A BEAUTIFUL VILLA RESIDENCE AT MANAIA.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 7241, 23 August 1902, Page 3

A BEAUTIFUL VILLA RESIDENCE AT MANAIA.

Delightful Surroundings

Choicely Laid Out Grounds

The Work of a Capable Landscape Gardener.

Many porsons havo remarked tho improvements recently being carried out in tho tastofully laying out of tho grounds surrounding Mr C. A. Pownall's handsome villa rosidoneo at Manaia. About threo months ago Mr Pownall obtained the services of Mr Thos. llorton, tho well-known Pahiatua nurseryman, to attend to his garden and generally remodel it. Tho grounds attached to tho house, as now laid out, present a wondorl'ul improvement to tho former condition of things, and a largo amount lof labour has been expended in the work. Large, wido cai-riagc-drivcs have been formed, with turf borders, both boing considerably higher than tho adjacont ground. The front borders aro planted in tlowcring and foliago plants, including camellias, rhododendrons, diosina, erica, abelia, eordiliim, chanerops cxcolsior, besides many roses of different varieties, some of which have becn'only imported from Great ilritain this year. Tho effect of these varicoloured llowers against the background of foliago plants and deciduous trees, of light, palo aud dark greons and purple, will bo vory picturesque. Tho foliage plants set out all over tho ground directly behind tho borders include tho leading varieties of European and English plantation trees, and cmbraco codrus, dcodora, thugia gigantea, Wcllingtonia gigantca, purplo birch, silver birch, besides ash, limes and oaks, and a particularly handsome pair of Auricasia Bidwilii. Tho trees all havo a healthy appearance and aro a credit to the nursory from which thoy havo been obtained. A lawn lias been laid down in front of tho house by the turfing process, and although it has only been laid down about threo weeks,' it will be available for uso in a month's timo. By dint of a largo amount of filling-in, tho grounds havo been levelled, and in tho height of summer will present a beautiful appearance. Tho orchard has also boon extended, about 150 fruit trees having been planted. Mr Pownall, wo understand, has expressed his entire satisfaction at tho manner the work has been carried out, which is crcdiiable in the highest degree to Mr Horton's tasto and skill as an expert landscape gardener. Mr Hortou had a difficult task to accomplish, as tho grounds, wore, so to speak, in a comparatively rough state when his professional services wcro called into requisition. The successful result is beyond question, and the grounds attached to Mr Pownall's residenco will form ono of tho most picturcsquo and attractive features in that part of tho district. Tho largo llower-bed in front of the house, when resplendent in bloom, will be a picture worth seeing ; and tho lawn, in the courso of a few weeks' timo, with its level, smooth, green surface, will form a very charming adjunct to the grounds. It measures nearly a chain each way. Shelter has been abundantly provided, and, as timo passes and the ornamental trees and shrubs grow up, there will bo few prettier spots in the environments of Masterton, or, indeed, in Wairarapa, than Mr Pownall's residence at Manaia. It will always bo a kind of " standing advertisement" for Mr llorton, of Pahiatua, to whoso labour, skill, tasto and experience it will bo an enduring and striking tribute.