Town Improvement

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 157, 21 July 1937, Page 7

Town Improvement

MANY SUGGESTIONS Bus Shelters Discussed by Progress League HOLDING OF CARNIVAL A sttrprising ntunber e£ proposals snd suggeetions w sre put forwhrd the meeting of the Hastings aad District progress League lisfi night for consideration in the programme for the 1937-38 season's •ctiTlties of the league. Among the idels to he considered are the erectibh of btts shelters, an avenue Of shrubs between Hastings and . Napier, the holdiag of another - caxnival and the fostering of resi- ' fl'WitW garden competitions. The president, Mr A. I. Rainbow, said that tht executive had. considered the matter Of bus shelters, pafticularly in Karamu road ahd Heretaunga street, and he considered that- this was one matter in which the league could earnestly interest iteelf. He agreed that the league could not be expected to pay the full Cost of these, but at least one or two Could he erected, and if Ihe idea proved populaf and success* fiil it Would be possible thea to extend the scheme. * The idea' was to ask the propertyownera to allow a small strip of propertv, abont 4ft. deep, to be used and seating accommodation would be pltced there and a cover erected over thi pathway. A tentative plan had beea submitted to the executive and it d wai estimated that each would ' cost abont £20. Ut A. F. Bedgrave said that the executive felt that it was of paramount importance that the league should taho .the public ftilly into its confldence as to what was being done. He pointed out that there were many people in the town who would willingly contribute something to the league for special putposei, such as that just suggested, for there was no*doubt that there was a lack Of seating accommodation, pafticularly in Heretaunga street. "It is fully fealised that the league 's funds are small," he said. "All that is wanted is for the league to give some definite lead and we will get the tesponse all right." The secretary, Mr G. E. G. Rogers, pointed out that in' the event of the league deciding tipon such a proposal, he had been offerea the cost of erecting one such shelter-place. Pathway to Showgroundi. ,'Mrs Lovell-Smith suggested that the league this season should push on with tho proposal to have a pathway laid dpwn between the borough boundary and the Tomoana Showgrounds. 1 ' This is a glaiihg need," she said, and added that niany acoldents had been reportod in that paxt of the town'e environs. The president said that the executive would keep it in mind and make further representations to the County Council, whose concern it was. He ppinted out that the big difficulty was the enormous cost in piping the drain. -Mr F. E. Smith suggested that this cost might be considerably reduced by covering tho drain with Concrete slabs. "Why not have the footpath on tho other side of the road, next to the shrubs and trees we are planting?" asked Mrs TosswilL It was pointed out, however, that the pefmanent aurface was too close to that side of the road even now, and Would not allow sufficient room for a pathway* Many Points for Consideration. Continuxng, Mr Eainbow mentioned that the fostering of interest in the residenti&l garden competition, with a vlow to beautifying the town, was a matter that would be Considered this season. There was also the matter of tKe soil survey, and particularly the proposed drainage and irrigation schemes which would affeet the people of the town and the surrounding distrjct very vitally. Another matter was tliat of holding some kind of carnival, or special week in November. Sfrill a further idea was that of erecting a stage at Windsor Park eo that evCHing concerts could be given by troupet of Maoris, concert parties and the tWo bands, duting the summer months, and particularly during the peak periods of the holiday rushes when there Wero as many as 2000 people camped at the park with no means oi" amusing themselvee in the evenings. "Then I hope the leagne will be able to assist when the plans for the sports grounds are submitted and which I hope will be brought down shortly," he said. •'Advertisd for Ideas." #Ifl a town Iike Hastings surely there are hundrede of people who have ideas tliat might be put into effect to bring about, desired improvenlents and devjelopment of the town," said Mr Eedurave. "It is possible that if these ''•eople were given some eiiCouragement ro, proponnd their viows, then they 'night "be abie to help the league and tiie town. I would suggest that the f-xscutive cOnsider advertising for 'fieas from the townspeople and invite

them to submit any ideas they~might have to the league," "I grant it that we might get dozene of eilly proposals and ideas, but at would be well Worth while if out of them we get two or three good ones, ' ' he said. Mr E. 0. Eush-Munro: Some of the silliest ideas to-day might be the sanest in 12 months. Mr Smith; There might be something to work on even with the silliest idea. "I've made a dozen suggestions," said Mrg Sarah Jon§s, "but only one has been carried out. Why not go on with the proposal to have playing grounds for children so as to keep them offi the streets and away from traffic dangersf " Matter of Precedent. A suggestion that the league might get behind the Boy Scouts moveihent with the idea of helpinjr with the erection of the Scout Hall was made by Mrs Lovell-Smith, who considered such a cause a very worthy one and deserving of full support. "I don't think the league should get behind any particular organisation, for it wopld set a bad precedent," said the chairman. He pointed out that there were many very worthy causes being sponsored by oiganisations deeply( concerned, and if the league supported one such cause, it would have to support them all to the same extent. As regards the Scouts'' hall, he said that dt was not altogether a question of flnancial support as the need for men to take a greater and active interest in the movement. The opinion that the loague should concentrate upon one or two things, rather than a number of mattors, was voiced by Mr Eush-Munro. He contended that the- erection of the shelter sheds and a number of other matters mentioned were really not things of which the league should have to bear the expettsc, but that the league should try to interest and draw the attention of those vitally concerned in them. Should Encourage Culture. He suggested that the league would be wise to have one big scheme in view afc a time, and thought that such would be met by an. endeavour to provide the town with a properly equipped library, a combination of a library, art gallery and small museum. "The library is very dmportant, particularly a good and extensive referenee library," he said. "We should endeavour to help the Cultural side of the town and we ouglit to try to get Something accomplislied along that line. I feel.that it would be well worth while af we ,did." • He mentioned that last year something like £1000 »was raised for sports bodies and the band, and now it wa3 Only. right that the league should consider something df the cultural side. "I would like to see the league keep this aspect of a iibraTy in view/' he added.' "Personally I don't think the preeent library building is suitable. What is wanted is a new building, not necessarily right in the town. whefe we can have an art gallery, a museum and a library," Mr Eainbow pointed ont that the Borough Council was now consldering a scheme for the extension of the present library quaTters. The erection of a new library building, however, was too costly and it .would not be possible for the borough to consider such a proposal for a good tftne.to come. Mrs Sarah Jones suggested that a hall be erected as a meeting-place for women, who at present had no suitable places iqt the holdihg of meetings, Trees Between Sdster Towns. Mr H. Nelson-Powler recalled that at a previous meeting the question of planting an avenue of trees between Hastings and Hapier had been considered, He said that Poplar Avenue was renowned tliroughout the Dominion, and a start had been made to beautify the route between Palmerston North and Wanganui, while at Kew Plymouth there had .been a popular drive for the planting oi native shrubs and trees. "When the idea was first mentioned we were given an assurance that Napier would suppott it and start planting trees frOm that end while we should start planting from this end," he said, The chairman said that the big difficulty Was that there were the power lines on one side of the road and telegraph lines on the other and it would not be possible to allow trees to grow n close proximity to the lines, "But there are hundreds of shrubs that will not grow that high," said Mr Nelson-Powler. "Another difficulty is that the road is used by travelling stock and also wandering stock. "The treee or shrubs could be protected from them," said Mr NelsonPowler. "There are scores of native bushes that can be grown that would make a wonderful pictttre, especially some of our native shrubs." Mrs Preston-Thomas; And they would' uot, affect the power lines either. Mr Smith suggested that at any rate the Cxecutive could appoint a subcommittee to investigate this proposal, as well as the many others put forward. An assurance that the executive would inquire into the various points raised was given by the chairman and the discussion lapsed.