DUNEDIN AMENITIES SOCIETY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21940, 29 April 1933, Page 10

DUNEDIN AMENITIES SOCIETY

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS A meeting of the Dunedin Amenities and Town Planning Society Executive was held last evening in the Chamber of Commerce board room. Mr Crosby Morns presided. It was decided to forward a letter of sympathy to Mr G. M. Thomson, who is at present laid aside on account of illness. , , , , The secretary reported that he had communicated with Mr H. Macandrew in connection with clearing away gorse from Pudding Island, near Portobello. He had received a reply to the effect that the island came under the control of one ot the Government departments, and it had been suggested that the society communicate with the Minister on the matter. The secretary was instructed to inquire which Government department had control of the island. , rT . It was decided to write to the Umversity Council requesting that the broom on the banks of the Leith Stream near the Home Science Department’s building be removed; that the council be recommended to plant in scarlet geraniums the plot in front of the home science building; and that a dead willow tree be removed It was also decided to advise the council that the society hoped that steps would be taken to have the memorial walk reinstated with relief labour, and that the council be recommended to improve the appearance of the land as seen from the Union street bridge. The chairman said that excellent work had been done by the society in Easther crescent, Kew but the work was spoilt to a certain degree owing to lack of attention. The committee decided that the City Council be recommended to clean up the shrubbery in the crescent, and that a toe wall be constructed at the junction of Easther crescent and Middleton road with a view to subsequent planting. It was decided that the City Council be asked to improve the appearance of the Anderson’s Bay Cemetery by the judicious planting of trees. It was also decided that the secretary be instructed to write to the St. Kilda Borough Council advising that the planting of trees in Royal terrace would be deferred for a year to enable the trees to become stronger. The council would also be advised that in the meantime the society would like to see the grass in the terrace kept in order. The secretary was instructed to .write to the City Council and ask that the plantation of native trees on the belt above High street receive attention,, and that the bank on the upper side of the Maori Hill tram line, between Leven street and the junction, be planted with suitable trees and shrubs. The committee decided that it be a recommendation to the City Council that the belt of trees from the top of the Moniington tram line to the Queen’s drive lie examined with a view to planting additional trees of a better type, that some of the present trees be thinned out, and that gaps in the trees be replaced. It was also decided that the council be asked to form a path from the junction of the Roslyn and Maori Hill tram lines to the top of Rattray street on the bank on the south side, and that a path be made from the junction of the tram lines to the observatory. It was decided that the City Council be asked that the trees generally in all this reserves he thinned and broken branches attended to, and that careful discrimination be giVen when thinning so as to ensure that the best type of tree remains. , The committee decided to ask the City Council that the trees which obscure the view from the city side of the observatory be removed or thinned out.

TOUR OF INSPECTION. Various matters arising out of recent visits of inspection made by the committee in connection with the society’s winter and spring programme werediscussed. A very comprehensive inspection was made of streets and reserves in the city and suburbs. It was decided to ask the City Council to clear the bank bordering the road in Anzac avenue of weeds and to renew the trees which had died. The following recommendations were also agreed to:—That a row of trees be planted on the left side of Union street leading to the Art Gallery; that the entrance to the Art Gallery from Union street be curved; that a shelter belt of trees be planted near the footpath to protect the children’s playground on the Union street frontage of Logan Park; that the City Council be asked to plant shrubs on the northern side of the shelter shed at the George street entrance to the tVoodhaugh Gardens; and that a flower plot be made on the site of the old path adjoining George street; that the council be asked to cut back some of the overgrown veronicas in Warrcnder street and to fill in the gaps with shrubbery; that the council be asked to erect a toe wall at the corner of Carrington road and Highgate, and to repair the handrail: that the appearance of the bank above the children’s playground adjacent to Stonelaw terrace be improved; that the attention of the council bo drawn to the danger at the corner .of Balmacowen road and Sim street caused by the presence of verandah pests and a telegraph pble. It was pointed out that the corner 'was a very dangerous one. It was also decided to request the council to repair the fence in Heriot row at the end of Cobden street, to clean out elderberry and sycamore bushes at the top of Elder street, at which spot further planting is suggested, and that the hank at the top of Constitution street receive attention; thqt the council be asked to replace the blanks in the tree lines in Royal terrace, that the society protest against the way in which the trees in Royal terrace had been mutilated by the Electric Light and Power Department or the Post and Telegraph Department, and suggesting that in future trees he trimmed by the Reserves Department so as to avoid similar destruction; that the bank on the Town Belt from the top of Albert street to Littlebourne road be battered, terraced, and the ground on the opposite side of the road be broken up and planted with suitable trees; that the society protest against the removal of prunus trees at the corner of Littlebourne road and Queen street, and ask that the trees be replaced; that the council be asked to clean out the convolvulus and elderberry in the plantation near the High School rectory; that the elderberry and broom at the corner of Cargill and Albert streets be removed, and- that dead trees in View street be replaced. The second day’s inspection covered the Anderson’s Bay, south end, and hill suburbs. The committee recommended that a few kowhai trees be planted down the centre ‘of each shrubbery on the Anderson’s Bay road; that the council be asked to improve the surface of the Anderson’s Bay children’s playground, and a line of ngaios be planted on the seaward side, a s previously recommended; that the bank on Spottiswoode road, Anderson’s Bay, be trimmed and planted in berberia Or cotoneaster horizontalis, and that some rustic work be introduced at the base of the tram shelter shed at the Anderson’s Bay terminus, and that some planting be done there; that the council be asked to plant Lombardy poplars or other trees in Hayward street, between the Glen road and Town Belt, Eglinton; that, where necessary, the laburnums should be renewed on the Town Belt near High street and Eglinton road; that paths be formed from the top corner of the Arthur street reserve to Rattray street and Arthur street.