THE TOWN APPROACH

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 36, 24 December 1943, Page 5

THE TOWN APPROACH

BEAUTIFYING HILLCREST CLIFFS

BACKGROUND FOR COMMERCE STREET

It takes a visitor usually to point out various improvements which mifelxt be made in the town to which the bulk of thie residents have become so familiar that their attitude is now one of easy tolerance or blind' indifference. It was thus apparent to us when a visitor who has madte regular trips from the country district proffered a suggestion which we have no hesitation in saying Should meet with the heartiest endorsement. Our country friend pointed out -that the Hillcrest cliffs which -back the southern aspect of Commerce Street for the whole of its length, could be planted with selected trees and shrubs and' thus lay the foundation' - for a wonderfully decorative back .ground to the town's approach in years to come. He pointed -out further that at the present time the cliff was nothing but a mass* of unsightly rocks and noxious weeds, and a veritable breeding ground for giorse. Judicious planting would soon transform the whole of the outline of the rise, and he visualised,pohutukawas, pine groves, Aoavering lucerne, and other hardy trees which AA'ould soon clothe the cliffs and rob them of their bare ugliness. When it was mentioned that many of the siections were Harbour Board properties on lease to approved tenants, and that others were actually freehold, he claimed that these were no actual bar to his scheme whatsoever. The land was useless as far as grazing or building were .-concerned and therefore the average owner or tenant should be only too glad to co-operate by way of concerted action to uniformly improve the cliffs, and thusi give their interests a more attractive setting. The suggestion has been put -out in connection with the new plans for the proposed extension -of the business section over,the reclaimed mudflats. It is one which could be carried out with -a. minimum expense and labour, -and in the absence of any Beautifying Society, lends itself very forcibly to the activities) of the •Chamber of Commerce. Another -chance for a good new year re--soluton.