PICTURESQUE HAMILTON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18411, 29 May 1923, Page 3 (Supplement)

PICTURESQUE HAMILTON.

«*. BEAUTY of RIVER and LAKE. PANORAMIC SPLENDOURS. SOLDI US' MEMORIAL PARK. W!,.itrv. r •■]-■ 1.-.l the fir.-f settlers to ■!'. Jin ■It •~f H;lllil',li.!l. tin those H m, .} ,il-...r, i :,; 111 11 ■! 11i-.-i 1 l.caiitv. There v.,i, ..t1.,-!- n'ii -.us They were «. barged f:i!. ii;,!.'.. ; i -~"i:-it ill'. :.'.-. every man of : in I ■■'.• ij11.!• r Ih ml fur " actual ; " : v.. i " M.-..ii!,l iic, es-ity ;in-'\ against - 'he I.i Imilmil M.i.'i i. S.i tin riser, tli-ii j <■•:■'' =.i!p line i.f «-■• •iiirmiiiirr.tion Willi le.*s - \;«,.--i ,] ri-'-ti!. •- i!. M- |)i"ir far onft-e-t. U.r. t-i-,f. r ~-, v:-, i, the L"ii.l la's e.eihl 1., t iv. "fi .- ! f •'•• ;,,l\.iii, .•,! arid stores t.i-.i:_-.f. ■. : ! i-..i ]„• left Ssitiil-lf ! ir-_- ','•■■;■ ' L. ' ''J < .'ll.t-ge points fur . -•..'- ~.',■-. '• i..1 iv •'.:■■ :i- ■ ;-. «.i« a' i .i -'. .!.!,•. '~: .' ■ ..", '. .1 « ,:■ r Sf.ig- 1 rr. = i••_•'■• 1-. m '..■ - . M-M . '.. .• at" ■ '■■:- ui-"ni ' hen .'■;!'. ■ '', i • i ;; ! i ri«T:ii ; ■•' . ■■>))■ \rri,.,|t ],-..! All ll i-.-f 111-' I' ill' ;<•,. ~.,.;. ■ I ,-.-,j in-! ' . cms trained 1 v gnin nevesVtv t.> nie.l-iiie dull! ('-• of l.fp .'lli'l death, I Hi-v i.ci.li- a |.Ip:is-:iil | roMie, t. Rut with : (li.> i.;is- ; ng of peril, and tliP • iroad of sf.tli iiifit. tlit" - became tin- setting of as pi tuic-N.pip ,i habitation ill any town .•■■ii! ! ■• .i, 'Mi ii\ iv In t was to t'l-'ii I-..||, i.in ;■ ii. an,l .■,,..1. ha ; .r.xn mor« l-oanriful t!,;,, nr; (lie heighis t'i*f m!'i" i- i.ii] (.'i'. iin.l Or difp'ii'cs arc now Hip I'M'! _- •..•.!<-).,1s nf Ih.iim's -,f Worship, ami | . .' , . , ( ,-..• rl : e M,r< |.ii:...> ..f 5,.. ! . .-:•. : . i,.1 .■ • .-v.' on!v - 'in' T" I r.i • ken .... •!■.!,. ! t;.(. ii in In! mug hi it tela ml, , !•..> ;,, i.,.i - is fin kid '" : !h l.iit'lit , .!•■.. !.,i .- in .11 riL' amid ii..l<lr tree-, The . Fluniii. ii ~f t.i-l,iv lias a 'harm iimleni- I aide. / ! \ The Glory of the River. ' , T'.e ..'..:■ -ii- .. . which ' i *"» town lias i ret. he,!, is its supn mo scenic asset. > fl From eijher of the modern bridges that span the =" rl<!iprr v.-nte- — the giant, pillared causeway of the rail that runs away ' ,■ eait-wnrd to Rotorna and thp Tramps, or , i, th« arrhinc; mr.rvr] of stop] that carrips : * tliP incessant road traffic e-ist i an<l wpst—one's c:\7.oi is lipid by a com-p<-!ling vi.'t-a. Looking upstream from the footwav lipsld" thp train's steel road, what a w-.Vth of varied crppn ! Solemn ; nps I lif* their arms to hpavpn. and about fhyir fpf-t. cluster ir playful confusion alonij the terracfd frees and shrubs of the old land and -the new. immigrant and native. their leaves blinking in the sunshine. Far down along Hip marge, willows dip their finger." daintily into the J gleaming water, and