Riddiford Park

Hutt News, Volume 15, Issue 21, 22 October 1941, Page 5

Riddiford Park

3 * 1 A CITY BEAUTY B*OT ' 1 At this time of the year, Riddiford Park is a pleasant place in y which to spend an odd half-hour, Cherry trees heavy with pink bios- . som grow on either side of the main path, and the azaleas are now at the northern entratfCß*thiV true forget-me-nots grow among beds of pink and vivid red tulips, and it is fortunate that the wall of the baths sheltered a bed of particularly fine anemones during the recent southerly. Bright beds of ranunculi and polyanthus are set lii the well-kept lawns, and In the lower part of the gardens the trees lean over the stream as if to peep aft their own reflections. An abundance of foliage and tiny buds on the climbing roses over the archway gives promise of a wealth of bloom this year, and these climbers, combined with the standard and other varieties in the gardens, should make a fine display during the summer months. Probably few of the people who stroll through and enjoy the beauty of these gardens are aware of the interesting history surrounding their foundation and development. In an old survey, the area we now know as Riddiford Park was a rough paddock, through which ran a dirty creek, divided into very small sections, each about 1-1 Oth acre in area. It was realised that if these sections were sold and built on, a slum area would be created in the middle of the town, so during the mayoralty of Mr. W. T. Strand, the far-sighted Borough Council decided to acquire the property from the Casey-Hayes estate, which included several of the business premises on High Street, and the family Hotel. The latter were sold to private owners, and the council retained possession of the rear portion of the estate without cost to the ratepayers. The work of designing and. lay-ing-out the grounds was done by the late Mr. Geo. Chapman, who il.so made and donated the equipment in the children's playground. It was considered fitting that the Plunket Society's headquarters be established in the park, and through the generosity of several wellknown citizens, whose names are re : corded on a board in the Plunket Rooms, the present tine building was erected. The Riddiford family offered to donate the baths, which were erected at (heir expense, and opened by Sir Charles Ferguson, then Gover-nor-General. In recognition of their generosity, the Borough Council decided to perpetuate the name of the family in the park. The lower part of the gardens, through which the stream now runs ' between well-ordered banks, is a legacy from the economic depression. Fifteen years ago this area was a practically impenetrable mass of scrub and flax, and it is doubtful whether any white man had ever "been through it. Many Hutt residents were not even aware of its existence. The work of clearing, levelling and planting was done by relief workers under the number five scheme, and in t!)27 the headquarters of the New Zealand Alpine and Rock Garden Society, previously tistablished in Nelson, were removed lo Lower Hutt, and the rockery was built. In this rock garden many interesting and comparatively rare plants are to be found, and Lower Hutt is indeed fortunate to have been selected as this society's headquarters.