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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Recreation Grounds

Recreation Grounds.

The beauty spots of the Capital are “few and far between.” Praiseworthy attempts are occasionally made to do something in the way of proving the injustice of the accusation so commonly brought against Wellington of being the ugliest—in fact, the only ugly—city in the Colony; but these attempts are almost invariably received with icy coldness. Wellingtonians smile, and complacently rely upon their central position, safe harbour, and healthy and fairly enjoyable climate. But, however truthfully the charge of ugliness may be hurled at Wellington as a city, it must be admitted that there is at least one really pretty part. The Botanical Gardens have attractions all their own as far as similar reserves in New Zealand are concerned. Several are much larger, such as Hagley Park, Christchurch, and the Domain in Auckland; and, for the general purposes of public recreation grounds these and many others are doubtless much superior; but there is a wildness about the Wellington Botanical Gardens not possessed by any other recreation reserve in the Colony. By many it is deplored that this reserve includes no flat land suitable for cricket, football, and similar exciting and noising sports; but therein lies one of its chief charms. There are the Basin Reserve and Newtown Park for noisy games and the gathering of excited crowds; and, fortunately for those who prefer a quiet walk with a friend, these places are at the other end of the City. The Botanical Gardens reserve is not suited to the rushing, thoughtless, multitude; but for the overwrought man of business, who likes to admire Nature in all her rugged beauty, or for the poet or preacher who wishes to catch an “inspiration from the fountain pure,” the Wellington Botanical Gardens are eminently suited. Some of the quietest spots are within ten minutes' walk of the Post-office, and may be reached without an appreciable climb. Ascending by one of the many paths, all more or less easy, the visitor soon gets a charming view of the harbour and city, while his immediate surroundings are in most pleasurable contrast to everything to be seen outside. Retiring from the prominent view-points to one of the score or so of little nooks and glens, he might imagine civilisation to be a hundred miles removed, unless he should wander into those portions which have been set apart for flowers and acclimatised shrubs. Though many page 221 rare flowering and other plants are to be seen there, the Botanical Gardens cannot fairly be said to have made very great strides in this direction. The natural beauty of the spot is its chief charm, and when it is remembered that all this variety may be had comfortably during the lunch-hour by anyone engaged in the very heart of the City, it is plain that Wellington owes much to Sir James Hector and those who have been associated with him in the securing, preserving, and beautifying of this splendid reserve. The Botanical Gardens will be found more fully described in a special article.

The “Town Belt,” which circumscribes the City in an irregular, if not erratic, line, is planted with trees at several points, and this not only adds to the appearance of the Capital, but also provides pleasant spots for recreative purposes. The Newtown Park forms a considerable portion of this belt, and about twenty thousand trees have been planted in this part alone. Near the principal entrance there is a flat area of about eight acres, used for football, cricket, and other games; and round about is a natural amphitheatre large enough to accommodate as spectators the whole population of the district. Many parts of the Town Belt are in no very creditable condition. The improvement of these, and the formation of at any rate a bridle-track to connect the portions already planted, on the plan suggested by Councillor Tatum, are works of urgency which might fittingly receive the immediate consideration of the Reserves Committee of the City Council.

“Basin Reserve” is the name given many years ago to what is the principal cricket-ground of the City. There is no resemblance to a basin about it, nor does it seem as if there could ever have been any; but old residents can remember when it was a large waterhole. The earthquakes of 1855 raised it a few feet, and in common with the swamp above and below, it has been drained and converted into valuable and dry land. The area of the reserve is ten acres, about half of it being turfed, and the remainder grassed and planted. There is a very large “Grand Stand, a band pavilion, and an elaborately pillared and domed drinking fountain.

Photo by Mr. G. Crichton. Interior, Art Gallery

Photo by Mr. G. Crichton.
Interior, Art Gallery

Other recreation grounds are being agitated for, and will probably be secured in the near future. The Thorndon end of the City is certainly deficient in this respect, and the repeated, if not continuous, efforts of Councillor Anderson deserve to be rewarded with abundant success.

The Esplanade at Thorndon situate between the sea and the Wellington and Manawatu railway station, forms another good breathing-space, and, like the Botanical Gardens, it is not adequately appreciated. Parts of it have at various times been planted with trees by the citizens, led by the energetic Mr. Woodward, who, to his infinite credit, has managed to infuse into the otherwise careless Wellinglouians a mild enthusiasm which has occasionally lasted several hours. In 1891, at Mr. Woodward's suggestion, a day was set apart for the planting of trees in the reserve, and the first shrub was planted by the Mayoress of that time. Since then “Arbor Day” has been an institution in a quiet way, and the Thorndon Esplanade has been greatly beautified in that way. Many prominent citizens have each contributed a seat bearing the name of the donor; and a very fine Band Rotunda has been erected, with shields bearing the names of those at whose expense and through whose efforts the rotunda was provided. The trees have not grown rapidly, but in a very few years the Thorndon Esplanade will be a favourite place of public resort. The trams run within a few yards of it—an advantage which page 222
View In Mcnab's Gardens, Lower Hutt.

View In Mcnab's Gardens, Lower Hutt.

is equally shared by Newtown Park at the other extreme of the City.

Among the beauty spots of Wellington, the grounds of the Parliamentary Buildings deserve a passing mention. Since the advent to office of the present Premier, the Hon. R. J. Seddon, these grounds have been wonderfully improved. A very pretty iron palisade surmounts a low concrete wall, in place of the forbidding corrugated - iron barricade to which Wellingtonians had grown so contentedly accustomed; and the old, half-dead trees have been cleared away to make room for shapely flower-beds, which are already very attractive. With such an example to emulate as that set by Auckland in those wonderfully beautiful flower-gardens on the site of the old “Barracks,” it is surprising that Wellington should be content to follow at so great a distance. A row of plane trees along Waterloo and Jervois Quays, after the style of Taupo Quay, Wanganui, would be very effective, and these streets, being comparatively new, are wide enough to allow of such adornment.

It must not be supposed that nothing at all has been done in the way of beautifying the Wellington streets by tree-planting. There is a pretty evergreen corner at the junction of Featherston Street and Lambton Quay, known as the Union Bank Corner, and exactly opposite the Bank of New South Wales. There are two evergreen enclosures in Courtenay Place, and the fine three-chain avenue leading from there to the Basin Eeserve is planted with a double row of evergreens, and fenced off from vehicular traffic in its central portion. An asphalt path in the centre runs throughout its entire length—about a third of a mile. Fitzherbert Terrace also contains a fine avenue of trees.