delicate kiwhais nod ; a graceful approval of their new friends' . freedom with the aged stream. Winding . paths peep here and there through t'ho I foliage; along the eastern bank comelv i dwellings sit in sylvan splendour; audi on the right, the taller buildings of the ; town's business area seem to protest on I tiptoe against being shut out from the scene. Walking along the shaded roadway that fronts Claudelands' elegant homes, one turns at length across the traffic bridge to that business area, and once more the river commands admiration. The green sward of the Memorial Park, dotted with its score on score of tender trees, each with its name-plate a poignant reminder of a life laid down in sacrifice for the joys we share to-day in pea.i* adorns the broad slope of the eastern bank. It is a boulevard of hallowing memories, where life ever clothes itself anew, and death, so far from being forgotten, is recalled as the altar gift of the world's cleansing. Beyond it, almost hidden in the verdure on the river's edge, lies all that remains of the little steamer that, well-nigh 60 years ago, brought hither the pioneers. She fell upon evil days for a, craft so famed in history, • being used for merchant gain, until one day the river lifted her in its remembering arms and laid 'her to rest where its crooning music might make for her an everlasting lullaby. Opposite this restful pleasance, another garden space greets the eve and gives invitation to enjoyment. There the infant town once found all the, foothold it required, but to-day. above it the municipal buildings sit with their backs to the river, as if it were of no account now, the railway and the street have come, and farther on shops and counting houses and halls of hmusenient lift their heads in unseeing aloofness. But. though they may at times forget, the river flows tirelessly on, with a majestv no market-place can ever know, spreading ungrudgingly a banquet of beauty for every passer and hearing wooing witness in its infinite reflrtions to the glories of earth and skv If ever a dwelling-phcp of rmn can inspire to fine deeds. lf.T>ilt m has the power, and it resides chiefly in its river The Outlook of the Uplands. But not in its river alone. There is another call i> sii-im his life in the great panonrnv -if it* eM\iivns, (J,, ~nt r,'>on the r. ad th .< led- t . Mill ■'(;•'. t 1 look ,•!..: ... !'■ mi Hip nd:.' wl.er" (',;•!,, ~ \\ I". ■■•> *»! ■>•!.■ Hie •• I .tl" . .d H.i'r..;! e, ■• ' ■ 11-. -.10 , ii '■:' -■>. A 11,,.,.! ~M v,-' ,-. !•.- ' I nil' i, .'-V w,,:;. ii, • ,i, | '■ >ri i; i !. '.'. n " M ■}". , bit |i . 1.-'-,' :, he I ,1 'ill K.I, St. t, ■ • - 1 - in' l '•■ ■ ■ • w.i\ 'i ii" > ■••■ r vn*. • . > ,"'-.. -.I \ei,!.,,,' '•■ "- ■ hr. ii,.- i • • ■ .1 .-inn, i. ' , ..spiriie- Ii 1 Jo. «. «... ■..: - -i ..In, cri'i -Ikhl,lurkir!.' m !'-•■ 1 .hi -h ..• th. >v,,-,fs. Tl.,'m' .'' >f trees of the W.iikato are j n,t t'ien>spi\ es of ii Hint nil prop.«-t ions, bu' 'a!.,.! ; .ii .inignntiiit: expnn«;ivpiii'<s the ~-i;| ~,',{ uives ' In that fair pi ' ;-- j peel . 'I ~ !i.-ii.!its of the town are strik i

