THE KAIPARA AND WAITEMATA "With which is incorporated "The Kaipara Advertiser & Waitemata Chronicle." HELENSVILLE, THURSDAY, Jan, 20, 1916 WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH HELENSVILLE?

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 20 January 1916, Page 2

THE KAIPARA AND WAITEMATA "With which is incorporated "The Kaipara Advertiser & Waitemata Chronicle." HELENSVILLE, THURSDAY, Jan, 20, 1916 WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH HELENSVILLE?

HEAPS AND PLENTY!

VISITORS come and go, though many would like to stay awhile longer if there was anything attactive to look at and admire, Of scenery to gaze upon, we have none worthy a name. ■ Beauty spots often have to be artificially made or cultivated, and town planning has been quite forgotten ; even gardens are scarce, and goodness knows every home should have a showing of flowers and vegetables. It is no wonder then that visitors who come and go have nothing to remember Helensviile by as a passing show unless it be the dirty muddy river right through the town, with its unsightly banks all along the route, without the vestage of a tree or ornamental shrub of any description ; and to make matters worse a stray old iron tank or so anchored in the mud, and " some " rubbish are conspicuous eyesores* and enough to give one with an artistic eye the jim-jams.

And this is not all, but enough for our purpose, We desire to drive the facts home to the members of the Town Board. The destinies of Helensville have been presided over by and under the guidance of a Town Board for over thirty years, but what has it ever done to beautify the place and make it one worth admiring, or attractive enough for retired people fond of a quiet and inexpensive life to come and throw their lot into the vortex of time, away from the humdrum and noise of city life ? Not a park or recreation ground (bar the Springs) of any description, nor any attempt at town planning. Why some of the permits given by the Town Board, have turned out and encourage the shabbiest hovels imaginable.

With all this staring us in the face, what is going to become of Helensville ? What has made and is still making Whangarei where retired families are yearly settling by the hundred, building beautiful residences, while the aim of the local body has ever been to plan and beautify the place, and in situations too that were very unsightly a few years ago. Our local body then must be up and doing, in order to help further settlement and private residence amongst us. We have the climate and well laid out and clean streets, drainage and water, but that is not enough. An altered state of affairs must prevail, and every inducement should be made to encourage capital, industry, and population. Let us get on the job and see what improvements can be made towards furthering these ends,which tend as much to enhance the value of private property and make life worth living. All should be interested in such a forward movement, and the ECHO columns are open for any suggestions that may be in the mind's eye of the smart man. Get busy one and all.