The Lungs of Wellington

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 12016, 19 December 1924, Page 12

The Lungs of Wellington

Picturesque Parks and Playgrounds S: The Tot(& Bdt’for the People P‘' -v ' : ;-:

Owing to its configuration Wellington city and its suburbs havdnbt made the laying out of reserves for sports and play areas an easy thishas been an advantage in other ' Ways . inasmuch as the reaervre hjave.-aitalst iritopiit 'exception, beautifffl. ireallmg country. The rtHpafid tbit' open air" spae6S- ! ereation are consonant with- good health, and difficult and expensive as the* problem has been on I Jf can harder be said that the City Council has been niggardly in ijftr'policy ao far as reserves are concerned. ;/ THE' TOWN BELT. and reserves involve an anifliaT experlditure of over £32,000. • 1 ? THT BOTANICAL GASMENS. The Botanical Gardens, , within .easy Hie city by electric or cable bwh, i ion of orchids. An. additional wing was built, on to the present houses to accommodate these. Seasonable flow; era, roses, narcissus, etc., make this a most attractive reserve. F r RESERVE. . SSHfe. original; -lay-out the., city Slip. ■Kmagton made n<b provision fpr publl&jiqrks, other..-, th ad t&^tbwn-.helt. d^n&uesting , 'Wa.t : 'lihe 'sisfe br the cam ana Slip’s basin at Te' Aro’ should be Bset'aside tor a public paji,, etc. The is granted, anfin 186$' the )f the Te by iur,- as a preliminary oppraary .for,.the .formation M s a gropn4,’' in hfa# mcbet;.mtttch'!.*as played ojj Lth, 18f$&,S.bet(w6en theWelunteera/and, «(4£&m foam 1 Abe. tihafo X two; laffer unan , Society erected: , mtlf.living quartera, ; ifpr a, caretaker attached. In 1881 extensive; improvements were made by the City; Council, Ae open draijttr-being piped J " had covered in, and thd whole area; Eloughed and sown witn gfAs seed,,: i ’October, 1890, Mr' Edward Dipton presented a clock fax’ the grandstand. ;• ’All;-cricket and other gportß, ; cf any' importance are held here by over-; seas teams, if the reserve if available. The foundation stone or a new pavilionwas laid by His* Worship the Mayor; ,(11. , A. Wright, Esq,, M. 8.) on- Mon-. July 28th, 1924, aVt'-wheri jed' will give the finish- to what must-be, considered one (of the best epoty-preiupd*: in the Dominion; The building -;is beingerected in reinforced concrete with: .steal ■ framed roof, and' when completed will.’ seat 1800 people. Provision is being made for dressing romps, shower -baths. ‘ etc., for players... also tea.' rooms and kitchen. (Hie clock will he .transferred frCm .the old to the new paviliion,. . ..

but CENTRAL BARK;: ''’’Central Park, situated bif tbb' . tbWii belt between the city and Brobktyw,: Baa. the finest plantatkurvin; thercity, other than the’’Botanical Gardens. It consists mainjy of eucalyptus and conifiarae. Among .the trees many delight* ful walks have been formed. There, is. alaoa children's 'grassed ptyyarea where; many of the oh Horen from the adjoining schools have their lessons in tib opan in suitable weather. The math sands are a gift from Sjr John* Lukd,; Messrs Bhmdell Bf bs, doriatedV\an jntmmental drinking fountain;, The: fidWer borders always fcdntain. a virjr' 'She show of bloom. Beoently two, play-j ing areas have been 'formed; one on the: bast and the other to the west of tjib ‘bark, and altogether this promisee ltd' be one ef the beauty spots 'of' the city.' ..*■ NEWTOWN PARE; -Newtown Park is on ths'towri belt in Bouth Wellington, and; consists of a very fine playing area about # acjes/in. bktynt, with about 20 aerhe.‘of'plants-, tyon. Owing -to the contonr of’ the' ground, it Being beautifully terraced,' Mh the favourite ground for all big; functions, an'uninterrupted view of the various events held being possible''for ; 20)000 people. Cricket, ’foothill, =’ f /add hockey are played here. Swing-boits, swing!, and sea-saws are provided for; the children, and there are 'also alflpis* facilities for the providing' of hot Water, ric tea kiosk on the ground prbvidis afternoon teas, etc. The flower borders contain' a fine show of bloom;' Mr L. Bteaer, the custodian in charge, is a son. of the first custodian, Mr WmJ3. Etower, who formed the pari in the WOT seventies' and planted- the’trees Which are a fine--monument' to bis memory . i, ;

