HAMILTON RESERVES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18601, 8 January 1924, Page 9

HAMILTON RESERVES.

WORK OF IMPROVEMENT.

FINANCIAL LIMITATIONS. PROVISION OF PLAYING AREAS. [BT. TELEGRAPH. OWN" CORRESPONDENT.] HAMILTON, Monday. Hamilton is one of the most richly endowed towns in New Zealand, and holds large areas of land in the form of borough leases and domain reserves. It is particularly fortunate in its possession of the Hamilton Lake reserve, which is a rally, ing point for thousands of visitors during the summer months.

The Lake reserve is a most beautiful place, and could be made much more attractive with the expenditure of a good deal of money on the provision of various improvements. The position has been that the governing authority, the Hamilton Domain Board, recognises the need for carrying out improvements, but simply has not the wherewithal with which to do the work. Hamilton, unfortunately has had no citizen generous enough to place a sum at the disposal of the authorities for town beautifying purposes, and the Domain Board has had to rely entirely on the rents it receives from Domain leases, about £1200 per annum. The board, however, is doing the best it can with its meagre resources. In the Lake Domain some 600 or 700 trees and shrubs were planted during last winter and the board was presented with three black swans and five Mallard ducks, which were all liberated in the lake. Three white swans have also been promised, and the board hopes that visitors to the lake will see that these birds' are protected. It is hoped to increase the number of waterfowl in the lake, and thus add to the attractions of the reserve. "Arrangements have been made by the board to acquire some 56 acres of peat swamp on the west side of the Lake. The necessary proclamation, stating that the area will be taken under the Public Works Act, has been issued. The acquisition of this land has been absolutely necessary in order to ensure the safety of the Lake, for if the area had remained in private lands, the lowering and the final disapE earing of the water would inevitably ave followed. The board hopes, in time, to make the western side of the reserve as attractive as the east side now is, and to supply the Frankton people with a park and paddling beach such as is provided on the east side. Owing to the extraordinary increase in the population of Hamilton during ■ the last few years, the demand for more, playing fields has been most urgent, and the board has responded to the demand as far as its revenue will permit it to do so. The board is prepared to grant suitable areas to the various sports, bodies at a merely nominal rental, as long as the public's rights are safeguarded, and provided that the various associations concerned are willing to undertake the necessary outlay in preparing and maintaining the grounds to the satisfaction of the board. Under present conditions Steel and Seddon Parks are in general use, and cricketers have had the utmost difficulty in getting the pitches on these areas into order owing to the severe strain imposed on them by the football and hockey players in winter. In order to relieve the pressure to some extent the board is making a new hockey ground on the section adjoining, the new Rugby Union ground in Mill Street. This disposes oi' the last of the grounds available for sports purposes on the west side of the river. There are, however, acres of eminently suitable grounds on the East Town Belt, about miles from the Hamilton Post Office. The distance, seems to be a bar to their popularity. Seddon Park was top-dressed with between 300 and 400 yards of soil during the winter, and has responded most satisfactorily to the treatment. Boyes Park was sown in grass last autumn, and is now' looking very well. The western half of Boyes Park is being prepared for tree-planting during the coming autumn and winter. This area will be used as a park pure and simple. Except for a small portion which will be devoted to the use of the Hamilton Croquet Association, no games will be played on the ground.