A POPULAR WALK.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 230, 8 March 1915, Page 3

A POPULAR WALK.

I.MPROVIXt! KA'WAKOA PARK. ■SPLENDID WORK L\ PROGRESS. Those residents who had not seen Kawaroa Park for two or three weeks were amazed yesterday when they once more renewed acquaintance with this popular promenade. On of the greatest drawbacks of the place in the past has .been that it was allowed to blush unseen, the hand rotunda and its adjacent attractions having been concealed from the IjeacVstrollcr until lie passed some hillocks crowned with untidv, twisted trees and lupins. Shortly, the approach was bad, although it was hy way of Tisch Avenue. It was this that most forcibly struck the new president, Mr A. E. Svkes, when he accepted office a couple of months ago. .Bringing to hear upon the problem an experience born of travel, and that enthusiasm fo" winch he i s noted. Mr SUkes set to "f"ji' t ' '"embers or the executive oi the l<oroslioro Improvement Society were riprt /or action. A contract \vfr let, and now the place 'is being opened up. The improvement is remarkable. I, He spoil from the hummocks has been used in levelling up the intervening : hollows, and it is hoped that by next; spring there will be a green sward sweeping along the seaward side of the ! Inch Avenue, between th e baths and i •Morley street. Planting is to Injudiciously carried out, so as to provide shelter and color without obstruct "ig the magnificent seascape which enjoyed from the headland. Already the Kawaroa Park is noted for the glorious profusion of the crimson-flowered pohutukawas, which were such a treat to look upon a month or two ago. Probably another couple of hundred of these will be planted this year, and kanaka, and other native, shrubs. The immediate surroundings of the bungalow will be enhanced by the addition of trellis or lattice-work, and the tarring of paths and roadwav. A "rca* miprovement j s being effected by the kerbmg of the avenue, preparatory to tarring and sanding the roadway. The permanent edging thus provided to the grass-covered pleasure plot and the grass surrounding the band rotunda will enable these to be improved, and, moreover, to be maintained more easily and at less expense. The kerb stones for this work have been given by the Borough Council, a practical recognition of the West hinders' work. Before leaving this part of the improvement scheme Wo have to mention the low rustic wall of stone and concrete, which is to be erected from the railway line seaward in . Weymouth street. Concrete posts will lie erected in view of the provision some day; of ornamental iron gates. It is not beyond the bounds of possibility that one of our citizens, in order to mark his appreciation of tin; splendid result-, of the voluntary labors of this small body of workers, will donate the gatci to this fine public park,-w'hioli promises to become soon one of the prettiest and most popular resorts in the province. Recently the Railway Department, placed under the control of the Society, through th ( . Borough Council, a strip several chains in length and about n* chain wide, between Weymouth Street and Belt road. Portion of this has been treated as belonging to the park for som,. time, and paths have been cut and tables with .scats erected bbeneath the shade of its avenues of pines. But byfar the best piece lies to the westward of Morley street, where the Society lias ; now cut a new path leading from th, Morley street approach westwards anil ■ out on to the cliff. There is quite a big area here, and it is being cleaned up. The promoters of the tennis, club for th e West End have spied out this land for courts, and it is probable that in the course of a few weeks a meeting of residents will be called to take the matter up with a view of being ready for play in the coming season. The , idea of laying courts near the baths had to be abandoned, on account, of the possibility of baths extension, and, further, because the membership of the club : promised to be bigger than could be accommodated there. It is now thought best that the Foreshore Society should lease a piece of ground at a nominal ren- \ tax to a club, and allow the hitter be;ly full control, as in the case of the We-; End Bowling Club in Western Park, and the Park Tennis and Croquet Club in the Recreation Grounds. .But hyt far the most ambitious scheme is reserved to the last. The progressive president proposes the erection of a large two-storeyed building on a high ground near the rotunda as a pavilion It is to be erected in concrete, to provide a ball-room or assembly hall on tin ground floor, furnished apartments on t'le first floor, balconies, and a. promcn ; aile roof. There is no doubt that addil tional accommodation for summer visit.- ; ors is needed in New Plymouth, and this ' scheme looks feasible and payable. The place would need a caretaker, of course, and a's the park is dreadfully in need oi one, too, it is proposed that a married couple should be installed for the general supervision and care of the property. 'J'lie park people are ambitious, but u is a laudable ambition—!o convert a lupin-covered waste into a pretty and popular public pleasure-ground on the sea-front,. Popular it is already, as improved by the large numbers who frequent it afternoon and evening. The children flock to the swings, and mother--(and others) to the shade. The women- ; folk of the locality have done much to , provide the funds -for the work done, and are always ready to do more. The citizens owe a debt of gratitude to the West End Foreshore Improvement Society, who bring to their operations an ! enthusiasm that augurs well for the ulti- ! mate success of the work that was iiiili--1 a ted at this spot bv the late Mr. Tisch. | and which was so near to his heart. It I is hoped that when the permanent ;•« ■ trance to the Tisch Avenue —traversing . the park—is made, a. commemonil i*<n I ablet will be erected there to hi; memory.