What Of Our Beauty Spots?

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 33, 31 March 1948, Page 5

What Of Our Beauty Spots?

Whakatane Could Do More To Beautify Itself

Whakatane could make more of its natural beauty spots, and has not done as much in that direction as is believed outside, according: to the discussion at this month's Chamber of Commerce meeting when it considered a letter from the Papakura Businessmen's Association, which informed the Chamber we had a lively Beautifying Society here and asked for a copy of the constitution with a view to forming a similar body at Papakura.

In reply to a question by the president, Mr R. T. Morpeth, Mr C. L. Jordan said that there was a Beautifying Society in Whakatane but at present it was not doing much because of the lack of interest of the public and the local bodies. The conclusion drawn from this apparent lack of co-operation was that the schemes were not considered worthwhile and the body had more or less gone into recess. Replying on behalf of the Borough Mr Morpeth said that the Society could not expect monetary assistance from the Borough in its present financial position and that it should appeal to the public for its funds. "In,our last appeal," Mr Jordan said, "the public of Whakatane gave £lO in donations, so that shows the interest they take in their town." From conversation- with visitors to Whakatane the Beacon has found that there are a number of spots that impressed as possibly beauty spots if they were improved a little, but at present they were an eyesore. One locality that one remarked on was Hillcrest road flanked as it is by rough hillsides. These, he claimed, could with a little effort, be transformed into a mass of coloured flowers such as ice plants. His wife considered the spots she was most struck by were the drive to the Heads an the Heads park itself. She did not like the domain at all and was shocked by the camping facilities there. They shortened their stay on that account. A visitor from Napier who drove along Quay Street to the Heads, which he was informed was one of Whakatane's nice drives, said, "It would be with a little improvement." Then, with a civic pride typical of the new Napier, he went on to talk of their Marine Parade, which he said was an example of what could be done by public spirited determination.