HAMILTON DOMAIN LANDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18994, 16 April 1925, Page 9

HAMILTON DOMAIN LANDS.

DETERIORATION REPORTED. PLAN FOR IMPROVEMENT. [BY TEI.EGRAL'U. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] HAMILTON. Wednesday. A comprehensive report on the Domain land:; in Hamilton was .submitted to the Hamilton Domain Board by Mr. A. Swarbrick, who stated that the present condition of these lands was most unsatisfactory, and demanded serious attention. After a careful inspection he was of the opinion that the lands were not in as good condition as they were three years ago. Fences and other permanent improvements had not been maintained, but the most general depreciation was in respect to noxious weeds. Almost all the lands were infested with furze and blackberry. In spite of the fact that to make up the leeway necessary to improve the lands again was likely to cripple the board's activities for some time to come, the position had to be faced, and the land not only maintained, but also opened up and developed. Referring to sports areas in Hamilton, Mr. Swarbrick expressed the opinion that the Hamilton East belt, comprising about 80 acres, was admirably suited for future playing areas. In this connection the question of street access had to be dealt with, and he urged that more streets should be opened up in the district. The keystone to Hamilton East, however, was Steele Park. It was the centre of a large residential area, and its proper development would transform the whole character of the district.

Mr. Swarbrick submitted a plan which he suggested would meet the ideals he enumerated. In the centre would be a playing field sufficiently large for two fill 1siy.ed football fields, and having cricket, pitches suitably placed. More than half this work had already been done, and the balance would be completed next autumn. A', one side of the. playing field would be a raised bank for spectators, which, when completed, would accommodate a. thousand people. The back of this bank would be masked by a plantation of ornamental shrubs, forming a background to a garden park along the whole frontage to Grey Street. At the centre of the hack of the embankment would be a pavilion containing dressing rooms for players and accommodation for the public. Around the playing field and embankment. Mr. Swarbrick proposed there shoujd be a broad walk, at the side next ( link Street, a drive and stand for vehicles with a separate entrance from Cook Street. The area between the walk and the outer fence would lie laid out as a park, with nicelv-kepl, grass and trees. The, area next Grey Street would be a lawn with a bandstand, flower beds and fountain

Ii t! works were carried nut, s:iid Mr. Pw.-irhrick, they would add greatly to 1 lie attractiveness ami progress of the district, and should secure the hearty co-operation (it the Borough' ('ouucil and 1 lie residents, t (wing tn the limited funds af tho disposal cj' the, board, the work would take .some vcars to carry out, but once the grounds were completed they would, lie believed, provide sufficient funds for their own maintenance.

The levelling arid grassing of part of the playing field as authorised by the board had now beet) completed, and Mr. ttwarKVick asked authority to erect necessary fencing to' protect the work. Reporting, further, Mr. Swarbrick said that at the lake the levelling of the ground between the tea kiosk and the road at the sand beach had been completed, and the niva laid down in grass. It was impossible to complete the earthwork and grass tn the water's edge this season, but it Was 1 roposed, while the water was low, to overhaul and make good the timber work at the bathing peninsula and in front of the bathing sheds, and to (ill in and complete the eutlnvork ttp to tlm main drain on the road, so as to make it safe against the high water and wind in winter. The report was adopted.