ATTRACTING VISITORS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 73, 18 December 1937, Page 11

ATTRACTING VISITORS

Suggested Improvements To Marine Parade PR0P0SAL TO COUNCIL. Reporting to tlie Napier Borough Council at its meeting on Tliursday, on certain aspects of his xecent British tour, Mr. C. W. Corner, Superintendant of Reserves, mentioned the development of English seaside resorts, and, on the strength of his observ'ations, assisted by the Borough Engineer's Department, he has brought down a plan for the improvement of the Marine Parade between the Sound Shell and Eaffles street. A sunken area is suggested with facilities for tennis, bowls, putting and various other. amusements. Discussion of the detailed plan was deferred, and will take place at a special meeting of the Council in the New Year. Mr. Corner has formed the opinion that Napier can be made into a firstclass seaside resort, capable of attracting not only New Zealanders, but overseas visitors. In his report he said: "Although Napier is partly an industrial town, it is to its possibilities as a holiday resort that it must look for its future expansion. It is my opinion that, if some of the items I have mentioned were incorporated in our development scheines, Napier would expand in proportion to the population of New Zealand, as have the great holiday resorts of Britain. If we are to advertise this town as a plaee for not only New Zealanders but visitors -fronj. overseas to visit and stay, our amenities as they exist at present do not suffice. "We have no truly public reereation areas in Napier. The present areas are controlled by associations and clubs, and I am more than ever firmly convinced that there is an urgent need for publie bowling greens, tennis courts and putting greens. These publie grounds provide the maximum number of players to a given area, and, besides giving amenities for residents and visitors, they also form the nursery for private clubs and do mueh towarda popularising the various games.

"It is recognised that there are more onlookers than actual players, hence the proposed grounds serve a double purpose. I would like the surrounds to the greens to be as wido as possible in order to alford room for plenty of slielter in the way of bnilding pergolas, pavilions and conveniences, and also for beautifying purposes." In a seelion of his report, Mr. Comer wrote: "I was privileged to be able to promote a scheme fo'r the establishment and development at Napier of a Garden of Remembranee or Peace, to wliieh every town in Britain expressed itself as only too delighted to subscribe its support." The Council appointed the Mayor and town clerk to collaborate with Mr. Corner in thanking all the British townspeople for their offers of help and assuring tliem that the scheme would be fully considered.