AMENITIES SOCIETY

Evening Star, Issue 20128, 19 March 1929, Page 3

AMENITIES SOCIETY

MEETING OF COMMITTEE A meeting of the commit tee ol the Amenities and Town Planning Society wa- held yesterday alternoon. Mr Crosby Morris presided. A letter was received from the town clerk with reference to the work oi planting the northern side of the Chinaman's track (leading from the, Queen’s drive to the tup of Stafford street) with English beech trees. He, stated that the superintendent of reserves had reported that the work had been carried out as agreed. The Secretary reported that lie had written to the" Public Works engineer pointing out that the reserve adjoining the Wentworth Tea Rooms was in a very untidy state. The letter had been referred to the department which had control of the reserve, and advice had been received that the necessary action had been taken. Sir George Fenwick wrote staling that the corporation did a line piece of work when it enlarged the cutting at the top of High street and formed the good road towards Eglinton road. The banks of the cutting were rapidly becoming fields of broom, and unless ilie work of eradication was taken in band much heavier work would be involved later on. —It was decided to inspect Hie locality on April 13. Air H. Duckworth wrote stating that the. City Council had a reserve oi several acres at Anderson s Bay. It was situated between Mrs Munro’s tea rooms and the property of the Little Sisters of the Poor. Part of the area was in native bush, which looked well, but the lower part was covered with long grass. Californian thistle, and some corse. Some years ago. when the corporation took the reserve over, some lice- were planted, but the grass choked them, and only a very few were alive now. Perhaps tlie society might induce the City Council to improve the place, a- it "'a- not what a city reserve should be. especially at. a tram ter-minus.-—ll. "a- decided to make an inspection of the area on April 13. At r Tannock said it- was not proposed to undertake i be w ork until it could fv dune properly. Tlie Chairman referred to the question of providing additional receptacles for waste paper in tlie city streets. He mentioned that at, the last meeting the matter bad been referred in Mr J. Wilson, and added that it must not be 10-l. sight of. He thought the position was getting worse than it had been previously. It was decided that the annual meeting be held in the Town Hall on Friday. April P 3. at 3.30 p.m. ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report stated that be lore the winter programme was decided an tint procedure of late years was adopted, and Hie committee made a visit to various parts of the city and suburbs where it. was thought that tree planting might be done. At the next meeting of tlie committee a number of works were authorised, and the-c, receiving cordial approval by the City Council's Reserves Committee, were, carried out under the direction of the superintendent of reserves. An area, on the Town Belt bounded by Eglinton road and tb« pathway known as the Chinaman’s Track, running down to tbo top ol Stnflord street, was cleared of gorsc and planted with nr. live trees. The planting began about 2(,K)yds from Eglinton road, ribbomvoods being placed at tho top and beeches lower down. This method was adopted so that in years to come there should be no interference with tho magnificent view of the city and harbour. The northern side of the track was planted with English beech trees, which should in time form a grove similar to that in Jubilee Park’, on the edge of Maori road. The suggestion had been made that this patli should be named Beech Walk. A shrubbery was planted at the top of Elder street, continuing into Constitution street, and. a small shrubbery was

phinted at ihe lop of Warrcmler Mreet. By an arrangement under watch uio St. ('lair Improvement Society paid n subsidy of CS(I a substantial stone wall was built alone the fool ol the bank near 1 lie baths al St. Clair, and the old overgrown shrubs on tin’ spot "Cio replaced bv new shrubs and pelargoniums. This made a. decided improvement, in a spot in neb frequented by the public and by visitors. At the suggestion of the society the City Council arranged wiln the superintendent ol reserves to continue the work ol clearing "<nsc, scrub, etc., around the Robin Flood quarry, and to extend the plantation of deciduous trees there. M hat bad been done, had greatly mipriived iho appearance ol this locality. the trees were growing well, and in a lew years what was uneo a place unsightly and neglected would be a picturesque spot. The usual arrangement with tbo Returned Soldiers’ Association was carried out, under which retiiined soldiers were employed on the society s woik, (lie R .S.A.* contributing a subsidy ol C for C spent on labour. Jbe commitiee noted with pleasure that the expel iment ol having the lenec-. removed Irmn the Queen's Cardens had been a sm•cess. Practically no damage, to the tree,-, had been reported. but people unfortunately did not. always sluin’ consideration m keeping to the paths. As a result the crass in places was beginning to show tracks. U was hoped that (he public would do all it <-ouM to preserve the undoubted beauty it lliis reserve. The committee expressed its appreciation oi the help given to the society by the. City Council and its Reserves Committee, the town clerk (Mr Lewin), and superintendent of reserves (Mr Tan nock). This spirit ol co-operaticn had encouraged the society in its efforts to beautity many spots in and around the city. '1 ho following members of the committee retired in rotation and were eligible lor r«-elec-tion ;—Sir George Vpiiwic!;. Mr C. h . Thoinson, and Mr .lames Begg. The balance-she'M _ that ihe revenue lor the soar was JJ-0 Its if'd, and the expenditure CM F-B Pd. Ihe credit balance at Ihe end of the year was CloP 7s 7d.