ingly evident—there the hilltop where the hospital buildings bask, a Calvary where suffering is trai.sfiir tired by duteous loveand there again Frank-ten's water-tower, white and stalwart. Out, ever out. you w.ll find your vision called, till it lights, here on Maimgnkrt'.va overlooking Cambridge, there on IVor rich in legendary stuiv, and fait he,- round on Tf Aroiia'.s sentinel mountain; and a!on? these Pepping atones yier swift footed taught may pas< into the mystic horizon-, when- the gateway of eternity are set 'fnnr sj ' -i will 'be sightless indeed ii vou come down from such a I Pi-siah without an uplift for you- life's • jolinieyin,'. At t,e least, you will have i Ui' ins| tin- -,(•!•! .!' the i iver . its deep, pine stivneth that I>".!•:-, no hindering impediment c .in.', from in, lands tar aw,,v tint (jiu'iich then' thirst in the el,aids The Lake';, Romantic Charm. 11.. iii';<:ii's beauty has one glory of the •sin; that ... the river It ha, another trior of the rn •• i: . that is it.-, lake, Hntoriid. lyirie <■[ •,-,, t., t,,r heart of the t'l.ui t'lvr.-.i'i; 140 acres, it ; -> no moon•iile.ul'le ■ he, i ~f 'ratei ; and there are times v. hi.-i tin- l'i;-li winds wnip it. into fu.-bi,.'eiit ihsnmet [snt this belongs to it? = ;;-fi- e i-niy. and tin lake's chnrac- ' , (ei )-;/• ,!i ~: !,. . ,-■ ;. southing peace. I<-s In iiie \ < -i, .'e pal take, of thi.s repose- '"!. M,,8 I I lie 5,.,'. ,i| S hi ,_' it cjiiillt'e of hue; j spring v.ra\e. |~. ,1 ~ !,,, , ( |,, y of clainti- I iSI ereen ; si'liillK i ihreids It with little beads ol glowing lo.'jtir; autumn paints j up hi it the lam! ("it , flames of nature's | flickering he-Mill . and winter trace.-, a I lapi.stn v.!. I■ Vim liaitai'.'Mis nine in j dread .-:i,,\ Y,i this variety ri mos - | without all iijin...... a.:d in, usterous j note h,-. liii.i— pi ■-e The tall [lines oil j lie west ii hi re murmur a sweet content. .Men, i 'i.; i.iviirn marge .reeds whisper ,-s if charged « ith secrets t< > saere.l to he noised abroad The birds know it for a .sanctuary. To hefiiient it i- |~ become striped in . t- areaiiMii niy st iei-m. All is so romari- \ H' that any nj the white-bailed boats j 'hat ni<iio la.-.ily along might le bearing | Scott'-, Lad\ : and it Would be no pup- ' .vis,- t<i no., I So- La in. el it on the little j "'it'll, or to sec "an arm, clothed i: I •vl''iie samite, mystic, w. urlerful," rise ] loiselesHy above the mm fa a for a mo- I iii id. and In cone. To watch the west- p ■ruig sun turn the slender dies of the 1 vat ties "do the golden columns of a emple, m- to see ilie summer moonlight iiffuse ell the scene with an ethereal adi.mce, is to know Rotoroa's reflection if the light that never was on sea or and.

