“THE CITY BEAUTIFUL”

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11411, 6 January 1923, Page 11

“THE CITY BEAUTIFUL”

! WORK OF AFFORESTATION r TREES AND SHRUBS ON WELI LNGTION HILLS. ) WORK or COMMITTEE. 1 ' . the most important responsibilities of the reserves department of the City Council is in connection -with afforestation. For years past the reserves committee has been carrying out a comprehensive afforestation policy, and undoubted progress has been made' in clothing barren portions of the Town Belt with trees and shrubs. It is a class of work that does not give immediate results, and the effect of systematic effort is perhaps noticed more by the oasual visitor to the city than by the, resident whose eyes are focused upon'the hillside reeerve® day by day. Though the production of results may he slow, the' work proceeds steadily throughout the year, and a photograph of the city’s afforestation areas taken even twelve months ago would no doubt afford an interesting indication of the progress made. A review of ■the afforestation work of the city show® that very satisfactory results have 'been achieved. The most striking progress has been made on section 48 of the Town Belt, at the head’ of Ghuznee street. The ■ trees have grown remarkably well, and during the past year it has been necessary to thin out many of the pines planted a® shelter, with the result that the better classes of tree are now more conspicuous. All are healthy specimens, and many are handsome, well-grown trees. SMALL FORESTS ON HELLS. The hills Tbevow the wireless station have undergone a remarkable change in the last few years. It seeroa no time since the small trees were planted, but careful nursing and 1 attention has brought them along splendidly, and a Bmall forest has now takqn the place of what was comparatively recently a wilderness of gorso. Path® have been cut through the plantation, and it is not difficult to imagine what a popular resort the reserve will become in a •few more years. Here again a good deal of thinning out has been done with excellent results. > Central Park, nesting in the valley at tile foot of Brooklyn hill, has been transformed from a barren hillside to a charming plantation, and the gumtree gully near the tram line is the admiration of travellers to the heights abovo. The opposite gully is also well grown with a variety of trees. The hills at the back of Oriental Bay are again showing up well. The largest area planted so far is on the eastern side of Mount Victoria. The trees here, much younger than those' on the other portions of the Town Belt, are •making good headway. Open spaces are being left in this reserve, similar to that m the Botanical Gardens, where the children may romp in the grass. OUTLYING DISTRICTS. In addition to the plantation in the city proper, a great deal of work has •been done in the outlying districts, especially at the charming Khandallah Reserve, where during the past season about 20,000 young trees were planted. ■ This was done chiefly with the object < of protecting the beautiful native bush - on the reserve. At Day’s Bay Reserve a large amount of planting has taken ! place, mostly hardy native plants being . used. At Palliser road about 4000 young plants were put in, the majority , wattles, pohutukawas, and various na- , tives. Again, at Hutcheson rood' a good deal of planting has been done—about 2500 trees in au. At Izard Park a shelter belt has been formed preparatory to further planting which wul be proceeded with when shelter is provided. The hills at the back of the picturesque Karori Reserve have been ' planted out with about 2000 young ! trees The old plantation at Kelburn . Park has been cleared out and replant- • ed, and similar operations have been |

performed at Newtown Park. Next year the City Council intends to reserve two chains on each side of Alexandre road, at Mount Victoria, leading from Constable street to Roseneath, with the object of forrling 'ornamental plantations skirting the road. Last, but not least, may bo mentioned the shelter bush on tire new golf links opposite Wakefield Park, where the trees are doing very well. PLANS FOR THE FUTURE. Already definite plans have been laid for next year’s afforestation work. It will include the formation of a plantation around Prince of Wales Park and the cutting of tracks through the hush leading up to Ngaio, for the convenience of picnio parties. At Ngaio a small rest park is to be laid out, and another is to be formed at the Rigi, at the foot of Northland, where a childiren’e play area will also be made. The raising of the balanoe fof the City Council’s loans will enable fresh fields to be opened for afforestation, ibut it is perhaps too soon yet to make clearout proposals as to how the money should bo spent.