RESERVES CONSERVATION SOCIETY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12602, 4 March 1903, Page 2

RESERVES CONSERVATION SOCIETY.

Tho following is the fourteenth annual report of the committeo:— During the past year your committee continued the work on the Anderson's Bay read by completing the formation anil fencing of the Inst section, and planting the one which liad been formed IKo previous year, so that this somewhat heavy undertaking is (it last, approaching completion. Tim shrubs planted in the first section formed have now attained a considerable size, and already afford some little shelter to that portion of the road; and* considering the very trying situation in which they are placed, have on the'v;holc made, very good progress, although somo blanks have had to be filled tip from time to time. There can now be no doubt as to the success of the undertaking, which must, as time goes on, not merely greatly improve the appearance of the road, but must add to the comfort ot the travellers along it. In accordance with the resolution passed at tho last annual meeting—" That it be an instruction to the committee to talio steps to secure the summits of Flagstaff, Mount Cargill, and Signal ,Hil|, and tile approaches thereto, as reserves, for the uso. and enjoyment of the public"—your committee instituted an inquiry and found that, except the small reserves for trig, stations, the land' forming the summits of these hills .liad passed into private hands, and it was considered that the time was not ripe for taking steps to rc-acquire'such lands. 'Ihero is a large tract of land on the face o! Flagstaff, and reaching nearly to the summit, already, the properly of the City Corporation, reserved as a water catchment area. During the winter Mrs Charles Findlay, of Lees street, wrote to your committee intimating that she had collected a considerable sum towards the planting of the steep pari of Jonc3 street above Lees street, and asking the society to undertake the work. Your committee at once communicated with the City Council requesting permission to do so, and assistance towards carrying it out. The former Was granted, and the council also agreed to pay onc-thjrd of the cost. "When the ground came to bo more carefully exammod it was found that it was intersected with open drains leading from various houses adjoining that part of the street, and that until somo provision was made for this drainage it was useless to attempt any permanent planting, so the City Council were again , communicated with and asked , to put (Tieso drains in order, but that body replied that in their opinion the matter should be dealt with by the Drainage Board. Tho Drainage Board was accordingly applied to, and a reply was received that until a complete scheme of drainage and sewerage had been formulated the board could not deal with an isolated piece of work. As tho board has now been a. longer timo in existence, and as all that is required is tho laying of a few drain pipes, it is to be hoped that if tho application to the board bo renewed it will meet with better success, especially when it is borne ill mind that the carryiug_ out of a desirable improvement is demyed, anti the open drains are a distinct nuisance at thojiyesent time. V \ Tub committee of the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society, being desirous of improving Taliuna. Park, at the suggestion of your society, and with tho consent of the Domain Beard, fenced in a considerable area of fho Sandhills adjoining the park.- Your committeo voted £10 10s towards planting within the enclosure, and a liko sum was also expended by tho Agricultural Society. Over 2000 trees and shrubs wero planted there during tho past season. The trees were chiefly pines, and, though some have been buried by the nand and others have succumbed to other adverse causes, a large number survive, arid promise to become in timo sturdy trees. Amongst other trees put in were over 100 alders, but just. as they were coming into leaf in the early spring an unsually cold blizzard killed the young leaves, and gave tho young trees a great check, but they are recovering again. Of course, in planting in such a situation as (he Sandhills a ,considerable percentage of losses must be looked for; but as the moving sand, becomes more fixed, and some vegetation is established, better results will bo obtained. In carrying out /further planting in the enclosure referred to it would probably be advisable to form hedges of lupin and plant belts of trees between, so that the young trees' would be sheltered till they wero established. „Tfc would not, however, be desirable to sow the lupin where tho trees aro to lie planted, as the lupins grow much fnster than tho trees, and would smother them. That the Sandhills can be completely reclaimed with the aid ot the marram grass and lupins has now been completely demonstrated, and even if nothing e'.sj than the yellow tree lupin was ewr planted, the result, judged by the road to the Tomahawk through the Sandhills, could not fail to add a new charm to the neighbourhood of Dunedin. The road referred to, when tho lupins wero in full flower, afforded a pleasing sight, while the perfume was delightful, and rendered .the locality well worth' & visit. . One result of the unusual cold snap already mentioned, which was observable on all hands, was the killing of tho young leaves on tho willows and poplars in the neighbourhood of Dunedin: and the same blast killed outright a large number of oriental planes belonging to tho society which were being grown to a sizo suitable for street planting at Matthews's nursery at Mornington, notwithstanding that they were growing between two high shelter hedges. They wen bursting into 'leaf at the time, and this apparently rendered them particularly susceptible to injury, as somo lime trees and horse chestnuts (also belonging to the society), which had not burat their buds, received little or no injury, although they aro bo!h trees requiring more sheltered situations than the plane, and* were growing in the same rows as the latter trees. The death of these planes is unfortunate, as besides the loss of tho value of the trees, they cannot be replaced under several years, ns nurserymen do not keep trees of the size they had attained in stock. Your committee note with satisfaction that some interest is being taken in other parts of the colony in the abatement of the advertising nuisance, and it io to be hoped that the general interest being taken in the subject will result in advertising being kept within legitimate bounds. ' The Dunedin City Council do not, however, seem to duly appreciate the desirability of giving attention to the matter, 'as a communication from the Wellington Society on the subject received, judging from the newspaper reports, an unsympathetic reply, to tho effect that the coftneil already devoted attention to the matter. Some two years ago, when Dunedin neighbourhood was afHibted with an irruption of advertisements painted on every available rock and other places, your socicty offered to pay tho corporation half the cost of their obliteration, and received a reply that the matter liad been attended to before receipt of the society's communication, yet a number of theso advertisements are still to bo seen, now fortunately suffering from the attrition of tho weather. Your committee have to thank Mr Bennett, nurseryman, Broadaeres. for a donation of shrubs, and also Mr A. S. Paterson for a number of ornamental trees obtained by him from America. The honorary treasurer's account and balance sheet, duly audited, axe hereto appended. You*

committee have again to tender their thanks to Messrs Barr, Leary, anil Co. for acting aa honorary auditors. Tho president (Mr G. G. Russell), the vico- ; president (Mr Thomas Brown), and Dr ' Colqnhoun, Messrs J. Robin, J. H. Morrison, J.iC. Thomson, and R. Hay, members of com- , mittee, retire this year, but are eligible for re- | election.