THE BOTANIC GARDENS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24254, 23 March 1940, Page 19

THE BOTANIC GARDENS

TO THE EDITOR Sir.—On Monday morning early 1 visited the Shakespeare part of the Botanic Gardens. At this time of the year a certain early nip in the aitseems to enhance the beauty that I found there, and also in the other parts of the gardens. Never, in any part of the world, have I seen anything more beautiful, and I seemed to be the only one enjoying it. and yet it is free to all.

At the bottom end of the Shakespeare gardens I came to the Leith and stood on the bridge there. On previous tours I have, in a sort of sub-conscious way. pazed at the Leith with a feeling that there was something dreadfully amiss: and on Monday morning I realised what a blot the present condition of the Leith is upon all the marvellous beauty surrounding it. and I tried to think how this could be remedied. The bottom is hideous, strewn with old tins, discarded motor tyres and all sorts of mud and filth. If all this is brought down in flood time, then if a catchment were placed outside the gardens environment the effect would be to keep the garden stretch of the Leith free from rubbish. Another suggestion that was placed before me was that a weir should be built at the Leith street end so that the water could back up to the depth of several feet and thereby hide ths unpleasant sight that is now presented. But I would not favour that, as it would produce what would be too much like a stagnant pond. The idea, though, is that the bare stonework would also be bidden. I think the right creeper should be planted right along inside the gardens to hide the stone and concrete work, and that if the responsibility rests in the hands of the Engineering Department of the City Council, it should take immediate action to eliminate this tragic sight amongst so much beauty.—l am, etc.. G. E