CONSERVATION SOCIETY.

Evening Star, Issue 12163, 6 April 1904, Page 6

CONSERVATION SOCIETY.

The following axe the material parts of the report of the Committee, which will be considered at the annual meeting on Friday ; The work of planting on tho Anderson Bay road was first projected in 1834, but owing to difficulties arising it was 1899 before a start in carrying it out was made, and every year since the latter date more or less work was done towards its completion, which your Committee have pleasure in reporting has at length been accomplished. The shrubs have on the whole thriven well, and the earlier-planted sections now afford considerable shelter to travellers by that wind-swept road, the appearance of which has been greatly enhanced. The application to the Drainage Board to drain Jones street, to enable planting to be done there, as was indicated in last year’s report would be done, was renewed, this time with success, and the Board laid down the necessary drain. This enabled voui" Committre td proceed with the contemplated work. The various steep sections of the street were fenced, dug, and planted with shrubs, and already the street exhibits a much-improved aspect. Mrs Charles Findlay, who took a lively interest in the work, obtained a donation of plants from Mr W. Seaton, nurseryman, Mosgiel, and the work of planting was superintended by Mr Tannock, the recently-appointed Corporation gardener. The inhabitants of the neighborhood of the steep part of St. David street, near the University, approached your Committee with a view of planting or otherwise improving it, and. offered to subscribe towards the cost of so doing. Your Committee applied to the City Council for permission to carry out the work, and for a grunt in aid. Both requests were granted, the City Council contributing £lO towards carrying out the proposed improvements. Here, again, some delay arose owing to drainage being required, but the Drainage Board put their share of the work in hand without delay on being applied to, and the fencing and planting were accordingly proceeded with. It was rather late in the season before the work was completed, and suitable plants were not readily available, so that some little additional planting in the approaching season may be desirable. As a considerable

crumbling rock, and lies well to tbe mi, sedums, mezembri.antliemum s and soch-Kko plants will be those most suitable for clothing the rocky parts. Your Committee have long been of opinion that the Dowling street steps, and the bank above it, called for some improvement, and when the City Corporation improved tie former by substituting a concrete stairway for the lower portion of the old. wooden steps, the Committee applied to the City Council for permission to effect some improvements on, the bank above. The matter was referred to Mr Tannock, and it was arranged that he should carry out tbe work, the society providing plants likely to be suitable in such a situation. Some members of your Committee supplied plants from their gardens, and the work was carried out by the Corporation. Even already the knoll, above the steps presents a more caredfor appearance than it did when covered with rough cocksfoot; and if the gazaoia splendens thrives, as it promises to do, in another year it will cover the whole face with a 1 mat of its dark-green leaves, studded with its bright yellow flowers. The ivy in the Momington Tramway Cutting at the top of High, street not having made much progress, it was decided to endeavor to cover the banks with the trailing rosa wichuriana. As many as were required could not be procured, ,but,a number were obtained, as were alsq'a number of wichuriana hybrids. These were planted along tbe foot of the bank in holes carefully prepared and drained. Many of the roses®are growing with considerable vigor, and by another season, if let alone, should begin to maki a considerable show. A goodly number of those planted have succumbed to 31-treatment, and a dozen or more were stolen shortly after they were planted, not, it is supposed, by anyone desiring to have tbe plants, but oat of sheer wanton mischief. This is evidenced by the fact that when during the summer the stronger shoots had been pegged down, some ruffian deliberately pulled up and threw away most of the pegs. It is a matter for regret that we have still in oar midst base wretches who will endeavor to thwart efforts made to benefit them in common with the rest of the public. That tbe public generally appreciate the efforts of this society is well known, and those guilty of such conduct as that referred to are fortunately but a very small percentage of onr population; still, they exist, and some effort should be made to suppress them. It is a pity the City Council did not adopt the suggestion made by this society some years ago to appoint those willing to act as honorary rangers, as the appointment of a cumber of such rangers would alone have a deterrent, effect. It is understood that the Christchurch Beautifying Society have never to complain of such disgraceful conduct, so that its occurrence here is a reflection on us

as a community. The Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society having planted marram grass along the fence line of the enclosure at the back of Tahuna Park, to’ stop the encroaching sand, some additional trees were planted by the society, and it is anticipated that a considerable number will escape being smothered by the drifting sand, especially as some hedges of hrpins have also been put in.

The Monrington Borough Council and some of the residents in the neighborhood being desirous of removing the rough grass and docks growing on the steep hill on the extension tram line, applied to your Committee for assistance, and a donation of 30s from the society’s funds was accordingly given.. Having observed from the Press that tin Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Committee proposed to erect an arch in the Triangle, your Committee met to consider the question, and were unanimously of opinion that, in view of the small area of the reserve, and of the fact that it is already somewhat crowded, the proposed site was unsuitable. While regretting that they should in any way be called upon to oppose the wishes of the gentlemen engaged in carrying out a meritorious work, your Committee deemed it advisable to protest to the City Council against permission to erect the arch in the Triangle being granted, and are glad to report that such permission was refused.

Your Committee note with satisfaction that the City Corporation have appointed Mr Tannock as head gardener, and practically given him a free hand, and from what has been- already seen of his capabilities it is believed that the appointment of Mr Tannock to the post will turn out well In. accordance with the resolution passed at the last annual meeting, the Minister of Lands was communicated with requesting that the elder-berry should be declared a noxious weed, but so far nothing has been done in this direction. The balance-sheet shows that the year's subscriptions amounted to £76 (representing 222 members), that subsidies amounting to £4l were received from the City Council, and that the expenditure amounted to £133, leaving a balance in hand of £lB5.