WILLIAMS PARK, DAY’S BAX; ’■The corporation have acquired by purchase assisted by public 'subscription and Government subsidy, the spacious watering place ,and burn . land on tbf Eastern aide of the harbour,'popularly. kiriWn as “Day’s’Bay.”" The Whole of this area (approx; 650 acres) wai at oub time owned by the late Captain W, R. Williams)' and Un WilluimSdonatih g a large sum- towards its acquisition for recreation purposes for alf time, the corporation named the area,'‘WilKatas Park.’’ Another 200 acres of Native bush adjoining the reserve . -is . ..leased from the Ednoation Department; There iv a commodious pavilion oh the grounds; where refreshments may be obtained at all times.. The pavxlioß contains a large ball suitable for- concerts and other amusement purposes. The immediately adjacent grounds-fuiy rish A" large area for tennis. Six asphalt courts have recently been formed!. The beautiful Native bush area provides a scenic splendour and repose i:ighly appreciated by the piehfoker and city dweller, jwhilo the sandy beach offers special inducements for .bathing, rndf Ahatic sports. .. :i .

KARORI PARK / • This park contains 54 acres, 20 acres have been levelled, and- are Used’ principally as hockey grounds ’during the whiter, and for picnic purposes during the summer. A line plimtatfoh 6f trees has been established on the boundaries of the reserve, and a concrete Wall, 7 feet high built along the road frontage. ONSLOW *PARK AND OTARI. Onslow 'park contains .180 acres, about 90 of which is beautiful Native, bush, the remainder being high country which has been burnt over in ' the past. Here a system of afforestation has now been entered into, planting

pinqs for commercial purposes. Oh the lower levels brick fireplaces have been formed and water laid on for the bene- ; fit of picnickers. y ■ otari scenic reserve consists Of about W acres of what is practically pri- • ’m’cyal forest. In it are forest 'giantß, ;Up' to '2o' feet in circumference and’well over 100 foet high. Paths have ’been made through all the accessible'? ’ghllies, and. to the, student or New Zealand flora, who loves nature in the ’wijd, this is the most entrancing of ,‘lhe .’reserves near the city. Access is iby way of Wadestown. i ' The Municipal Golf Links, consisting of 18 holes, are situated at Berhampore ;cnd have- already become very popvflar. ; ADELAIDE PARK. •- This was a gift by Mrs,. A. Robertson, 'of Happy .Valley statiob, and is about ■jii 'acrffl in extent. Situat<ed on th,6 -jbiTte near the coast overlooking OhiroI’ Bay; "it affords one of .the best views* of Cook Strait and the South Island.- [ Twelve croquet greens have been i formed for the use of those who have la liking for this class of ,recreation-«The-.greens are let >to fine .various clubs |at an. rental, the council being ; responsible for upkeep. | CENTRAL MIRAMAR, i The’; pl»y area oonsiste, of 2i acres of Jand' opposite Broadway.’ This land was pet* aside by the Government when subdividing for housing purpdses, and is already made great qqaTqf by .the children of the district. ■:A : i. OTHER RESERVES. . '”Birie. street playground consists of an 1 area of'Town Belt to the north- of the' entrance to thePirie street tunnel.- ‘lt b as ’ been levelled to give 21 acres of gyfiSa'); A croquet court hds’been formed 1 here for “the ladies of the district; also playground apparatus installed for'fhe'.'Aildren. ' , 'Mir4lP® .of 12i acres 'has heeu!<t' „t6j,t.*he' Wellington Lawn ’Tenuik fsociation for a ‘ term of; SB yean*; 'propose laying down 70 ’courts .fob th<b ,use of ,association members. At the end of that time tho Tproperty, with all ‘mprovements, reverts hack to (he council. ' v ■ v Western park, an area of 14 acres; ’ lying to ther east of Karori cemetery, Jias' been set aside for a park • for the Northland -apd Karori districts. Northland park, an area of 2 acres, between -Seaview ' crescent and the school, das .been levelled and Bowh ip’ .1 ; : :

grass. It is used for hockel and other sports. • .During the year' a croquet pavilfpn bqs been erected at Kelburn. a .coat rf £IOSO, for the use of croquet players duViug the summer. This; with the five courts’adjacent, makes an ideal centra for the croquet players to Hold tournaments, etc; ; ’ ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.

•” ’ ThW zoological collection is si tnated in NeWtown Park, and is already one of; the city’s most attractive features. Its • fiUportanoo ad an interesting and educative institution to young and old is Undoubted. It was initiated, in, the lear 1906, when Messrs Bostock and Wombwall, of menagerie fame,- visited New' Zealand, and at the close of their seasan - generously 1 presented a young lion to ihe Wellington Citv Corporation. Later a committee of Wellington citizens purchased a small collection oi interesting ' animals in Australia, the Duke of Bedford, then president of the I.ondon Zoological Society, presented a valuable collection, consisting of Thar and. deer; and Wellington Pdyt Office . officials presented some white storks. , Since- then the Zoo has steadily grow ( n. until there are now in it more