LITTLEBOURNE HOUSE

Evening Star, Issue 22464, 8 October 1936, Page 3

LITTLEBOURNE HOUSE

ITS VALUE TO DUNEDIN OPENING OF IDEAL HOMES EXHIBITION “ Probably few people have yet realised the magnitude of the gift to the city of Littlebourne House by the family of the late Sir John Roberts,” said the mayor (Rev. E. T. Cox) this morning. “ Standing in the midst of beautiful native bush on the one side and lovely rose gardens and spacious lawns on the other, the site is not only ideal for situation and setting, but from a commercial point of view as a proposition for subdivision, is one of the most valuable areas in the city,” he declared. “ It is only when the gift is regarded from this point of view that its real significance can be appreciated,” Mr Cox continued.

From sentimental reasons, no doubt, the family would not like to see the old homo demolished, and had not thought of the property in the light of its selling value, though the. latteij, might well have outweighed the former in some people’s minds. “ Fortunately, life is not measured by our best people from the commercial outlook alone,” he stated. “To have demolished such a home and to have cut up such land would have necessitated the demolition of at least two acres of native bush. This in itself would have been a sacrilege.” The Mayor expressed the hope that the public would accept the privilege offered them on Saturday at the opening of the Ideal Homes Exhibition_ to see not only the house and its exhibits, but the grounds and the bush that is so full of interest and beauty. Whcx they thought of this fine area added to the city’s reserves, they were proud of those citizens who were so publicspirited as to say to them; “ Here is a choice gift: hold it and use it for the public good.” Surely this gesture carried them back to the great days of Rome and to the benefactions of patriotic Romans. Did ont Caesar in his will make a contribution to the city that stirred the gratitude of the crowd on the day of his funeral—gratitude that had persisted through the 20 centuries that had passed from that clay to this? A new beauty is being added to the house by decorators and furnishers, the city electrical and gas departments have spread themselves to show what can he obtained in the realm of lighting, heating, and cooking apparatus, and the city’s furnishing houses are busy putting the finishing touches on their exhibit!.

The opening of tlie exhibition _is at 2.30 on Saturday afternoon, and in the evening the grounds will he brilliantly lit with coloured lights, and the flagpole will present a sight never before seen in the city.

Tho flowering shrubs are coming out with their full splendour, tho cherry trees and rhododendrons being a blaze of colour.