PUKEKURA PARK.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13746, 8 September 1908, Page 5

PUKEKURA PARK.

CURATOR'S REPORT. Mr \V. W. Smith (curator) reported to tbo Pukekura Park Board yesterday as follows: — When submitting my last report on the work being done in the Park J was unable to refer to the "Working Boo" which took place some time ago in not knowing the names of tho ladiet and gentlemen comprising the party. They were Mr and Mrs Paton, Mrs Cook, Mrs Newman, Miss Curtis, Miss Devcnish, Miss Hempton, Miss E. C. Smith, Miss Stephenson Smith, Mr McGlahoy and Mr b. Porcy Smith. To the above 1 would 'add that tho work done by the "bee' was excellent and very acceptable. . . The general work of maintenance, alterations and improvements is progressing in the Park. The south-east gale on August oth and 6th blew down a lew trees and disfigured and discoloured the tree terns. It also strewed the Jakes and the Park general- > ly with rubbish . . . but no serious disfigurement or damage was done to the Board's- proporty* Following the recent milk showers and general spring weather the general vegetation in the park is rapidly resuming jts seasonal tints and growth, and soon tho effects of tho gale will have disappeared. I have also to report I have received collections of seeds and plants for thePark from tho undermentioned ladies and genilednen : — Miss Curtis, .spring flowers; Miss Devcvnish, c6llection of border shnibs, including handsome flax plants; Miss Wood, a collection of herbaceous plants* and shrubs ; Mr Newman, Australian plant seeds; Mr Saxton, a collection of native plants from Stony River; rare olearias from Mr Frascr (New Plymouth) and Mr Harold Hurst house (Grey mouth), and pomegranate plants from Dr. Walker and Mr Brereton. Mr Codd, of Ngatoro, Inglewood, sent, an excellent collection free of charge of cactus dahlias, lilies, and aman<Jcellis. The plants were carefully packed by these gentlemen and reached tbe Park in good condition. MiMaxwell handed in a number of the * rarer native ferns and plants, and today .aloo and other plants are coming to hand from Mr, Cordon. Other now plants are also promised by several gentlemen whose names I am not permitted to give. Recently Mr Mace brought a package of seedlings of native trees, and 10s was handed to me by a private gentleman with which to purchase suin-mer-flowering plants. All tho above, I would remark, form a good addition to those in tho Park and are very acceptable. I much regret to state that picking of flowers was of frequent occurrence a few weeks ago but has now almost ceased. Some visitors will un-, fortunately bring dogs with - them, which at all times menace the aquatic fowls on the lakes. Three Sundays in succession, I have had to remonstrate • with groups 6| thoughtless youths sitting on the seats creating a rowdy noise, and importuning young ladies passing by. I duly cautioned them that proceedings would be taken against them should such unseemly conduct occur again in the Park. With the increasingly mild spring weather visitors are becoming daily more numerous to the Park, especially on Saturdays and Sundays.