PETONE BEACH.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2126, 18 April 1914, Page 7

PETONE BEACH.

AS IT NOW IS & AS IT MIGHT ■■■■■ (■■; „::-.:■■ be.

PROPOSAL TO BEAUTIFY.

Petoue residents have apparently at last awakened to tho fact that they Wo tho fortunate possessors of a most attractive eea front; perhaps, however, one should not say an attractive sea front, but rather tho makings .of one. A visitor to : tho suburb, at tho present day. could hardly beliovo this fact when, lifter making his way from the station to the esplanade—Potono's esplanado— lie is confronted with an apparently hopeless and unattractive view. Hα will see a. saiid-strown be-rutted vista of road, stretching away in front of him to themouth of the Hutt River; a road Bcarred and trenched. He will eoo a rusty, irregular railway lino running , eway into tho distance, and then, scattered over the beach, a nondesoript collection of boateheds painted in many shades, such a collection a3 ono would imagine a cyclono would lift from other parts.and deposit them haphazardly. Then, stretching out from the shore one notices quite quickly sorao rather evillooking sewers. The Seaward Vista. . Tho visitor must needs, however, pick his way gingerly across the scarred and sand-strewn esplanado past tho galaxy of boat-sheds, and walk to -the water's edge. Let him forget the unwholesome sights behind him, and then ho will seo that after all the Potone beach is rather a beautiful stretch of shore, iiid; above all, an ideal bathing spot. In the middle ground he will nee Somes Island, and beyond, a short thin line of horizon bounded on either side by the Heads • Looking to the right, Wellington is seen spread sinuously amongst the hills and valleys, and, as the hazy pall of smoke is observed overshadowing the city, tho observer will gratefully breathe m the clear air of "tho other side." :

The Boachas It : Might Bβ. This view—the foregrclmd—is perforce to remain, but the background is to be changed to fit tko beach itself. Next Wednesday the Petono ratepayer is to decide whether his beach is to be transformed into the possible and passable, or-to remain as it is—the imposB r ole. Tne Borough Council proposes , to ■ spend • £5000 • on • a beach improvement 'scheme. The main , point of ■ tho'schemo is the continuation, for 60 chains, of the present concrete wall. . All behind this wall is to be filled in. An asphalt path 16ft. wido is , to be formed 'and ; tho remainder grassed. Along this' Stretch. £300 worth of trees and shrubs are to be planted, fifty seats are to be put down, a band rotunda erected, and lolPetone.will have a real esplanade. • ■ "',.... New Boatsheds. Of course the boatsheds at present marring the sweep of'the beach are 'to be demolished, and sheds , worthy of their surroundings ereotod. It is' , proposed that, leading up from the beach, will bo twelve flights of steps, and tho conduit of Nelson -Sreet drain , will be formed into, a' boat landing stago. Four additional bathing sheds are-to do erected, and various other improvements. ,! The present esplanade—or rather road—is to be- improved; and regraded, and the footpaths tarred and channelled. Another thing that should help much towards tho. improvement Mind'interest of tho foreshore-, is .the. .erection of the proposed memorial ori tho esplanade to commemorate the landing, of, tho pioneer 6o^r,s, there in J&W a3 ■;

<;;.;. .Arid,the Boat Harbour,; ; , Of course; hand !in:-hand with' the scb,eme,\already , outlined-ooines , the proposed boat .harbour. Tho' carrying out of these .dual schemes should do much towards attracting visitors and even residents to the suburb across the harbour.- On Monday evening the Mayor of Potono (Mr. J.W. M'Ewan) will moet tho ratepayers and explain tho proposed schemes,,and also the bus schemo.