REACH IMPROVEMENTS

Evening Star, Issue 22069, 1 July 1935, Page 11

REACH IMPROVEMENTS

DOMAIN BOARD ACTIVITIES ANNUAL REPORT The fine work being done by the Dunedin Ocean Beach Domain Board is revealed in the report to be presented at the annual meeting of the board on Thursday afternoon. The report is as follows; — RELIEF WORKS. A good deal of valuable permanent improvement work was again accomplished by means of the Unemployment Board No. 5 labour, the operations comprising: (a) Extension to the St. Clair Esplanade; (b) construction of hockey grounds adjacent to tho St. Clair tennis courts; (c) construction of croquet lawns for • the Watea Croquet Club. ESPLANADE EXTENSION. The western half of this important work was fully completed during.the year. This comprised the construction of three chains of concrete pile walling, with parapet and fencing, and the replacement with concrete steps of the wooden steps from the wall to the beach at the end of Forbury road, in addition, the roadway between the wall and private property was formed and asphalted to a width of 33ft. Seven seats were also placed in position. These works have effected a marked improvement in the general appearance of the sea front in the locality, besides extending the facilities for the benefit and convenience of the general public. The seaward portion of the walling, comprising a length of three and a-nalf chains, is now well under way, and it is hoped to have this completed by the end of the incoming year. CROQUET LAWNS. The remainder of the work in connection with the formation of the croquet lawns for the Watea Croquet Club was finished early in the year. The club is now provided with a very good playing area, which, incidentally, enhances the appearance of the domain irKthe locality. ST. CLAIR HOCKEY GROUND. Relief labour has also been engaged on the work of forming this playing area. Portion of the ground has now been levelled, filled, and top-dressed, and sown down in grass. ST. KILDA-ST. CLAIR PATHWAY. The reconstruction of portion of this pathway necessitated by the formation of the football and hockey grounds at St. Clair, was continued during tho year. The work was of some magnitude, and involved a good deal of attention and supervision by the foreman. During the period under review a length of 12 chains of the path was reformed on a high level, and a deviation formed near the new hockey ground. RECREATION GROUNDS. Regular maintenance attention was given to the various recreation grounds on the domain during the year, the grass being cut regularly and the surface of the playing areas otherwise placed in the best possible condition for the users. The St. Clair football ground was partially top-dressed in the spring. As mentioned m last year’s report, soil is being gathered for top-dressing Hancock Park. It is hoped, during the current year, to procure additional material and Rive No. 1 ground a thorough top-dressing. This is a work of considerable magnitude, it being estimated that 500yds of material will bo needed to make a job of No. 1 ground. The cost will probably be in tho neighbourhood of £BO. For the current season the park is not being used by the Rugby Union. TENNIS COURTS AT ST. KILDA. On the application of the St. Kilda Beach Improvement Society, tho board granted that body permission to construct four tennis courts adjoining the children’s playground at St. Kilda, and tho construction of the courts has been completed, it being understood that they are to be made for general use as public courts. _ They undoubtedly add to tho amenities and usefulness of tho domain, and the society is to be congratulated for its enterprise in the matter. PLANTATIONS. The board was fortunate in being able to secure 5,000 pinna mun'eata from tho State Forestry Department

at nominal cost, and these wcio planted out in the domain during the winter. Existing plantations have been thinned and pruned, and firebreaks attended to.

ROCKERIES AND GARDEN PLOTS. These rockeries, which form a feature at the entrance to the domain at St. Kilda, call for a good deal of attention in the way of maintenance and planting, and a largo supply or suitable flowering plants and annuals is required annually to fill _in the spaces. The board has been indebted in the past to a number of citizens for plants of various descriptions suitable for the rockery, and would appreciate further assistance in this connection. BEACHES AND SANDHILLS. The beaches and sandhills suffered no serious denudation of sand during the year. At times the level of the beach, particularly at the St. Clair end, is considerably lowered as the result of south-westerly weather, making up again to normal height when the weather conditions change. The maintenance of the outer line of sandhills is probably the most important of tho board’s functions, and these are given constant attention by the foreman and staff. During tho current year tho plainting of marram grass on bare spaces and “guts” on the hills extended over a period of four months, and, in addition, a lot of maintenance and repair work was done to the fences. The routine maintenance work of repairing roads and paths, cutting grass and lupines, clearing windblown sand, and other sundry operations wore attended to during the year, and the domain is generally in good order. The refuse tip has been maintained in good order throughout the year. Tho faces abutting on tho new tennis courts at St. Kilda are being covered with suitable filling material, and will later be planted with incsembryanthemum or “ ico plant.” RECOMMENDATIONS. The undernoted recommendations for the incoming year arc submitted for consideration: — (a) Completion of the esplanade walling and roadway at St. Clair. (b) Raising of footway at completed end of esplanade to join with new path recently constructed. At the present time the deep, loose stind makes arduous walking. (c) Completion of hockey grounds adjacent to St. Clair tennis courts. (d) Asphalting of pathway at sandhills, St. Kilda for bathers. FINANCE. The board commenced the year with funds totalling £984 5s Bd. comprising credit bank balance of £452 1.2 s 9d and Post Office Savings Bank deposit £531 ]2s lid. Receipts during the year totalled £4,820 18s sd, comprising levies £1,253 15s Bd, interest £ls 16s 6d, refunds U.B. No. 5 wages £3,072 6s 6cl; tip charges, £260; sale of sand, £134 7s 9d ; rent, £B3 10s; and sundries, £1 2s. Expenditure totalled £4,875 0s 7d, comprising materials, £399 6s 7d ; wages for regular staff, £1,253 5s 4d; U.B. No. 5 wages, £3,023 5s 3d ; cartage, £74 3s 6d; trees and seeds, £2l 4s 10c!; and other sundry items totalling £lO3 15s Id. The cash balance to commence the new year is £93o'3s 6cl, of which £382 14s Id represents the credit balance at the Bank of New Zealand and £547 9s 5d the Post Office Savings Bank deposit.