The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-11-13
Thomas Square To Be a Botan-
icaI Garden.
COMMISSIONER MARSDEYS VIEWS
Old Trees To BE CulIcd out and
New Varieties To BE Planted.
Tennis Courts in View - The
square TO BE Beauty spot.

The changes and improvements
contemplated in Thomas Square
as mentioned in this paper yester-
day seem TO meet with approval.
Commissioner MarSden was seen
Yesterday and asked regarding
the cleaning out of shrubbery.
MY intention is to leave all of
the palms except those that are
diseased and to plant as many
varieties as will grow in this eli
mate. Other trees of which there
are many of the same variety
willN remove and plant different
ones in their stead. The crotOns
which by the way have grown
until they have formed almost a
Jungle. will be cut away and plant
ed at intervals so as to relieve
the mOnOtOny of green. 1t was
thought we might take down the
fence and have merely the hedge
because the hedge is not regular
enough in it's growth 10 make ii a
thing of beauty and Il JOY forever,
so we will leave the fence until the
hedge has been evenly developed
and trimmed.
But will not this permit estrays
TO get into the park and destroy
the plants?"
Not much replied the Com
missioner. "When hibiscus is
properly trained old Satan himself
could not get through. Then"
continued Mr.. Marsden," if the
Government puts the Squares in
my charge 1 will lay out beds of
the low growing cOleus, these you
know are in various cOlOrs and
each bed will have a distinct
shade of color, around these there
are borders of Il different plant.
For instance there would be a
star; the body would be in red
or yellow leaved cOleus while the
border could be planted in dusty
millers' or some one of the numer-
GUS pretty leaved plants from
Japan. The effect IL very pretty,
i assure you. All of the botanical
gardens in the United States
have these beds and they are much
admired. You've been to Chicago
and remember the designs there
No? All, they are very hand
some. L remember one of them
particularly. 1t was an immense
plot of solid dark green; picked
out in another shade was a design
showing North and South America.
There are a hundred different de-
signs"
'But will the coleus grow in this
climate?"
''That, Mr.. Reporter" said the
Park Commissioner, will be known
only after the experiment has been
tried. What l have told you, I'M
derstand, is to happen if the Gov
eminent will provide the ways and
means for me to 90 ahead"
Just then a tall young man with
a tennis racket walked into the
office to inquire of Wray Taylor
about choir service at the Anglican
Church. When he obtained the
information he left with a content
ed look on his face. The Commits
sioner had caught his second wind !
and said:
You noticed that young man
didn't look over in this direction.
He thinks l am not interested in
anything but bugs and blights and !
how TO make a ten of clubs turn
into an ace OF diamonds, but ! am.
l enjoy seeing the young scamper /
over the green, grassy lawns,
because l was young and |
nimble once myself. Now,
when l play tennis l like a
velvety lawn and a shade tree or
two to keep the sun from scorching
my face. If that young man knew |
what was evolving in my brain he
would have walked over and ex-
tended glad right hand and said |
howdy.'
Have you discover
No sir l have thought. and .
still think how nice it would be to /
have two tennis courts in Thomas
Square with shade trees around |
them so that the young ladies and |
gentlemen OF the Beretania and Pa
cific Tennis Clubs could play any
afternoon without having to use
freckle lotion afterward."
And will you build them?"
Indeed 1 Will if the Govern
ment permits, and perhaps Minister
Cooper Will allow the band to play
twice a week at Thomas Square
on the days the clubs have lady
bugs-I mean ladies' days-excuse
that slip, it is from force of habit.
What do you think OF the scheme?"