A PLEA FOR CASS SQUARE.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 January 1926, Page 1

A PLEA FOR CASS SQUARE.

(To the Editor.)

Sir—l regard Cass Square as an especial asset to the town, and take this opportunity of putting in a special plea lor its future care and control. We are told that “the appearance of our Town is the symbol of our worth as citizens,” and on that account f beg to put forward the following for thought and consideration in determining Lite uses of which Cass Square migliL be put. The Square is essentially a recreation ground and it should be considered primarily as that, 'll is “the lungs” of our town, and■ whether for sports or pastimes for growing members of the community, or as a playground for the tiny tots, everything possible should ho done lo make it tit for such service. It is the repository for some of our notable' memorials. As such a place it should be so controlled that there limy not he the possibility even of damage by wandering animals, which if allowed oil the Square are liable to stampede and cause serious damage before etfeetive control would be possible. It is the resort for visiting picnic parties who bring much grist to the mill of the business people by the annual visits to Hokitika. For that purpose much expense lias been incurred in providing facilities which would be of advantage to the comfort of large parties, and the Itesl appreciation of that attention is the recurring visits year alter year of those large picnic parties. It is, also, the play ground of our young children. Almost daily these hot days children of tender years play in the shade and greatly enjoy themselves sale from the dangers which beset when playing on the streets. It has been the good work ol the Beautilying Society which removed the fences from the corner plots of shrubs, and lias left the spaces pleasant open ornamental plots which are admired by alk for they set off the grounds as a whole. With this outline review of Cass Square, 1 now pass to the conditions governing the Square. In the first place animals ot all kinds have been barred from the grounds for some time. The object was to preserve the shrubs and llower plots. It is highly essential, in my opinion, to bar animals to the Square and in particular the practice of tethering them about the leuees under the trees. The aggregation of manure in such places is oliensive to picnic parties in tlit* habit ol taking their refreshments under the trees. Further it is a menace to health, and certainly offends the senses. Tethered animals are liable to break away, and the possibility of damage to shrubs which have taken years to grow, or of destruction to flower beds, is not remote. Even the memorials which have Ik.*oii erected with loving thoughts are in danger on such occasions. As indicating the care and desire felt in the past for Cass Square even our own citizens are warned against making thoroughfares across the orass. to prevent unsightly tracks offending the eye. School children have been turned hack, and the unleneed cornel- plots are barred to pedestrian traffic. In addition some expense was incurred in procuring a horse drawn mower to keep the grass trim and neat and pleasing to the eye, “a meadow trim with daisies pied.” all to present an appearance wliieli would be (ieuitable to the aesthetic tastes ol the citizens. Vet in one full swoop all this goes bv the hoard when the authorities permit a travelling circus to decorate the grounds with their heavily laden lorries, herds of animals, and a general holocaust invasion of the grounds. he scarred condition of the grounds atld this rough and improper usage is to be regretted, undoing as it does, so much of" the work which has gone belore, and violating the whole principle ot sale control hitherto governing the ground. For. previous circus comhiimtinns were burred very propel i> from using Cass Square, and no injury done to their business, nor was (hero any ciirlailincnt of the enjoyment of the public patronising the enlertatnmenis.

The indy advantage is the lew pounds of "rental captured by the local |,odv. The amount K neither here nor there as regards the municipal welfare, bat the action cuts oil' many other pounds of revenue which would otherwise lie contributed tor tbe- improvement of Cass Square, but is now in danger of being lost. Financially the action is penny wise and pound foolish for the local body, while a desire to help >n real citizenship by improving a public reserve is stilled. For the future, may I plead lor greater consideration for Cass Squarer Jt is so valuable a reserve used for tinpurpose intended in the rational manner it should he, that il it is to he kept trim, and neat, and the wholehearted support of the people obtainotl, there must be* no question in the future, of the ground being abused. Surely with all the public reserves and privately owned commodious sections, there is ample room for visiting tented entertaiments without allowing Cass Square to be illegitimately used and ail the good work done in the past imperilled by alienating public sympathy and support. Such are my views on the matter, and it may he opportune at this juncture to ventilate them. I am, etc., 1). ,r. KVA NS. Hokitika. January 21.