Herriott. — History of Hnfihii Park. 439 



and Riccarton Roads, the ])Iantation along Riccarton Road comjjieted, and 

 two small plantations formed on the south side of the road leading to 

 Charlton Bridge. A shingle-pit in the park was also enclosed with a sub- 

 stantial fence and planted with fir-trees. 



In 1875 the Head Gardener reported the fencijig-off of ground and the 

 planting of a new avenue from the north entrance of the Park along 

 Riccarton and Lincoln Roads, thence along the South and West Belts to 

 Washbourn's Creek, and the continuation of the avenue walk from Lincoln 

 Road along the South to the West Belt. The lime-trees along the north 

 side of the Park were reported to have been destroyed by hares which had 

 escaped from the Acclimatization Society's grounds. 



This year (1875) it was also suggested that the avenue in front of the 

 Domain and College should be added to Antigua Street by removing the old 

 fence, the holly fence just within if reinforced with wire netting being suffi- 

 cient to keep out dogs. Though the completion of this work is not recorded, 

 it probably was carried out during that season, adding greatly to the beauty 

 of what is now known as Rolleston Avenue. This avenue includes some 

 of the oldest trees, planted originally by Mr. Barker. The chestnut-trees 

 from Worcester Street to Gloucester Street are especially beautiful during 

 the flowering season. It is worthy of record that this avenue occupies 

 ground that was originally marked off as a reserve for a mill-race to extend 

 from the river at Armagh Street to the river at the Hospital grounds, and 

 it is occasionally referred to in the early minutes as a " canal reserve." 

 This plan of forming a canal was soon dropped, and on application from the 

 City Council the " canal reserve " was formed into a footpath. 



In 1876 it was decided to replace the more common cork-bark elm and 

 ash trees growing in South Park opposite the Saleyards with English elm 

 and Pinus ladiata, the latter to act as nurses. These latter have been cut 

 down for some years, and the English elms are left. 



The grove of trees between the South Bridge and the Riccarton Road 

 was in 1902 named the Harman Grove, in memory of Mr. R. J. S. Harman, 

 who had rendered valuable assistance to the Board for tl e many years 

 during which he had served as chairman. 



In 1904 Mr. M. Murphy suggested the appropriation of 3 acres between 

 Victoria Lake and Armagh Street as a plot for making a collection of hardy 

 trees and shrubs of Australia, but his proposal does not appear to have been 

 acted upon. 



Beyond this the minutes make no further record of planting trees in the 

 parks, but much attention has been paid to the jiroper care of those already' 

 planted. These have been pruned or thinned out as need arose, often amid 

 cries of vandalism from the critics who thought they knew better than those 

 whose work it was to attend to these matters. The trees of avenues and 

 plantations to-day, however, are for the most part in a healthy condition, 

 many of them adding greatly to the beauty of the city reserve. The lime 

 avenue of the South Park and the Oriental plane avenue of the North 

 Park and the Rolleston Avenue are especially worthy of mention. 



The rest of the area of the Park, excluding the trees and the potato 

 patches, is pasture-land suitable for sheep. The greater proportion of the 

 plants to be found there at the present day are therefore introduced grasses 

 and fodder plants. Chief among the introduced grasses are species of 

 Agrosfis, Festuca, Lolium, DactijUs, Cynoaurus, &c., together with man}' 

 of the more useless grasses, such as species of Holcus, Brovms, and Hoidettm. 

 This latter {H. t)iuri)mm) has spread considerably in certain parts, notably 



