THE CITY’S RESERVES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 97, 27 April 1939, Page 8

THE CITY’S RESERVES

FURTHER PROGRESS MADE USE OF ADDITIONAL LABOUR. “With the additional labour available this year, all reserves have undergone some form of development and a marked improvement is noticed,” reports the city gardener (Mr. S. I. Cox). “As they will be an asset to the city in the near future, the work of beautifying the reserves should be pushed on with as quickly as possible. “In particular I would mention Virginia Lake, where townspeople and visitors can spend an enjoyable day viewing the artificial and natural beauties of this reserve. The addition of the Lethbridge collection, during the year, developed an area that had hitherto been a wilderness. It is of easy access and the most elderly people can enjoy the wonderful blooms of the rare varieties of rhdodendrons, azalea, etc., which arc to be found in this collection. A further donation of plants is being made by Mrs. Lethbridge and these will be added to the present collection as soon as weather conditions are suitable. An anonymous donation of five hundred goldfish also adds to the attractiveness of this reserve. The naming of trees is well under way, but the naming of quite a few will' have to await the flowering or fruitification period for correct identification, some of them being so much alike in foliage and growth. The Ransome motor mower, which was purchased during the year, has enabled us to maintain a much greater area of lawn than was thought possible. “Castlecliff Domain should also receive every possible attention. The development of this area cannot be too rapid as the popularity of the beach is increasing each year and so demands the best the Reserves Department can give to make it attractive. “The general development of reserves, if carried on for the next two or three years at the rate commenced this year, will result in areas being sufficiently improved and set out to suit all horticultural tastes.” Mr. Cox reported that at the beginning of the season nursery stock comprised approximately 160,000 trees, shrubs and hedge plants. “Of this total 70,000 came under the heading of ’trees,” namely forests, street, ornamental foliage, flowering and many forms of conifers. In this class all attain a height of 25ft. and over,” he states. “Shrubs, numbering 40,000, included many rare varieties of flowering plants of recent introduc-! tion, also rhododendrons, palms, etc. | Hedge plants comprised about 50,0001 of the total and included plants fori shelter belts and coastal areas. The I raising of anuals, herbaceous and! perennial plants, for the beautifica-| tic-n of reserves, has developed into a [ special routine. This year the total j cultivated amounted to half a million. | over 100,000 more than last year.” j

ARAMOHO ?ARK

RECORD TAKINGS DURING THE YEAR “In spiff of the unfavourable weather that prevailed well on towards the end of Januaiy, the takings for the year at Aramoho Park con- ■ stituted a record, the sum of £692 8s - lOd being received in fees, an increas< t of £l6O 9s lid on last year’s figures.' s j Mr. Murch reported. r "The Castlecliff camp, however, was 1 not so well patronised, due to the , rough weather during the holiday > period, the takings being only £32 4s. as compared with £5O 12s 6d for the previous year. “The sum of £692 8s lOd received I at Aramoho Park comprised: Rent ol , hutments, £2ll 4s; camp fees, £476 I 19s; lettings and sundries, £4 5s lOd. i total. £692 8s lOd. ; "The Aramoho camp site is patronII ised to a considerable extent righi fj throughout the year, as the fees collected for each month will indicate: 11 April, £66 9s 6d; May, £35 2s 6d; Jun., . I£l6 9s; July, £4 19s 6d; August, £6 17., , ,6d- September, £lO 15s; October, £33 : 12s 6d; November, £24 5s 6d; Decern- . Iber, £95 B,s 6d; January £224 17s 4d; , I February £B7 12s, and March, £B5 19s ?6d. ’i "During lhe holiday period from ; I December 24 to January 7, the average ! i number of parties in camp each day J was 86, the highest on any one day '! being 119.”