Herkiott. — /f/.'ifor!/ "f ^^"f/^^!/ l^ork. 435 



Buildings in I he Domain. 



Some inentioii perhaps should be made of tlie buildings and other 

 structures of a permanent character found in the Domain. In 1869 the 

 first buildings of the Museum were erected. These faced the front lawn of 

 the Domain. The front rooms and new entrance off Rolleston Avenue 

 were added at a later date. The Board of Governors of Canterbury College, 

 to whom the Museum buildings belong, have no title to the land on which 

 the buildings stand, and this has hindered the erection of additional build- 

 ings. In 1872 the Gardener's cottage was built on its present site, and 

 various alterations have been made from time to time, the last being the 

 addition of a Board-room. In 1874 the attempt of the Provincial Council 

 to take another portion of the Domain for the erection of Canterbury 

 College led to the resignation in a body of the Board, who thus protested 

 against the alienation of the reserve from the purpose for which it had been 

 set aside. Public protest also led later to the abandonment of this i:)roject. 



The sun-dial must have been placed in the Domain quite early in its 

 history, for no mention can be found of it in the minutes. It is said that 

 it was presented by Mr. W. Guise Brittan. who brought it out from England 

 with him. It stood originally where the Moorhouse statue now stands, 

 but was moved to its present position in 1873. The Moorhouse statue was 

 set up in 1885 after some discussion as to the suitability of its being placed 

 in the Domain. In 1902 the Magnetic Observatory was built and a small 

 ])ortion of the grounds fenced off surrounding it. The Rolleston statue 

 was placed in position in front of the Museum and fronting Worcester Street 

 in 1905. In 1908 the Old Colonists' Association applied for and received 

 permission to erect a stone pillar with a brass plate in the Pilgrims' Corner. 

 This led to some discussion as to the actual place whicli should be known 

 by that name. In 1913, out of the funds bequeathed to the Beautifying 

 Association by the Hon. J. T. Peacock, an elaborate fountain was erected. 

 It was originally right on the path, but was later moved to its present 

 jiosition and the pond then formed round it. The Winter Garden consists 

 of the conservatory and orchid-house from Holly Lea, and was presented 

 to the Domain by Mrs. A. Q. Townend in 1914. 



The present nursery grounds and buildings were taken possession of in 

 1875. Previous to this date the nursery was situated on the ground now 

 occupied by the old native section. 



The above gives a very brief history of the Domain, but naturally it 

 cannot be treated exhaustively from a botanical standj)oint. The gardens 

 contain much of great interest to the student of plants from his own and 

 foreign lands. In this paper, however, the writer is attempting to trace 

 the changes that have taken place in the vegetation from its virgin state 

 to the present day, with a more particular account of what native plants 

 may be supposed to have maintained their existence from that time. It 

 would be very unlikely that any of our indigenous plants could have 

 managed to exist under the conditions that have prevailed in the Domain 

 since it has been so carefully cultivated, though it is possible that a very 

 few might be able to re-establish themselves if the soil were allowed to lie 

 waste. Nearly all the indigenous plants that are to be found to-day in 

 the original reserve are in that j)art of it known as the North and South 

 Hagley Parks. 



History of the Park. 



The various events of historical interest that have taken i)lace in the 

 Park have all had their influence on the vegetation, and will be considered 



