A BRIGHT CITY

Hokitika Guardian, 27 July 1929, Page 3

A BRIGHT CITY

PLANS FOR MELBOURNE

SYDNEY, July 11

Melbourne will be one of the . most briliiantjly Illuminated oities in the world when the City Council’s scheme to treble the brilliancy of the present lighting system is completed. The ncw r work lias just been commenced and will not be competed unti the end of the year, by which time more than £30,000 wil have been spent. More than 400 ornamental street lanterns, each containing powerful electric lights, will be erected in eight miles of the city’s streets in the business area proper. The Town Hall is to receive special treatment and an elaborate scheme of flood lighting has heen designed for it. Melbourne’s civic pride is envied by many a citizen of Sydney who is brave enough to comment on it. In deciding upon the new lighting scheme Melbourne is merely keeping pace with municipal development in other parts of the world. Tourists have often commented upon the poor lighting of the capitals in Australia and New' Zealand. Everywhere, it is said, the tendency is for more light, aii|d as more ligjit is (Teterrent to crim’e as well as an aid to the beauty it serves a double purpose which no city can afford to overlook. When the civic commissioners of Sydney agreed'-tthat more light was necessary in file maim streets they provided it, but their scheme did not have the artistic* merit of Melbourne's plan. It was intensely plain and utilitarian, as niost things are in Sydney. An American who recently visited Australia, via Ntew Zealand, commented severely on the lighting of the capitals and said, that the lighting of Auckland and Wellington was a disgrace to the authorities. So perhaps New Zealand has something to learn from the elaborate preparations that are being made in Melbourne to briglitten up that city.

en up that city. “Australia,” said this American, “has not realised the value of effective lighting, otherwise the towns would not he so hideous at nights. Better lighting means better business. There is a great deal of truth in the saying that the crowds are attracted by bright lights. Even in Sydney the business people realise the value, of bright lights an do so to such an extent that they ai prepared to foot the bill in making a certain shopping corner brighter tli: it otherwise would he. There are several so-called “white ways” in the fit and suburbs. The City Council assists to some extent by supplying the extra light at a reduced rate. Now* an effort is being made to improve the reputation* of the famous Dnrlinghurs in Sydney, and the main features the’ scheme is -jnpre light. ,

wanted to see the ships off, well, why not?

20.000-TON MOTOR SHIPS FOR NORTH PACIFIC TRADE

“The steamer we sailed in had 6oQ passengers, which will give you an idea ,of the trade across the Northern Pacific. We called at Honolulu. The day before we arrived here each first and second-class passenger received a dainty invitation card from Captain Tusi requesting his attendance at afternoon tea on the dancing deck. On arrival there, much to the amazement of rill, the passengers were ushered through great bamboo gates into a Japanese garden aglow with cherry blossoms, a veritable fairyland, and there with Captain Tusi, as the presiding genii, the passengers spent the most delightful afternoon partaking of tea, dancing, and music. The dinner the captain gave the. night before arriving in San Francisco was another amazing feature of the' trip. It could not have been done better on any ship in the world. It just shows how adaptable the Japanese are to modern ideas, and how they are winning custom by value given.”