BEAUTIFYING RIVERBANK

Taranaki Daily News, 27 July 1934, Page 9

BEAUTIFYING RIVERBANK

PLAN TO IMPROVE THE PATEA AMBITIOUS STRATFORD SCHEME. MR. HORTON’S RECOMMENDATIONS. A comprehensive-scheme .for beautifying the banks of the Patea River at Stratford over a length extending eastwards from the railway bridge to Ariel Street on the southern side and to a point a few chains less along Cloton Road on the northern side has been prepared at the request of a body of Stratford citizens by the superintendent of Pukekura Park, New Plymouth, Mr. T. Horton. His plan of the area and his recommendations in connection with it were received yesterday by Dr. Doris Gordon, who is one of those keenly interested in developing the area. The suggestion that the area should be beautified and converted into a reserve was just mooted some months ago, when it was announced that certain money would be made available annually by a number of citizens for the improvement of the reserve if the borough council would take steps to extend the land that was already borough reserve and make the whole area required available for development. The council approved the basic principles of the scheme and is taking steps to acquire the use of the necessary sections. Once that is done work can be commenced, the proposal being to use relief labour. Besides finding an annual sum, the interested citizens are prepared to assist with the work. The arrangements are such that there will be no charge on the' ratepayers. “Tire pioneers had the foresight to provide Stratford with one of the widest streets in the Dominion and set aside two veiy fine reserves in King .Edward and Victoria Park; we think it is incumbent on this generation to lend its support to this scheme, which will transform what is now an unsightly area into a well-laid-out reserve which will be an outstanding scenic spot and will greatly improve ihc appearance if the town as it appears to those entering it by rail, Dr. Doris said to a News reporter yesterday. Mr. Horton recommended dividing the total area into seven sections. He outlined what he considered the best layout for everv section, and to facilitate comprehension of his idea forwarded a plan of the whole area with the sections defined and marked from “a” to “g” “I feel sure that if my suggested ideas are adopted, even if they are varied somewhat, the ultimate result will be a glorified river bank with most attractive landscape and garden surroundings,” Mr. Horton stated in submitting his recommendations. ‘There is much labour attached to the scheme, but the work may be spread over a' period of years, and I suggest' that one section be undertaken at a time and completed as far as lay-out and planting are concerned, but the clearing of weeds and rubbish may be done on any area at any time.” The first section comprised all the land extending from the iron fence at tne swimming baths to the road (near petrol station fence), which goes down to the Patea River bed. There was an escalonia hedge growing on a part of it, and the balance was at present covered with a heavy growth of fem and other rubbish. A thorough cleaning of the area, including the removal of the hedge and the grubbing of all c x her growth back to the native bush, was recommended by Mr. Horton. The whole of. the ground should then .fee dug over and kept cultivated for one season; he recommended the planting of a potato crop, As the land was practically flat, not much laying out would be necessary, A double row of native trees could be planted all along the back and front of the present native bush. In front of these native trees there was room for two rows, merging into four rows at the wide end of rhododendrons or other varieties of flowering and coloured foliage shrubs. Between these, and the present footpath the whole strip should be properly prepared and sown in lawn grass with an edging of concrete. Should a guard fence be though desirable along the frontage it should not be more than 30 inches high, said Mr. Horton. He suggested 4x3 posts with a chain hung from post to post. As this area had a fairly long frontage to Cloton Road it would look particularly well and would improve the locality considerably if laid but and planted in the manner recommended.

