AMENITIES AND TOWN PLANNING SOCIETY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19443, 31 March 1925, Page 4

AMENITIES AND TOWN PLANNING SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETING

PLEA FOR BRIGHTENING UP GARDENS.

The annual meeting of the Dunedin

Amenities and Town Planning Society was held in the Town Hall at 4 p.m. yesterday. Mr Alex. Bathgate, president, occupied the chair, and there were 14 other members present.

Tho Chairman, in moving the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet, said an apology had been received from the Hon. G. M. Thomson, who was unable to bo present, as he had loft for the north that day. Mr Thomson had written that had he been present ho would have moved a motion congratulating tho Minister of Railways in connection with the beautifying of tho railway stations throughout the dominion. The Chairman, continuing, said no doubt one of tho members would move such a motion. The society had urged on previous occasions that something should bo done in this direction, and it was gratifying to know that something was to be done, though he could not say how much. There was not a great deal to be said about the operations of the society this year. It had been a very’ slack year, and they had done very little. Tho reason for that was that

they had hoped during tho year that they would have been able to carry out a sell erne for ornamenting Anzao square. Ihlhculties had arisen, however, and the work had onlynow been taken in hand. They had spent no money as yot. Ho considered that the ornamentation would be ready by tho

time of the Exhibition. Although there had been some suggestion that the name should bo changed, it seemed to him desirable that they should retain the name of Logan Park. It was a euphonious name, and had been known in the locality for a good many years. The name first arose from “Logan” Point, the property of the late Mr John Logan, and the lake was then known as Lake Logan. One suggestion was that the 'area should be called Pclichet Lake. Pelichet Bay was, however, on the other side of the lake and I was named after an early surveyor. There was one objection to that name —it was not euphonious and it would be horribly mispronounced. Ho thought they should retain the name of Logan Park. Last year ho had referred to the smoke nuisance from the engine sheds. The trees which had been planted at the end of Cumberland street had suffered from the smoko, and ho did not know whether they would ever reach full growth. The holly hedge at the Oval 1 also suffered very much. It had occurred to him that, the inhabitants of the locality —the Kensington School was also situated there —must find it very uncomfortable with the smoko nuisance, but he did not know whether it would be any use to approach the Health Department and also the Minister of Railways to see what could he done to abate the nuisance. The incoming committed would no doubt look into’the matter. He did not think the balance sheet contained any item to which ho need refer. Thirty-three gardeners had entered for their garden competitions.—{Applause.) The motion, which was seconded by Mr M‘Gregor, -was carried unanimously. In the course of a letter apologising for his inability to attend the meeting Mr J. Sutherland Ross staled: “The beautifying of a city is a subject which interests the Exhibition Executive very keenly. We arc doing our utmost to stage an Exhibition which will bo a credit Co the city and dominion, and I .sincerely trust that whib the Exhibition is on and for long thereafter Dunedin will bo a credit to her own natural beauties. Propaganda for the purpose of urging (he people to have their gardens neat and pretty is a very bfg step in the right direction, and I would also like to see the traders doing a little towards smartening up the shop fronts. One sees many thousands of pounds being spent on improvements in the main streets, which throw into still greater relief the dingy appearance of shop front names, where the expenditure of a few shillings would make a wonderful difference, not to speak of the extra business which attention to such little matters would produce. Another detail which would show a morn progressive, spirit is the removal of out-of-date posters from windows which display them. The advertisement of a concert or theatrical performance already two or three months past can hardly bo taken as a criterion of up-to-date service at the shop where such is observed.” Mr A. D. Miller (secretary of iho Horticultural Society) wrote asking the society to bring before its members and the general public the desirability of all (hose who had gardens making an effort to make as fine a display as possible next year while the Exhibition was open, so that visitors

would go awny with a good impression of the beauty of our city. To make a good display of dowers it was necessary to make an early start and get the ground in good order during the autumn and winter months.

