WEST COAST WATERING PLACE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 127, 20 May 1908, Page 3

WEST COAST WATERING PLACE

ADYEUTISIXG XEW PLYMOUTH'S ATTUACTIOXS. PROPOSALS TO KVfKItTATX VISITORS.

COMMITTEE SET UP. '! Notwithstanding strong eOutiterat- '";' traction*, there was a very satisfactory : and inllueiitial gathering of citizens at , the Town Hall last night in response to the meeting ciiil,.il l,y !,i s Worship tlir Maun- to formulate proposals to popu- | l«ri-e New Plymouth as a holiday and residential resort. Antilogies for noliatteudanee were received from a number who were otherwise engaged. I Tin. Mayor. Mr (1. Tisch, presided. In his opening remarks, he said lie liad for some time recognised Unit if was necessary io ilu something ID attract outprovincial friends, especially during the time of their holidays and nn-i is-mak-ing, llv li.nl called" I lie meeting rarly in order that Ihe various sporty organ- [ isatioiis iniglH so arrange their fixtures as to provide plenty of cheap amuse meat, and also that the public bath in and out of Xew Plymouth might navel plenty of notice of what was living arranged for their enjoyment. His own opinion whs that a big seaside picnic covering one or two days should be

| held at the breakwater, and also , | sports meeting of some kind in lin beautiful Recreation Spoils Ground The Jockey club already held two days races at Christmas Unic. but thai, dhl not exactly fill the bill. This was not altogether a racing community, ami it was necessary to provide something ad ditional. Jt was necessary to mane our beach more attractive," and not enough had been done in that direction in the past. A committee: should inset up to carry out the necessary arrangements, with plenty of time to" formulate popular schemes. lie suggested that the committee should endeavor to get a warship to visit the pon miring the holidays, and he was sure it '■■y.'.J. piove an enormous draw. The

shipping coiujiaiiß'*, the Union and tin Northern, had always willingly agisted in thu holding of picnics at Motur.i.i, and he had no doubt their support would be readily accorded. lie was not in favor 0 f any elaborate carnival scheme, but the committee could provide perhaps hot water and milk for the picnickers. Regarding the esplanade improvement, lie had nut been long enough in harness yet to get into work" iug condition, but he had not neglected the matter. He had been over the ground with the borough engineer, who was enthusiastic over the work. aiid definite proposals would he submitted later on. He was not ci-ving from Ine housetops what he wa, going to do, but at the offset he would contribute 'till and another gentleman " had alreadv promised him a like amount towards til' extension proposed The Council would make a start by dealing tji,. ~,. '"ting portion, of weed, ami "iHiiiurcments. lie moved:—"That in the' opinion of this meeting it is dcii-ablc to bold a seaside picnic , n ln ,, ami a days sports i.n the new Sports Ground during the Christmas hnlidav and that this meeting appoint a co'iiniiltce to make the nWcssarv arraii"cmonts to carry out the above." "

-Mr. A. Humphries seconded. ]]e thought it ouite possible to run something of the sort, but was not agreeable to a two days' picnic. He considered that if the Boating Club applied for one day, the committee could assist them to make a success „f one big ,lav on the beach. With regard to another day on the Sports Ground that could easily be arranged. If tu= warship were secured, it would prove a great attraction at the regatta and picnic, while with the sailors' assistance a splendid programme could be proiidcd on the Sports Ground. -Mr Bishop, speaking regarding the regatta, stated that the Boating Club already had 100 members, and had sup plied a number of free shows during me year. Although only in a small way

lasl year, he claimed they demonstraf

cd ihat the harbor ikjssi"-sc<l qualilicatioes Unit few, even in Xew Plymouth, I""' credited it with. Jlc madehold In Say ilial the New I'lyinoutlt people faileil (o realise what they at (he Jiiirhor—une of tile lies!. camping grounds and beaches in the c'olony. (In the tare and Weak beach at (.Jisbnrne he hid seen hundreds camped out evens'' ier in tents an.l bungalows, bill lie never saw one iifl-i-. The movement simply wanted a start, plenty of advr and jnt.sli, ami soon we would, hai • families from all over lb- coa,| s|' 'diii',' (heir holidav, ; i|, H„. -.-.i-i,1.-. Tl'ere was a lovely beach, fl„- safcl fur balliing. plenty of fishing, in short everything to make Mutnroa the seaside resort of Hie West toast. What bill-of-faie, lie asked, did N'ew Plymouth |rW-

