Gd. The chief items of expenditure consists of fencing, L 96 9s 9d (material L 73 17s 3d, and labor L 22 12s 6d); trees, L 52 Gs sd; prison labor, L 37 10s ; free labor, L7O 8s 3d; and caretaker, Ll9. The total income amounted to L 355 Is—consisting of subscriptions L 348 153 Gd, and interest LG 5s 64."

The Chairman moved the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, and said that he thought it was admitted generally that the funds at the disposal of the Committee had been well husbanded, and that there was good work to show for what had been spent. If they could manage to collect LSO or L7O, it would [enable the new Committee to show considerable improvement in the work to be undertaken for the next year. The trees which had been planted should be preserved until they could in a measure be left to themselves. If this could not be done, a deal of labor and anxiety in connection with this matter in the past would have been in vain. The Committee would ask the public to support them in conserving this work, and to endeavor, as far as possible, to strengthen the hands of the Committee. Mr Morrison referred to certain beautiful reserves in Christchurch.

Mr A. S. Paterson thought that it was necessary on the part of subscribers to give the Committee more support, in order to maintain what already had been done with their money. The Chairman said that a large number of subscriptions could still easily be got. Many had refused to subscribe until they saw whether the park was likely to be a failure or not. One gentleman known to the chairman was so pleased with the work that he offered to make the Committee a present of a number of seats. The report was adopted.

The Chairman said that when this association was formed for the creation of a park to commemorate the Queen's Jubilee, a number of those who took an interest in the matter had an idea that that was only one undertaking of many that would be ultimately carried on for the improvement of the city and the preservation of its beauties ; and if such an association as this had existed twenty-five years ago the bush in the Leith Valley and other places around the city would be in a much better state of preservation than at present. Some of our reserves were in anything but a sightly state. An association might do a good deal to beautify our reserves and conserve the bush around the city. It would be a financial benefit, as many people would live here who would not otherwise do so. Mr Bathgate moved—"That this meeting form itself into a committee, with the view of getting prepared and signed a requisition to the Mayor to call a public meeting of the inhabitants of Dunedin and suburbs at an early date, for the purpose of forming an association for preserving and increasing the attractions of Dunedin and neighborhood."

Mr Morrison seconded the motion,

Mr Paterson thought the time hardly ripe for the formation of an association at present, and that the Committee had better go on doing the work they had undertaken in a quiet way for at least another year. He moved an amendment to the motion, to the effect that the meeting take no further action in the matter at present. Mr Henderson seconded the amendment, which was carried.

The meeting then adjourned nine die,