CHINGFORD ESTATE

Evening Star, Issue 22572, 13 February 1937, Page 12

CHINGFORD ESTATE

PORTION PURCHASED BY CITY COUNCIL PLAYGROUNDS FOR THE NORTH END The sylvan glory of the Chingford estate, <the home of the late Mr P. C. Neill at North-East Valley, is not to be altogether lost to the citizens, for fortunately the City Council has purchased a large portion of the place to be reserved for all time as a picnic area and sports grounds. Much of the beauty of noble tree,' flower, and foliage, and of rippling brook and wooded dell will be retained. Another part of the estate will emerge as a select residential area, backed by one of the most beautifully adorned parks in a city noted for its reserves and gardens. The area-purchased by the City Council comprises 24J acres, which, under the direction of the Reserves Department, will become a municipal playground for the north end—a part of the city which is not so well provided for in this respect as other districts. The general idea is to retain the main features of this delightful property while converting it into a recreation area, children’s playground, and picnic ground. Proposals for the layout of the ground have been submitted by the Superintendent of Reserves (Mr D. Tannock) to the Reserves Committee, these being briefly as follows:—Levelling and draining the area now used as a market garden and forming football and cricket grounds thereon; removing all unnecessary intersecting fences and hedges; removing old fruit trees in the orchard, breaking up asphalt paths for an area that will later make a suitable site for tennis courts, croquet lawns, and bowling greens; removing old glass-houses and sheds; pruning trees, removing unnecssary undergrowth, and taking out those that have become suppressed or dangerous; equipping of children’s playground at a suitable site; and planting the open ground on the hillside with suitable trees. Building' allotments on the property are to be offered to the public by auction in the near future. These sections have frontages to the North Road, Ainslee Place, and Kelvin Road, and surround the central portion of the estate purchased by the Corporation. The Council will complete the formation of Ainslee Place as a public street and construct sewers and other works that may be necessary for the sub-division plans. The Council lias also agreed to approve of the plans of the suh-division of the portion of the property facing North Road which was not included in the sale, and to declare as a public street portion of Kelrin Street giving access to the top portion of the property not included in the sale. The majestic trees of all kinds on .the Chingford Estate, its dense and picturesque shrubberies, wide green swards and prolific flower beds have long been admired by travellers along the North Road, and the fact that the homestead block with all its amenities has been secured by the Corporation should be a source of gratification to the citizens of Dunedin and to those of the iNorth-East Valley in particular. The whole of the frontage of the place has

been reserved for building sites with the exception of a 50ft entrance, at the main gate } which will take in the present scenic driveway, but the rear portion of the estate, from the southern boundary to a point a couple of chains on the northern side of the old dwelling, and stretching back to the hillside which rises above the valley, will be converted into a recreation ground. This area includes not only the homestead itself, but also the outbuildings, among which are capacious glass-houses and well-appointed stables. The garden portion has been generously planted with trees and shrubs of all kinds which form an arboretum that will repay the closest study, and in addition there are wide expanses of lawn, flat and terraced, and bordered and relieved by flower beds. The disposal of the house itself has yet to be considered. It would not be difficult to convert it into a tea kiosk, or used as a cabaret. Its close proximity to the tram and its accessibilitv to all forms of traffic would commend it to all classes of patrons. The disposition of the other buildings has also to be considered. It is thought that some of the outhouses could, with slight alteration and modification, _be converted into admirable dressing rooms and shelters for the sports grounds. •