Mr Uaiusvvcrth, who was Invited by the chairman to make a few remarks, said his first Impressions on arriving in Dunedin wore that the natural situation of the city was a charming one. The properties for tho most part were iiuitc good, and the gardens of a number of houses were what he would consider to i?e in good order, but lie thought there were quite a large number which could lie made more attractive with trilling expense. In view of the great influx of visitors to be ’expected in a few months he thought it would be a pity if Dunedin did not look at its best. He

thought that in the north end of the city there was a general need for a little tidying up in regard to gardens, fences, etc. Some of the gardens contained a fair Quantity of weeds, and a little work would be required to put them in respectable order. It would be nice if liowcrs, shrubs, and trees were to receive a little special attention during the Exhibition period. In his opinion a great deal could be done in the direction of beautifying the city generally, and lie thought it would be in the interests of the people to take the matter in hand in connection with the Exhibition.

The Chairman said they were very much obliged to Mr ilai ns worth for his suggestions. It had occurred to him that one method of giving olfoot to them would bo to appoint a small committee to go round tho town and interview some of tho people. In connection with tho garden competition he found that they did not get at tho pooplo they wanted to reach. Tho competitors already had nice gardens. Tho speaker went on to refer to two cases in which ho had come across beautiful gardens, but those responsible for them could not got a prize on account of tho conditions. They wore very glad to receive suggestions, and no doubt tho committee would consider what was tho best thing to do. Mr J. Rennie said ho thought tho society should affirm tho statement that it would like to soo all tho gardens on the tram routes improved in appearance. Ho would liko to see all gardens improved, but they wore vitally interested in tho improvement of those on tho tram routes. It was not a matter of any great expense. Sweet Williams, Canterbury Pells, etc., was almost as cheap as dirt. The time they wanted to soo the gardens looking nice was when tho annuals were m flower. Mr Tannock made some very nice displays without using very expensive stuff. Mr Tannock (one of tho judges of tho garden competitions) said that Mr Nichol and ho had felt that they were not achieving tho desired object with the competitions. They were giving prizes for some very beautiful gardens, but tho drawback was that they could not be seen by anyone but tho owners, as they were obscured by hedges. Ho thought tho object of tho society in starting these competitions was to encourage gardens that could be seen by visitors or other citizens. They were going to make a suggestion that for next year, at any rate, tho whole of tho prizes, or tho major portion of them, should bo given for tho appearance of gardens as seen from tho street. They wore anxious to encourage brightening up of tho north end of the city, and he thought it would not bo a bad idea to give one prize for ttiat end alone, or they might give a prize for tho host garden facing a tram ronta If they could get a number of plants to put in tho gardens there would be no excuse for not beautifying the place. There would be tho t nurserymen's conference and a number of other conferences next year, and ho thought i hoy should havo something in the nature of a horticultural month in the spring, when considerable planting should ho done.’ It was felt that that society was one of tho most likely bodies to influence tho people in brightening up their gardens, and he thought there was a splendid oportunity to move in that direction. If they, could have a special fortnight or a month as a planting time they might get a good deal done. Christchurch claimed (o he the garden city, and Dunedin should also make, a claim to he a garden city. Mr J. L. Salmond said that as convener of the gardens competitions ho had been delighted at tho ini crest shown in them He thought the first gardens to win (ho competitions wore those that were exposed to the streets. Most marks were given to the gardens which had a most attractive appearance to the street. Mr G. Lawrence had won the championship simply because In's garden was the most attractive from the street point of view'. The Competitions Committee had done a great deal of work. Tho speaker referred to the excellent effect the competitions had had on the Dunottar district—other residents had set out to make their places beautiful Ho realised that those householders who kept their gardens attractive in front also kept their gardens at the back in excellent order. Ho hoped even greater efforts ■ would by made by the people cf Dun-

odin to make their gardens attractive.— (Applause.) Mr Salmond moved, on. behalf of Mr Ronnie— I “That this society recognises with pleasure the action of the Minister of Railways in beautifying the railway platforms, and trusts that ho will endeavour to have suitable platforms planted during tho winter so that there may bo a good display during tho Exhibition year.” Miss Howes seconded tho motion. She said she understood that tho Hon. J. G. Goates intended to give prizes for tho bestkept platforms each year. Tho Women’s Club bad decided to make a gift of a silver cup and four guineas as a prize.—(Applause.) Tho motion was carried. Tho following office-bearers were elected for the ensuing year:—President. Mr A. Bathgate; vice-president, Mr Crosby Morris ; treasurer. A. Moodio; secretary, Mr J. Ash; committee—Messrs G. W. S. Chamberlain. C. P. M. Butterworlh, J. L. Salmond, and Jas. Begg.