BOTANICAL GARDENS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 229, 26 August 1935, Page 6

BOTANICAL GARDENS

NEW MOTOR DRIVE. ENTRANCES BEING CUT. Pursuing a policy of steady development in the botanical gardens adjoining the Esplanade, the City Council, with the guidance of the reserves cmator (Mr P. Black) arc now opening up a motor drive through this splendid area of grassy swards and ful "arden beds in readiness for use in the summer. This is being made possible by cutting two wide entrance tracks through the belt of native trees bordering the northern edge ot Victoria Drive. . j For some time a wide eindei track has been laid out in the botanical ga. - dens with a view to its ultimate use by motor traffic, but the only access to this has been by a narrow pathway through the fringe of trees. During the past week workmen have been cutting down and uprooting trees at two points, 25 chains apart along Victoria Drive, and have opened up to view through these gaps, both ends ot the adjacent botanical gardens. Stumping is still proceeding where tracks 22ft wide have been cut, and it is intended to form and gravel these short links between the gardens and the Esplanade proper. This will allow motor traffic to deviate from Victoria Drive, proceed on a serpentine course through tho botanical gardens on the other side of the trees, and rejmn the bitumen surface again at a point a quarter of a mile further down. Aleanwhile a third motor entrance to the gardens has been opened up through the end of Manawaroa Street, "ivin" an alternative route into this area °and then on to tho Esplanade drive. , Considerable beautification work was carried out in the gardens last summer when the bed of the lakelet was concreted, giving it a very neat oval appearance, with the small island in the centre. Young Phoenix palms planted six months ago along the edges of what is to be the new motor route are growing well. With rock from Tintea, a fine rockery, shortly to be planted has been created close to the lakelet, a feature being a short rock-paved path. It appears that the botanical gardens, with their attractive lawns and fragrantly-scented flowers, will provide an idyllic retreat in the summer for those who wish to spend a day in the sunshine among Nature’s beautiful surroundings.