FOUR MILLION SPENT IN 19 YEARS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 12, 7 October 1937, Page 8

FOUR MILLION SPENT IN 19 YEARS

Development oi Hastings' Name Town UNDERGROUND CAR PARKS From time to time greetings and expressions of goodwill are exchanged. between the sister . towns of Hastings, New Zealand, and Hastings, England, and only a few months back the celebration of the jubilee of this borough provided an opportunity to vlew in retrospect the progreas and development of the town over the past 50 years. Hence the development of our sister town in England, as outlined in the following article, will he of interest: — Extensive reclamation of land from the sea to jmprove the front ; a string of underground car parks that are the first in the world on a larga seale under civio auspices j construction of the £93,000 White Rock pavilion, famous for its concerts — these are among the outstanding features of a campaign which has transformed Hastings in iittle more than a decade. Not long bef ore the war the town as a rfesort was moribund. In the postwar period the corporation has speht £4,000,000 on jmprovements. Another £1,000,000 is xepresented by various private enterprises. To-day the crowds that throng the town and beaches attest the great popularity which Hastings has gained by this large-scale addition to its natural attractions. Last year 1,560,000 people — a record — arrived in Hastings by railway. Thousands more came by^road. Great Development. ' The sinkjng of the cars into a string of great parks beneath the promenade began in 1931. The fourth of these out-of-sight car parks is now being constructed, and will be opened jbhis winter. A fifth is pjanned. When this is complete there will be room ior 1,200 cars to be parked underground simultaneously. At present there is room for 2,235 cars to be placed in authorised parks above and below ground. The improvement in the i'ront has been one of the most striking features of the developmeht of modern Hastings. A strip of land, three-quarters of a mile long and 70ft. wide, was reclaimed, and at a cost of £143,000 a new promenade was builfc along it. To contintte the development of the front a double-deck promenade, with a covered walk along the lower deck stretching for one-third of a mile, was opened in 1934. This cost £32,000. Next a sectiop. of the old promenade was widened by the construction of a new sea wall 25ft. out to sea. The lavjsh scale on which Hastings does things is well exemplified by the £65,000 bathing ,pool. More than 10,000 people can watch the swimraers. There are three promenades, * the top one having a deck right round tho pool. There, are cafes, terraces, a gymnasium and dance floor. Boxes are provided for 2,000 bathers. The water is illumin.ated from below the surface. £87,000 Gardens. Among many features added in the last decade are :-— "* The White Rock Gardens behind the front, containing bowling greens, texmis courts, putting green, a one and a-half acre miniature golf course and a pavilion for • indoor bowls. The gardens, with the Pilot field, cost £87,000. Complete' reconstruction of the White Rock 165-feet underground swimming pool, small swimming pool and Turkish, foam, pjne and 'other medicinal baths. Cost was £81,000. '' • Construction of. modern wind-proof suntrap sheltesrs on tho promenade, giving shelter to 1,000 people. - , ■r Paddlihg pool and bathing lake for children cost £7,000. New informatioa bureau and public ofiices .constructed at a cost of £28,000. About 50,000 inquiries a year are dealt with. at tlie bureau. Reconstruction of two golf cdurses. Museum rehoused at a cost of £17,000. Sea bathing improvementp cost £5,000, jncluding 92 new dhalets. A £17,000 scheme which includes the construction • of the first municipal squash rackets courts in the country. The two piers reconstructed and modernised." On Hastings pier a large pavilion will open in a fortnight's time with much improved accommodation. Shore improvements costing £40,000. A 380-acre municipal airport is planned to open in. 1940. Up on the hill stands the ruined castle. This, at all events, thinks ihe visitor, has escaped the march of progress. He is wrong. At night it is richly floodlit.