AMENITIES SOCIETY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22631, 24 July 1935, Page 15

AMENITIES SOCIETY

MEETING OF COMMITTEE A meeting of the committee of the Dunedin Amenities and Town Planning bociety was held in the Chamber ot Commerce board room yesterday afternoon, the president (Mr Crosby Morris) in the chair. There were also present Messrs G. Simpson, H. P. West, J. Wilson, U. Tannock, J. C. Begg. G. Crow, C. O. M’Kellar, J. L. Snlmond and the secretary (Mr J. Ash), CLEANING THE TOWN BELT. The sub-committee set up to consider the question of the cleaning of the Town Belt (Messrs R. Fountain, Tannock, S. P. Cameron and Simpson) reported that it was of opinion that the safety of the citizens and the need for more open spaces would ultimately demand the opening up of this reserve by the formation of tracks and clearings. Much of the present bush covering was an impenetrable tangle of vines under which the ground was indescribably dirty. Under this dense growth of vines and their entangled stems all under vegetation was suppressed, the better trees were overburdened, many of them were dead, and under the crown of trees and vines there was nothing desirable nor attractive. The larger open spaces that were once free to the children and the citizens were now qged as sports grounds, and there was a definite need for openings as safe playing grounds for children and breathing spaces for • their elders. The committee was not advocating an immediate unplanned clearing of all or any part of the Town Belt, but it did advocate the clearing of the vines and the planting of more native trees of larger growth 'as open shade trees. As planting was impossible under present conditions, the committee recommended the clearing away of all Muhlen beckia vines, and the planting of suitable native trees throughout the area, and also that the City Corporation be asked to clear the vines from the bush along the upper part of the Maori road, and to cobtinue that work up to the Queen’s Drive and along to Russell street.

Mr Tnnnock said he had put the matter before the Reserves Committee of th,e City Council with a view to providing work for the unemployed. He agreed that the work 'was necessary.—Mr Simpson agreed with Mr Tannock, and said that many spots in the Town Belt were so ovcrcrowp that they were nothing more nor less than harbourage for undesirables. —The chairman said that the report really suggested what the City Council was already doing.—Mr Tnnnock agreed that this was the case, but said he would like the association’s support in the scheme. He emphasised the fact that the undertaking did not involve the cutting down of good trees, but simply the clearing of undergrowth and the planting of new trees in suitable places. The report was adopted, and it was decided to forward a copy to the City Council asking that the work suggested be carried out. and assuring the council that the proposal had the association’s wholehearted approval.. ARBOR DAY. The chairman reported that he and the secretary had. on the previous day, attended a conference at the Town Hall to discuss the celebration of Arbor Day, which was to be held on August 7. It had been decided that the same form of celebration would be carried out as last year, members of the committee to deliver addresses to the children of the various schools, and trees to be planted in selected localities. —A letter was received from the town clerk, St. Kilda, advising that the St. Kilda Borough Council would be prepared to plant trees in Royal crescent if the society would provide the trees. —It was decided to request Messrs Simpson, West, J. C. Begg, Salmond, Wilson, A. C. Cameron, J. C. H. Somerville. S. P. Cameron, and Mrs Mackie Begg to deliver addresses, and to notify the St. Kilda Borough Council that arrangements had already been made to have Royal crescent planted by the children of Musselburgh School, the society having agreed to provide trees and have the holes dug. A SUBURBAN AMENITY. As a result of a conference between a sub-committee of the society and representatives of the St. Clair _ Beautifying Society and the City Council, at whicu the beautifying of the bank behind the St. Clair Baths was considered, it was agreed to co-operate in this work to the extent of defraying a portion of the cost, and the chairman. Messrs Tannock, Vi ilson. and Mr R. Fountain were appointed a sub-committee to go into details of the proposal, and lay the society’s offer before the bodies concerned.