The Daily News TUESDAY, MAY 22 TOWN BEAUTIFICATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8116, 22 May 1906, Page 2

The Daily News TUESDAY, MAY 22 TOWN BEAUTIFICATION.

New Plymouth people are so used to vaunting the liborality of Naturo in showering her beauties on this locality that Ihey overlook not only tho necessity which exists for beautifying tho town and suburban reserves and streets, but also the work ot those gentlemen who some years ago banded themselves together as the Taranaki Sconery Preservation Society. In a quiet, unobtrusive fashion, the Society has done mucii to make New Plymouth attractiye to visitors, and has also an excellent record to show as a result of its representations to higher authorities. Interest in the work is just now at a low ebb, and no meeting of the Society has been held for a couple of years. # # * #

A comtESPONDENT recently wroto us to tho effect that Fort Niger, a tompting place to spend an hour or two, is inhospitable, inasmuch as there are no paths, and no seats on which to rest whilst the magnificent view is enjoyed. Not knowing whether or not there was any Society to which ho could make his complaint, he asked ui to call attention to the need of providing greater inducements to tho annually I increasing number of visitors to New Plymouth. The Tarauaki Scenery Preservation Society is the very society to take this matter in hand, and we should be pleased to see it resuscitated. One of the most-used improvements secured by the representations of the Society is the New Plymouth Esplanade, along the sea-front between the Terminus Hotel and the Muuicipal Baths. Blind to tho best interests of the town as a seaside holiday resort, the authorities of earlier days allowe 1 the public to use this sea front as a rubbish depot! Fortunately the members of the Society recognised that this strip of ground was worth something better than that, and secured a lease from the Eailway Department of the present Esplanade from St. Aubyn street to Dawson street, tho end of which was the site of the rubbish depository. From this point to Weymouth street, the land of private owners adjoins the railway line, but these gentlemen very generously donated a strip to be used as a walk. .Mr Newman further donatod £25 to 'lave the concrete steps constructed in order to giye access to the beaeh.

# # # # The small triangle at the corner of Dawson and Hinc streets, bearing the high-sounding title of Begina Place—and used as a rubbish depot—was then planted, and after much trouble, the townspeople were at length persua led to let the ornamental trees grow. The society next set to work and obtained a lease of the land on the sea side of the railway line between Weymouth street and Kawaroa Park, in order to connect the latter with the Esplanade. Passing on, it is found that the base of the bare Paritutu has been planted with trees, and tracks have been formed in order that pcoplo may the easier reach the height of their mountaineering ambition —and the top of Paritutu. The zig-zag, moreover, was fenced in its more dangerous parts, a liHle attention that has been appreciatcd by hundred who cared not a tig who had done the work.

! # * * * Not so many yenrs ugo Marslaud Hill was anything but the pleasant resort that it is to-day. Instead of those terraced walks, shrubs, and toi-tois on its face, grew the tall fir trees, planted in olden days by the A.C., ulmtst hiding the hill at the back, and certainly spoiling it as u spot from which to overlook the town. Here was an opportunity for the society; and the committee set to work. Permission was obtained to chop down the trees, and prison labour was obtained for the work. Mr T. K. Skinner spent a vast amount of time unit trouble in laying out the interlacing paths—which were neatly turfed, but like many other beautified spots, were ruined by the rising generation—and several Arbor Days were spent there, with the result that Marsland Hill became gradually what it is to day, being kept in order by the prisoners from the near-by jail.

# * * * But the work of tho Society was not confined to the town. The Egmont Sational Park, as at present constituted, is due entirely to the efforts of this useful institution. In those days the belt of land at the base of the peak was preserved as the Forest Reserve under the control of the Land Board, but the Society took the view that this control did not give a permanent guarantee that the Bescrvc would be kept intact, and on its initiative tho Egmont National Park Bill was drafted and passed into law. Later the Patua Ranges were reserved A3 a scenic reserve, owing to the fear that someone would be found trying to secure grazing rights over these bush clad hills and valleys. Eight through Taranaki are eyidenees of the work of the Scenery Preservation Society, whose funds were voluntarily subscribed, and aided occasionally by Government grant. Beauty-spots have been reserved and rescued from the hand of the spoiler, and in days to come these, no doubt, will be appre. ciated at their true worth. The farfamed Mount Messenger owes to these enthusiasts its preservation as a scenic resort; Woolcombe Terrace was planted, and the Hcnui river frontage at the back of the New Plymouth Cemetery was fenced and preserved. Owing to the work of the Society, there was no district in the colony more advanced, ready, and prepared for the Scenery Commissioners than was Taranaki, and from the data then given several reserves have since been gazetted. The Government has now assumed control of the preservation of the colony's scenery, so that the Society, if resuscitated, can pay more attention to the immediate surroundings of tho New Plymouth. There is much to do. New Plymouth is endowed with many reserves and opeu places. These need lisautifying. But there must be somo moving spirit. Cau this important aud useful Society be revived now ?