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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]
Recreation Reserves
Recreation Reserves.
The picturesque situation of Dunedin, and the wide extent of open country surrounding it, may seem to render special recreation reserves superfluous. As a matter of fact, Dunedin is not so well provided in this respect as several other cities in the colony. Much the most important reserve is what is known as the Town Belt. This strip of land runs around the land side of Dunedin, with an average breadth of nearly a quarter of a mile. As the city is two miles and a half long, and nearly a mile wide, the total area of the Town Belt is about 500 acres; and a large portion of it is still covered by the untouched native bush. A road known as the Queen's Drive runs down the Belt through its whole length, and affords many beautiful glimpses of town and harbour. “This Belt,” says the Jubilee number of the “Otago Daily Times” in 1893, “has been tenaciously held sacred against all attempts to use it for other purposes. At this period, fifty years after the settlement, there are within five minutes' walk of the hum of the city, leafy dells and murmuring rills, where the native bird still pipes his melodies of restricted song, and where the tired feet can feel the sward and the weary eye rest upon the beautiful landscape. Such a heritage is almost priceless.” The charm of the Town Belt consists chiefly in its picturesque wildness; and, indeed, Dunedin has always had the unenviable reputation of neglecting the appearance of its public reserves. Writing about 1890, the author of the historical sketch in “Picturesque Dunedin” says: “The condition of the reserves is a public disgrace. Each and all of them, intended to beautify the town, are instead a blotch on its fair features.” The Octagon and the Triangle, which are invaluable if regarded as breathing spaces, naturally lend themselves to ornamental treatment. But though they have been planted and a great deal of money has been expended upon them in various ways, they certainly do not adorn the town. There is a Botanic Garden at the north end of the city, in which there was originally a fine display of native bush. Much of this has been destroyed, and very little trouble has been taken to supply its place. In fact, the municipal authorities seem to have neglected their best opportunities for improving the natural beauties of Dunedin. The Water of Leith, with the lovely Nichol's Creek Falls, is practically a public asset, and money spent on clearing out the stream and getting rid of some of its sordid and ugly surroundings, would be a good investment for the city. In 1888, following the initiative of Mr. A. Bathgate, the Otago Institute appointed a committee to organise an Association which might undertake the improvement of Dunedin from a scenic point of view. In the same year a Reserves Conservation Society was formed; but neither of these bodies has done all that might be expected to beautify the town. The areas reserved for various sports-Tahuna Park, Carisbrook cricket ground, and other suburban athletic grounds-are far from picturesque; and even from the standpoint of the athlete, Dunedin, considering its size, is singularly ill supplied with convenient and accessible recreation reserves.