The Daily News WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22. OUR SEASIDE ASSET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 195, 22 September 1909, Page 2

The Daily News WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22. OUR SEASIDE ASSET.

It is gratifying tj observe that his Worship the Mayor intends to pro<,.'cute with his accustomed vigor his ambitiou to popularise New Plymouth's natural advantages as a seaside rcsorr.. Last ,vear splendid work was accomplished in this direction by Mr. Tisch and the Seaside Improvement Commit' tee, and, despite many disadvantages, inducements were olfered which attracted many hundreds of holidaymakers and rest-seekers. Of particular value were the permanent improvements carried out last summer by tile completion of the esplanade along the seashore from the llenui practically to the breakwater, and the acquisition of splendid camping grounds overlooking the harbor. Unfortunately the earlier campers last season were not favored by the kindest of weather, a circumstance which, in conjunction with the somewhat primitive arrangement provided, did not tend to make camp-lite over-enjoyable. Later on, however, those who chose for the simple life tli* month of February" and later had every reason to be enamored of the surrounding*. This vear the Committee intended to malcc better provision for prospective campers, and already a small building has been erected in a handy position where it may be used as a kitchen in the event of wet weather making outside cooking uncomfortable. In various other ways efforts will /io doubt be made to provide for the comfort of Imt-dwellers, whom it is hoped to attract in very considerable numbers during the coming season. Meantime it would appear from the notice calling the mi-din!! that the immediate intention is to make preliminary arrangements for the holding of the soas'dc picnic on New Year's Bay. The outing, which was organised by the Committ'.e last year, was, despite the not over favorable weather, a complete sum**, hundreds of country rc-idents spendin;' an enjoyable day at the harbor. The principal attraction was the presence in port of 11.M.5. Cambrian and the New Zealand Government training sh',i Amolcura. Although some hundreds opersons visited the ships, the weather was so unusually severe for the tun" of the year that hundreds were unable to gratify their desire to see over a real, live" vessel of war, and undoubtedly every effort should again be put fo,--i ward this year to influence the Admin] I ill stationing a ship or ships of the squadron at New Plymouth during the holiday season. The open-handed manner in which the people entertained th.' j sailors last year is sufficient guarantee

that their stay here o n any future oceasion will l>c made enjoyable. Th-rc is every reason why tiie Admiralty should welcome the desire of New Plyinoutli to entertain a unit of the Navy, in which New Zealand is now more in tiniately interested than ever hitherto. In the future the Dominion must provide a much larger quota of men to the Navy than has been the ease before, and to attract the best physique n.vl intelligence available opportunities must be afforded the young generation in the country districts to imbibe the taste fo r the sea. It is to he hoped the .public will evince their interest in the Mayor's ambitions by attending tonight's meeting j„ considerable .m ■.- hers. An influential committee of the business men of the town will tend to make the whole project a great success, and at the same time render the wr.rk of the individual members 'comparatively light. Last year a very small eoninn'ttee was entrusted with'the work of carrying dut the programme of seaside improvement, and we are aware that the work thrown on their should ?is during the holiday season was particilai'ly onerous. Tn this matter, in which everybody in the town is interested, there should be no dearth of willing helpers, and we hope to see them show their willingness by attending the meeting in the Town Hall this evening.