Sunken Garden and Aviary Made Possible by Gift

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26774, 18 May 1948, Page 4

Sunken Garden and Aviary Made Possible by Gift

The construction of a sunken iris garden and the establishment of an aviary at the Botanic Gardens will be made possible primarily as the result of the generous action of the Otago Centennial Horticultural Show Committee in making available to the City Reserves Department the whole of the profits of the show amounting to £6OO. Expressing appreciation of this splendid gesture, Cr D. C. Jolly, Chairman of the City Council Reserves Committee, who was also chairman of the Centennial Horticultural Show Committee, informed the Daily Times yesterday that the sunken iris garden, would be known as the Centennial Garden. The site had yet to be selected. He added, however, that the foundations for the aviary, which were laid some years ago, were situated near the children’s playing area. The Reserves Department has also had the promise of a donation for the aviary of practically all of the birds in Mr John Black’s collection which is considered one of the most representative of its kind in the Dominion.

With a view to embarking on the project in a manner befitting the centennial year, the Reserves Committee is appealing to bird lovers for financial assistance, no matter how small.

The committee proposes to put the work in hand almost immediately. When the sunken iris garden and the aviary are completed, they will be features among the many fine special displays in the Botanic Gardens.