CLOTON ROAD FRONTAGE. The narrow strip of land from Cloton Road, and bounded on one side by the road running down to the Patea River, and on the other side by the fence of the petrol station, comprised sec'.' m B. This should be cleaned and dug as in section A, and when ready planted with an assortment of suitable hardy flowering and ornamental trees. The land immediately behind the bulk petrol depot section, and running back to the river, was section C, and was covered with a heavy growth of grass and rubbish. The. area was in a rough and humpy condition, and a good deal of work would be necessary to put it in order and lay it out. Mr. Horton recommended that a terrace six feet wide be levelled to the whole length of the depot fence, with a sloping bank 12 feet wide from the terrace level to the flat area below. The balance of the land, with the exception of a 12 to 14 feet strip on the top of the river bank should be levelled, and any surplus soil could be used to raise this strip to provide a partial break from southerly winds. All the central flat portion should then be sown in lawn grass, and the bank between the grass and the riverside bush planted with h ard y suitable trees that would grow sufficiently high to give a background to the lawn and provide suitable shelter. The terrace he recommended to be planted with a row of hardy ornamental trees or rhododendrons, these would ultimately grow to a height sufficient to hide the present wire fence. A few ornamental trees planted about the grassed portion and around the side, with several seats about, would complete a “very beautiful, attractive and restful spot.” In his opinion, stated Mr. Horton, the area was very fine for beautifying, and would make a splendid addition to Stratford reserves. For section D, the area on the left of the dray road to the river and down to the bottom of the river bank, Mr. Horton suggested the building and shaping up (preferably with stone) of e the bank from the bottom end to a distance of 60 to 80 feet and about three or four feet high as a first step if the road to the river was to remain. Native trees should be planted thickly wherever there was room to plant, and further along the present native bush should be fortified with more native trees. The section on the town side of the petrol depot, on which the old cottage stood, was “E.” “1 think it is imperative to take this section into the beautifying scheme on this side of the river, Mr. Horton stated. “This could be laid out in three separate terraced areas, which should be grassed.” Trees and shrubs could be planted along the depot side, and a few more ornamental trees here and there. The top or the river bank should have two or three rows of native trees planted, thus continuing the planting right on from the trees in section C. A path from the corner of Cloton Road and Juliet Street could be made through -this area, leading to section C, thus Pio-

viding a shorter and more direct approach from the town to the section at the back of the petrol depot, an area which would no doubt become very popular. Mr. Horton suggested also that if that portion of Juliet Street abutting on to the river on this side was not likely to be required for road or any other particular purposes the beautifying scheme be extended to include this. ■“lf a foot or swing bridge is to be constructed over the river tliis seems to me a very suitable place for it,” continued the report. “A path could be made leading to the bridge, and each side laid out in grass and ornamental trees.” Section F was the area south of the Patea River, extending from the railway right on to the river bend, and in a line with the back fence of the adjoining section. At present the section was in a very rough condition and would need to be mowed, grubbed thoroughly and cleaned. It was an irregular. and extensive area but would lend itself to a splendid landscape scene. An eight-foot path should be made from the centre of the formed road (Juliet Street), winding its way down to the flat land on the river bank and terminating at the end of the suggested foot bridge. Another eight-foot path might be made from the small centre span of the railway bridge, past the end of the proposed footbridge and finishing where the bushclad bank of the river met the flat portion of the area. The path should be made about 20 feet from • the river bank, the intervening strip to be prepared for trees. He recommended that the whole length of the border be planted with rhododendrons. On the actual bank of the river between the border and floodwater mark the present growth of native trees should be fortified by planting all .weak places with the better kinds of native trees. The right hand side of the path,; looking from the railway bridge, should also be planted with rhododendrons, and the two areas should ultimately provide a rhododendron dell equal to anything in the country and the view from the railway would be unsurpassed. Behind the rhododendrons ’and extending across the whole of the property to the southern boundary line a series of terraces with gently sloping banks to every terrace should be formed, sown in lawn grass and planted, not closer than 20 feet, with ornamental trees such as Japanese flowering cherries, liquidambers and copper beech. The whole would need to be sheltered with suitable trees planted near the southern boundary. Section G comprised all the area which Mr. Horton called the Orlando Street municipal resei-ve, but owing the limited time at his disposal he was unable to inspect it and could make no suggestions. He might have an opportunity at a later date.