.vide for its hundreds of would-be country holiday-makers last Christmas'; A race meeting! The consequence was thai people were going, elsewhere, to Auckland and Wanganui, and money wa.s being lost to the district. Only a percentage of the visitors wanted to go to races or sports meetings. The beach was the great attraction, and he was convinced it only wanted exploiting to bring thousands to New Plymouth. The Boating Club |\vas willing to run a good one-day programme. Already pioneer racing lwats were 'making their appearance as the result of last year's small lieginning. and he hoped soon to see another club formed to foster 'rivalry in -culling as well as in sailing races. Last year's experience bad exploded the prognostications of the cold-water throwers wnO said that rowing could not be held at New Plymouth. On the live days ~u which racing had been held, there had nd l>een enough wind to flutter a ha ndkerchief. Ilr. Leafham. who expressed his sympathy with the movement, emphasised the need for greater accommodation. A few people managed to get furnished houses and cottages for the summer but the seekers were far in excess of the ~:pply. Large numbers of people would, he knew of his own knowledge, ce-.e.e here were it not for that drawback, li sOnie enterprising iirm could be induced to build hfrge accommodation houses on the seashore, the imdertak-

il g would Iwoin. The motion was carried. .Mr. Humphries moved that an execu

He of eight be set up. .Mr. 10. Dockrill, in seconding, rcinark•d that he was glad to see the meeting a .is not launching out into a carnival -.heme, bnt was following the lines advocated by the newspapers.

The following committee'was elected: Messrs. A. Humphries, (!. Bishop, ]|. Stocker. .}. JleU'Od, E. P. Webster, J. Clarke.' A. R. Slandish. and A. E. Sykes. with his Worship the Mayor ex officio.

Mr. Gilbert 1 I In- necessity <>f making early application to the Railway Department for the necessary trains, with sufficient rolling-stock to handle the traffic A long discussion ensued on tile question of linaiKe. Mr. Baker considered that a •_ , uarai)tee ami a - nl'-' i"i|>l ion li-t -hoobl In ..|it-ne.l at once. Mr. \\ . f. We>l on -upporting. Mr Kilberl in huui- of a direct taina~s !"■'nji nMHl'' lor fund-. Messrs -I. Morey, Stanley Shaw and A. U. NtandNh urged the n<'cessity of having funds for pushing the Mr. U'hittakcr did not think there would lie any dillicnlty in netting Cl'KI in advertise the attractions of tlic town and heaell. Mr. Jiaker said what was wanted was n«>t so liitieh the cheap tripper, as people . who wanted to spend a week's holiday | "i 1 longer, and people who might eveiisirable place in which to settle down, lie rriijnjesied the conimittee make arrangements lor tile hire of lent* r_ o Mr. Kislmp said there would lie no dillicully in arranging lor tents. These eotild be secured in the lnwn at very reasonable rates, provided the fact were made known. If would tend I" induce country people to spend more of the summer holidavs at the seaside. J)r. l.eathain suited that. inquiries ,liuuld be made regarding the possibility of ]ieople lieing allowed to build bungalows ami summer camps on I lie il here, it might mean the initiation of a very popular movement. In speaking regarding the pienic -elieme. Mr. Weston pointed out the advisability of inviting the New Zealand Government training ship "Amokura" to visit tbe port during the Christmas liolii days. II would prove an exceedingly | popular attraction. It was eventually decided to circulate subscription lisN, close on 120 being I collected in the rnmn. At a meeting of tile exeeutiw' held I subsequently. Mr. A. 1.. Humphries wa.- ! elected secretary and treasurer. Formal business was transacted, and arrangements for an early meeting made.