B\ut there is yet in Hamilton another glory, the glory of the stars, and this is in the many spots of garden beauty that adorn the town itself. They were not always beautiful. They have been made so by deliberate human agency, ;uid the creative genius has been resident in the Beautifying Society. Twelve years I ago the members of this society, real isI ing that potential beauty lay in many i neglected portions of the town that were \ waste, nnd even 0.-ly. set themselves voluntarily to transform them. To-day, their works praise them. The Beautifying Society. i First in esteem is the Soldiers' Memorial Park, planted an what has long been known as Kowhai Rank, bordering the eastern side of the river, near the tiaffn: bridge. It has been the society's chief work in '.he his! three year? The great war took heavy toll of hi.man life from the district, and this park is Hamilton's memorial of the valiant dead "he wide terra* where once the ferry was approached, has be'?.n levelled, laid oi.t with winding paths, grassed ami bedded; but, pleasant as all th >" i*. ii is not the nark. That consists essentially of as beautiful I an idea as was ever conceived for honouring our war heroes " If I Know that I must (ho to-morrow. I w>nld plant a tree to-day" said Stephen Guard- the Hamilton Heairtify'in; S-»cicty i->rrvin<r out a Kchome font) la ted bv Mr. \V. II Paul, its lendinr ."snirii. has plant*-.! trees I for those who died in our sorrowful yesterday. Some day. the park will he a glade of grateful slieli.ee. each tree in it a monument to *onie Waikato soldier, whose name and rank ami company will bo told j by a plate set in a eemrte block at its j foot. As y.-ii walk miisi'i iv throuth the 1 park today, you may read t':e tcm|x-ratv, j but substantial, aitme-idates beside t)io growing- trees, many of them our most popular New- Zealand varieties. Inscribed among them is but one name, not belonging peculiarly to the Waikato; it is significant' alike of the Imperial bond, and the sudden fate of the lordliest with the. lowly; •- Earl Kitchener" looks out at yon beneath a beautiful young cypress. A few of th.i trees boar the names of \ j local societies and clubs, whoso member- j j shin was sadly reduced by the years of | j sacrifice. There are hundreds of these "living epistles'' from the bat lief rout ; and in < their midst a noble cenotaph will stand, and fountains play. Behind and flanking them, an array of native trees and shrubs will give them picturesque support; some thousands were planted last year. This splendid memorial will entail care in its preservation throughout the future; but the toil of its founders has been under-

taken in the certain hope that generations following will as proudly prize their share of service as the society has lovingly done its own. Thus will the memory of brave sacrifice be kept: (lie heavy German guns, captured in the struggle, and mounted in the park, will slowly crumble at the touch of time, but, the trees will prow and flourish, to tell of life's triumph over death. Reserves for Recreation. The other activities of the society a-c as praiseworthy in their several ways. Ferry Hank, opposite the park, has a fine stretch of sward, with shady groves and Holering shrubs. A winding path, with here and there a resting place, runs for more than a mile along the western side of the river Into the business part of the town, this scenic enthusiasm has en tcred, turning into beauty slopes and spare spaces, that erstwhile were eyesores. Lone lines of trees take up their march beside the wider thoroughfares: and the modern gateways of the town, superseding the old time river landing, with their facilities for railway travel. ha we bocome attractive, with bright flower beds, and spaces of green lawn. It is all very meritorious, for it represents a sou! above liie sordid level of material gain, and lias been done with no thought o r personal reward. lis promoters have hail the aid of many outside the d'siriet. who have been inspired to generous gifts, especially i n the shape of treses and s.nibs a,,,] > rc d>, h v what a casd.l! visit to Hamilton has revealed. Voluntary contributions, supplement the Borough Council's subsidy of £900 a vea*, >hirii is devoted to the payment if ' permanent labour upon the areas under tho society s care. The tale of picturesque Hamilton is incomplete without mention of the. playing :ields thai occupy broad spaces of' the tow,; belt,- reserved in its first planning as areas of recreation. These administered along with Botoroa bv a nominated Domain Board. a ro a heritage for all time that should be scrupulously guarded against further encroachments 'by lenses for budding sites. The a:va now leased as building sections covers 150 acres and his will revet as-domain land to the larger Hamilton of the future. Including the lake, upwards of 320 acres are now set aside for immediate purposes of recreaon, and they are being brought, rapidly into serv.eo for cricket, tennis, football, *i l£° ~0»t in Hrniilton East Steele Park s 10 acres, and Graham Park's JLrt?