ST. KILDA STREETS

Evening Star, Issue 24281, 24 August 1942, Page 2

ST. KILDA STREETS

WANTON DAMAGE TO LAWNS

For some years past the St. Kilda Borough Council has been busy improving and beautifying a considerable number of its streets by setting down grass plots wherever possible. This long undertaking has recently been completed, and the improved appearance of the streets has drawn much favourable comment.

Most of the residents have taken a pride in carefully tending the plots fronting their homes, and in many cases the result has been lawns equal to those in their own gardens. These efforts are much appreciated by the council, for they show that many of the ratepayers desire to (keep St. Kilda in the forefront as one of the garden boroughs of the Dominion.

Unfortunately, and this matter is causing some concern, there are those whose tendency to destroy comes uppermost, and the work of years i§, hero and there, being ruined by that strange vandal mentality which cannot hear to see orderliness and beauty. During the past few months there have been several instancies' of horses having l been driven or ridden across the lawns, the damage resulting from these actions being considerable. In at least one street to-day an entire block bears deep impressions, and pieces of turf have been, completely rooted out, obviously the action of horses’ hooves.

Tho mayor (Mr N. D. Anderson) stated this morning that residents are not only annoyed and l indignant over this senseless vandalism, but they are disappointed and disheartened to see the reward their efforts have brought. “ It is regrettable/' said Mr Anderson, “ that there are those whose mental outlook is so limited that they can only destroy instead ui beautifying and constructing. The matter is now being watched by. tho borough inspector, and a very heavy penalty will bo inflicted if and when the offenders are caught. It is to bo hoped that this warning may have the effect of an immediate cessation of these stupid actions.”-