THE BRUSH OF THE ARTIST

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 2, 24 March 1927, Page 9 (Supplement)

THE BRUSH OF THE ARTIST

may not “paint the city,” but i/I the brush of art in the hand of L m an may often embellish Nature k by softening touches. Some--51 times beauty is destroyed by j] artifice; on more happy occasions art will throw the original into greater relief by supplying pleasing contrasts. _ In this respect, those who have built this city need not altogether be ashamed, for though there have been many mistakes made (notably oil the waterfront), they have added many charms to the original plan and the unaesthetic utilitarian has not been allowed to altogether dominate.

Buildings, of course, there had to be, first woo'd, then brick, and now the modern edifices of steel and concrete, raising defiantly aggressive roofs where stood the humble shanties of the pioneers. But In latter day construction there is a very- apparent attempt to build in conformity with some distinguished, it yet unoutlined, plan, so that there shall not he an incongruous harshness of outline. Many of the most recent commercial and business structures are of fine design and have not made ruthless sacrifice of the artistic; they are, in fact, equal to the best constructions of their kind almost anywhere and may surely be commended as examples of a fine enterprise for a city which is as yet but of merely moderate size.

Outside the lines of commerce, the new University College building rears its picturesque white tower high against the skyline. From a distance, it is nothing If not artistic, though there may be some who question the beauty of its design on close inspection. In any case, it has a striking effect looking across Albert Park from the western part of the city, offering a very fine perspective which greatly im proves the original view. Then there is the War Memorial Museum, now building in the Domain. It Is planned In keeping with Its environment and will add to the charm of the Domain.

Auckland is noted for the beauty of its homes and for the gardens which accompany them. Gone are the old squab cottages, the four plain walls of the two-storeyed hutches, the lines of semi-detached villas, with all their cramping and their squalidness. The bungalow rules to-day, and everywhere around the city are charming homes of this description, varying greatly in design, but all built on artistic lines, with regard to comfort as well as to beauty.

Stady in Pleasing Contrasts

shackle sheds and boat-building yards occupied the site of what is now Sturdee Street, and Fanshaw Street, owing to the existence of an old timber mill, was a rambling thoroughfare. Victoria Park was then only being reclaimed from the mudflats; there was no thought given the extensive reclamations to be made later at Mechanics’ Bay. Then there was no splendid Post Office at the foot of Queen Street, and the clock of the old Exchange Building was the most prominent object on the western side, where now stands the magnificent building erected 'by Milne and Clioyce, and the splendid offices -of the New Zealand Insurance Company. Nor was the great edifice of John Court’s yet rising, or the fine structure of the A.M.P. Society. The old City Hall lay in ruins, the result of fire, and the new hail was not yet begun. Mean shops of poor construction lined the main street which is now a source of pride, and in Upper Queen Street there were very few shops of any description.

Karangahape Road as it is known to-day did not exist—it was a shabby street of poor shops. Contrast it to-day, with its splendid emporiums, its traffic, its general bustle and air of business. Across the Grafton Gully the old hospital buildings presented a fine sight on their picturesque eminence. But there were then no Wallace Wards, no great nurses’ home, no fine Princess Mary block for children —and there ■was not the fine bridge of-to-day across Grafton Gully. Then the city area was but 1786 acres; since then Parnell, Archhill, 'Grey Lynn, Remuera, Eden Terrace, Epsom and Point Chevalier have joined the city, and its area now covers 5547 acres.

The tramways service was then in its infancy, there being 59 cars in commission, running to Ponsonby, Herne Bay, Grey Lynn, Kingsland, Remuera Road, as far as Victoria

Avenue, and Onehunga. Now there are additional services to Upper Queen Street, Richmond and the Zoo, Morningside and Mount Albert, Dominion Road, Mount Eden, Anzac Avenue, down Victoria Avenue, out to the present Remuera terminus and along the Great South Road to Campbell Road, while there have been many duplications, and the number of cars in commission now exceeds 200. There were very few buses in those days, and those were horse-drawn.

And even twenty years ago there was no Main Trunk to Wellington. The line ended at Taumai'unui, and passengers travelling to Wellington had to go by steamer from Onehunga and join the train at New Plymouth. Pavements were practically unknown. Only Queen Street, Shortland Street and a short length of High Street was paved, and the residential areas, both city and suburban, had no kerbing and channelling. To-day there are concrete roads, stretching for miles into the countryside! Sewerage and water supply were passing through an indifferent infancy; there was no electric light supply; the only parks were the Domain, Albert Park and Western Park; Eden Park was a rough field, frequently under water; Carlaw Park was a Chinese garden; Blandford Park was a deep gully; there were no swimming baths; the Pitt Street Fire Station had just been opened; there was no Anzac Avenue; the population of the metropolitan area was only 57.829, where it is now 188,576; the Technical College, Training College, the University, the Grammar Schools at Mount Eden and Mount Albert, the girls’ schools at Howe Street and Epsom, the new King’s College, and a score of fine primary schools which now adorn the city had not been built.

In every year, in every way, something is being done to strengthen and further beautify the city beautiful. Town planning is to come, and it will tend further to guard and improve Auckland's grand heritage. There is growing, too, a more understanding civic responsibility, a more artistic outlook, and a greater desire to preserve natural advantages. In twenty years very much has been done for this city; in another twenty years there will be much more accomplished. May it all be .well and truly done, and may Auckland’s beauty remain undimmed.