OUR RESERVES

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11644, 23 August 1905, Page 5

OUR RESERVES

Quaen's Park Improvements.

A Borough Council Discussion.

Before the conclusion of the Borough Council meeting last evening Cr Caiman brought up the matter of improvements lo queen's Park. Ho remarked that .£3OO had been allotted for work on the Park' this year, and it was time a start was made. The ground at present was nothing but a dumping ground for street rubbish, The season was ' already well advanceid, and as the^e were a few men still unemployed, he thought they might- be engaged for the work. He moved that the improvements be taken in hand at once. The MAYOR said it had been arranged ' with the Borough G f ardener to finish the 1 entrance to Cook's Gardens as soon as possible. When this was done they could go on with Queen's Park. He agreed the latter was *in an- unsightly state, but the Gardener hoped very soon to , have the ground laid oif for planting next year. Cr CALMAN said the money was allotted for the improvements, not to be spread out over a whole . season, and the work should be gone on with. The MAYOR quoted from the estimates, showing that the allocation was for formation only, not for planting, which they could not hope to do this year. His Wor- j ship promised, however, " to go into the j matter with- the Gardener again. Cr BATTLE thought that the various committees should make themselves more conversant with their work than they were. Referring to the new leuni3 court now being made in Queen ' 3 Park, he said that the bank that had been made at the end of the court was cramping the Campbell Street entrance, and had converted the roadway ' into a ravine. He said that' the Reserves' Committee should have seen the pegs put in before the work was commenced, when he ,was satisfied they would not have "allowed it to go on till the pegs were altered. •

Tlie -MAYOR said the Eeserves Committee had seen the work and the scheme had been explained to them. The Borough Gardener was of opinion that the Park would be much improved by the work. Cr LIFFITON said when one of the Council b expert officers -said the work was well done they should "be satisfied. Cr< BATTLE still maintained that the bank came too close to the road, and the court should have been made the other way about. When anything was done to the reserves, the Reserves Committee" should visit them and see what was going on. • ■ • : The MAYOR said any Councillor could go and sec the work if he liked. - Cr -LIFFITON^Why ! Cr Battle is one of the Reserves Committee himself. , Cr BATTLE— That is what I say. We have not gone officially. If we go individually the Gardener takes no notice of us. If the committee goes as a body it can make . suggestions. The "MAYOR -said a condition of the Gardeners appointment was that ho was to be under the' control of the Mayor and Town Clerk. He would never agree to any Councillor going to the Gardener and telling what he must do. The Council's part was to tell the Gardener what it 'wanted, but he should be left So carry it ouix his own way. He (the Mayor) would not be a. party to anyone prowling about interfering with the Oardener. - Cr WILLIAMS suggested that in future the Reserves Committee should '■ flee the pegs when first put in. The matter then dropped.