™' /I 0 , ™' or than commemorate worthies of the early davs: thev p ~vfda opportunity for fitting the rtSwLu S \u enrT'. The Domain Board has under its caro also, the 90 acres of the t?t Andrew's Golf tofc. onffi?ti!f bSoft fine h „ a 'l, SparPd n ° V" ns to make it a. Zealand aS """ be -?°" nd in Ncw The history of *•*"»*» lands of the JJaikato is of moro than passing interest. It begin..witt the reservation 6 by the wSe V, hl belt l, of J«nd about ten chains wide, between the town allotments and the .sections. After the passing of the IS L \ Dt ;', nn r ,-?- of 1879 <» in * super Act. of 1908. these-bolts wore brought under the provisions of the Act as recreation reserves They are distinct from reserves rosed , n local bodies, which are he property of the ratepayers of the disnet. _ Domain lands arc Crown lands: that is, they belong to the whole of the people of the Dominion, and their control is vested m the Governor-General. For the purpose of practical administration, the Governor-General delegates certain of his powers 'to a local Domain Board, winch may be either a local authority or i board of specially nominated persons For many years the care of these lands Ms honoured in the breach, Noxious ' iveeds flourished unmolested in the idle tores. B*\ a now appreciation has do'doped of late. The example of Cambridge las fired other Waikato centres with doermination to use the areas in accordance, vith the original intention that set them ipart. Te Awamutu has recently become . •arnest. about its share of them. Hnmilon's activity has justification in the fact, hat its endowment of these reserves is icher than 'that of any other Waikato ■et I lenient. When brought under the Act, the west ielt contained 162 acres and the east belt 68 acres, and to these areas were added >alloway Street reserve and Sydney Square, each of tr.n acres. Up to 1886 here were many of the settlement's town cre-allotmentr. still in the hands of the 'rown. The Government was induced to est these vacant sections, part as borough ndo'wmcnts and, part as domain lands. So further area of 163 acres was added to ho recreation reserves, and in the same ear the Lake also was added. Tn 1903. leddon Park and the triangle of about 17 cros, between London and Rosslrcvor Itrccts, made yet further additions. Howver, a considerable extent has been taken mm the Domain for a market and other Junicipa! activities, and for the High <- cliool. Yet a heritage, passing rich, retains for husbanding in view of Hamiljn's increasing needs. Among the first acts of its Borough duncil, when appointed a Domain Board, i terms of the Act of 1879, was an Itempt to let the whole of the belt lands >r building purposes. ' They were stireyed, cut up into blocks with intersecting reels, and, some portions found lessors, ut, in 1013 a new spirit appeared. The mncil realised that its increasing munipal work prevented due attention to iese lands, and a special Domain Board Messrs. Hammond. Home, Parr. Swarrick. and Wilson. with Mr. Swnrbrick M lairman up in 1921), was appointed. The ■Milts justify the step. In 393.3 there was ■>f a good playing-field, except a cricket itch at Seddon Park. To-day. there are veral fine grounds being brought into use, id provision for the future is kept in ''W. . . - The board's present chairman, Mr. Tv. Fowler*, and his associates* are rntbusf" ii- in their onerous task. The money at Mr disposal f.s limited.. Their n<*eds can ;ike no claims upon the ratepayers. Cerhi of the lauds produce rentsthat is L Yet un admirable policy is being veri effect. All li.ing. considered. Hamilton is i-sscd with I eaut'v»in( attraction*. 11 di < li-i b'-eu I,i>i*Ji in her favour*. i" town planners of the pioneer days ■i <• wise in 'rialiiig i-i'Tvi The ac- ,:,.-. of the Beautifying Society have ii inspired by insight and enthusiasm, ere i- no room (,r bonder that men k to make in it hom« i for themselves '■> their children's children.