THE DOMAIN GARDENS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 8922, 12 October 1889, Page 6

THE DOMAIN GARDENS.

MESSES AEMSTKONGS’ BETIEEMENT. WOEK DONE IN THE PAST. The Domain Board have lately been most reluctantly compelled to accept the resignations of Mr Armstrong, senior, and Mr J. B. Armstrong, who Lave had charge for so many years of the Domain Gardens. A proposed re-arrangemont by the Board of the duties of father and son which the latter could not see their way to accept, has led to this separation between the Board and their old and well-tried servants. It is &■ separation which everyone must regret, for both have done work which has helped to place Christchurch in a position held by no other town in the Colony as far as public gardens are concerned. But as good wine needs no bush, the beauties of the Christchurch Domain Gardens need no trumpeter. They afford a theme of admiration for every visitor. It is unnecessary furtherto refer to them, : PROGRESS OF THE GARDENS. i Mr John Francis Armstrong, sen., was appointed Curator in 1867, when the gardens were in their infancy, under the Provincial Government, succeeding the first Curator, Mr Barker, of New Brighton. Daring the twenty-two years Mr Armstrong has had the management of the gardens they have been greatly improved. A very large collection of plants, the largest in New Zealand, has been got together from all parts of the world, and almost entirely at the private expense of the Curator, and his son, Mr J.B. Armstrong. Over 4000 different species of plants have now representatives in the gardens. Very large numbers of industrial and economic plants have been introduced, and freely distributed throughout the Colony. For educational purposes, special collections of plants have been brought together, including tbe largest collection of New Zealand plants the world, and groups of European, American, Chinese, Japanese, and Australian plants, as well as an extensive arboretum and pinetum. The various plants are suitably disposed in special divisions of the garden, grouped according to the localities from whence they came.

DISTRIBUTION OF TREES. Between the years 1870 and 1887, over a million forest trees were distributed to public bodies Eoad Boards, bchool Committees, &c., &c., for railway reserves, and public Domains. THE HOSPITAL GROUNDS. In addition to his management of the Domain, Mr Armstrong, senr., laid out the Hospital grounds, whose beauties are admired by all visitors. PLANT COLLECTING. During the sixteen years- that Mr J• B. Armstrong has been associated with his father in the work he has done a large amount of plant-collecting in the mountain districts of different parts of the Colony, and' entirely at his own expense. The plants and seeds which he obtained in these journeys were used for exchanging with other public gardens and with collectors in other parts of the world. The plants received in return, including many of value, have been added to the collection in the Domain gardens.

mr Armstrong’s previous life,

• A few details of Mr Armstrong's previous life may bo interesting. In answer to our reporter, Mr Armstrong, senr., said :—"I was born in November, 1830, on the Netherby Estate, belonging to the late Sir James Graham, on the borders of Scotland, not far from Gretna Green—within three miles of it. I commenced my first apprenticeship when twelve years old, and served three years with- a market gardener and seedsman. Then I served two years under the forester on the Netherby Estate. After that I was transferred to the gardens, and remained there for five years—the last two years as foreman. I then entered the late Mr Thomas Hartley’s service at Gillfoot, near Whitehaven, Cumberlandshire, and served under him for ten years, when I emigrated to the Victorian goldfields, leaving my wife and son in England. On the goldfields I worked for three years, and returned Home again. I had had very indifferent luck. 1 gob good ground occasionally, but lost it through drunken mates. After I got Home in 1837 I entered the service of Mr Bawson, Washdale Hall, in the Cumberland Lake district, and had charge of the place for some years, working as gardener and looking after the plantations. I came out to Canterbury in 1862.” In answer to a question as to wbat induced him to come out, Mr Armstrong said “ Well, after being in Australia, I could not bear to see the poverty and wretchedness stalking about in the Old Country. After seeing Australia, I felt dissatisfied with England. I came to Canterbury in the ship Mersey, and entered the late Mr Gould’s service. I remained with him over four years, and in 1867 I was appointed Curator of the Domain. I don’t remember any special incidents on the goldfields; there were a great many robberies committed, but I was never robbed. I was teetotal all the time, and the other diggers were generally drunkards. It is fifty-seven years last March since I began my apprenticeship, and its time I had a rest.”