BEAUTIFYING WORK

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 20, 16 September 1931, Page 3

BEAUTIFYING WORK

society meets MAYOR OUTLINES WORK v' ' OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT EFFORTS SUPPORTED A special meeting of the executive committee of the Rotorua Beauti-V\ fying Society was held last night in*,'. the president's office to consider the report on street beautifying submitt- / ed to the Borough Council by the^ landscape architect, Mr F. Tschopp, which had been forwarded by, the council for the society's considera-". ti°n. ( The president, Mr E. La Trol?e Hill was in the chair and there were « also present, Mrs G. Urquhart, 'Mrs ■ C. A. Clarke, Father Spiering • artdr' Messrs J. McDowell, Geo. Steele, W,i ; W. P. Hall, L. Woolliams, AlbertjSmith, F. Simmonds and L. G. ,AshV>, ton, secretary. His Worship • -t|eX t Mayor, Mr T. Jackson, who ;«fas.;,acl ■ companied by Mr Tschopp,. was present by invitation. - » At the chairman's- request Mr" Tschopp explained his plans for. three alternative methods of transforrning ' Fenton Street and Whaka Road. intoa boulevard. A number of questibns'-' were asked, particularly regarding traffic requirements. Mr Tschopp also explained the plan for the improvement scheme in Tryon and Froude Streets now being carried 'out by the council, which, when completed, will give the themal reserv'e- a most attractive approach. ' After the chairman had briefly reviewed Mr Tschopp's report the Mayor (who is also patron of , the society) was invited to address the meeting. . Guidance Needed Mr Jackson said that he would not go into the repdrt in detail as it. had not yet been finally dealt with by the council. He explained why he had in the first place suggested the engagement of a landscape architect. It seemed to him that if a comprahensive scheme of beautifying was to be undertaken in Rotorua therewere many technical questions which would have to be taken into consideration _ if the full benefit of the council's and the society's efforts was to be enjoyed. He felt'that without such guidance work might be undertaken which would not fully meet the needs of the town. in the most satisfactory and eeonomical manner. Mr Jackson reminded his heareFs that the original term of Mr Tschopp's engagement was quite inadequate to enable him to draw up a fully comprehensive report, but it was eonsidered that the term decided upon would be sufficient to give a definite idea of the requirements and for this purpose one unit was selected and a complete scheme for the approaches to Whakarewarewa wasasked for. This was selected because the council was at the tjme considering the carrying out oi - an. improvement scheme in this area. The council -\yas now in possession of full and detailed plans and other data for the whole of the work and these gave a good basis for similar wbrk in other areas. Other Areas * . Mr Jackson said that the council had now decided to extend Mr Tschopp's engagement in order that he might prepare plans for the development of other areas in the town, not only streets, but reserves, parks and other areas of borough lands which lend themselves to embellishment, such as street intersections. This o'f course entailed further expenditure — expenditure which the council was not in a position to meet unassistbd. He had therefore taken opportunities to appeal for assistance to other organisations and had been most encouraged by the reception he had met with. "If we have a plan; a basis to work upon, which of course may have to be varied in one way or another, but can be used as a general guide, we shall have made at least some advance toward the object which we dll have in front of us," he said. Plans and other expert advice and information would prevent costly mistakes and serve as a basis for a scheme whether it was to be carried into effect within a year or two or would take 50 years to finaiise. He was pleased to have the opportunity to attend. the meeting because he was going to ask the society to make a contribution towards the cost of retaining Mr Tschopp's services for a further period in order that he might prepare a comprehensive scheme and set of plans for the aesthetic development of Rotorua, which was one of the town'a greatest needs, and could become one of its greatest assets. He realised that the present was not a favourable time to ask for money, but he felt so strongly that, as the Dominionjs leading tourjst resort, Rotorua should also be its most beautiful town, he was taking the right course in endeavoiiring to take the fullest advantage of Mr Tschopp's services while these were available on such favourable terms. Business Asset The chairman thanked the Mayor for his address and said the committee would go into the question of making a contribution. . He heartily agreed with Mr Jackson/s rematfks, realising that systematic ' planning was necessary and that ' advantage should be taken of Mr.' Tschopp's presence. The council -syas, in his opinion doing the right thing in ' retaining Mr Tschopp. ' Mr J. McDowell endorsed the chairman's views. He was sure members were surprised when they received Mr Tschopp's report. He asked members to take the report and visualise the town when its recommendations had been carried into effect. Rotorua was to be congratulated on its Mayor's progressiveness, which had given it the advantage pf' Mr Tschopp's expert knowledge and-abil-ity. ? Mr McDowell also meri£ioned the business asset the proposfed- beautifying scheme would be to the town. I** 1 * .f-