TO BEAUTIFY THE TOWN.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 March 1916, Page 5

TO BEAUTIFY THE TOWN.

A TOWN PLANNING SCHEME. - MR. W. E. DAVIDGE'S REPORT. yALUE OF THE SEA FRONT/ ; The directions In which New Ply"*'' month may be beautified are set out irti an interesting report by Mr. W, R. Davidgo, chairman of the executive of the Garden Cities and Town Planning Association, of London. Mr. Dandfo visited New Plymouth some time ago, and kis report cam- to hand last night. The report is a very lengthy one, but its principal feature are set out here. Mr. Davidge says: "The natural u*' sets of th_e town are: First and foW most, the sea front, the natural beautie* of which should be maintained and ex. tended Tim natural features, com* menoing with the streams and river vaU leys, of which the Waiwakaiho, the Hu*« toki and Henut valleys are leading features. The beautiful Botanical.Garden* of New Plymouth already show what can be done with such natural feature* properly treated and these are a magnificent nucleus for a complete transformation and improvment of the town. The hill tops and view points, especially, as in the case of New Plymouth, tho*» with historic memories, and lastly the special show points such as the remains of the Maori pahs, which have to stIMR an interest and in years to come will have an even greater attraction for ah visitors from the Dominion or from tin Homeland. After stressing the necessity fo* rapid railway travel, Mr. Davidge (foes' on to say that the sea front, which! should form the principal attr»ction of the town, is at present largely cut off from the town by the railway along'tb* front. There is no question but that the railway line in its present position will, sooner or later, be a very coitly possession, necessitating either lowering the whole length of the railway along the front below the surface lfr*\ or the construction of many ugly and costly bridges under or over the ailway. There is an alternative rent* for the railway in the valley of the Mangotuku. Evorv effort should be made to secure the line being eventually diverted from its present position along the front, Mr. Davidge th>n «M* at length with the development «| iho town 6y tram cars. PLEASURE BEACHES, The necessity of protecting and reclaiming the sea front is then dsilt with. In the lay-out of the* sea Jtynt some form of groynes in the open portion of the beach, and a low sea ifall beneath the cliffs would appear almost a first necessity and from these w«uHl naturally grow the further developments of the front as a pleasure resort. "Rib children's playground' and outdoor gymnasium- should be made a soecial feature. At the mouth of the Hejmi it should he pdssible to provide sjjme I form of basin or canal lake, wMch would form n great attraction fi»r children l.sing the beach and at the sime time keep up the water level of the stream to a reasonable height. The cliffs should be- made Into a continuous . open space, and every encouragement should be given to their improvement BETTER ROADS WANTED. The rigid rectangular street plan, aU though quite satisfactory for small towns on flat ground, Is anything but suitable for so hilly a district as New Plymouth. In New Plymouth there are at present very few radial roads, and the need for such roads, will be felt with increasing severity with th* growth of the town. Such roads must of course accommodate themselves to' the level of ihe ground, but generally speakng such roads as the Frankloy Road could be used and improved for the purpose of radial roads leading out fr<m* the town, and several similar roads arc needed in other directions. Beyond this, however, there is much to be "d*BC in improving existing roads and nroylding a new central thoroughfare leading up to Pukekura Park, with broad spaces on each side. Tree planting should be carried out along the principal streets wherever possible, and especial attention given to the sea front, where native trees should, if possible, b» re-introduced. I i PARKS AND BUILDINGS. ' Town lands -or municipal reserve* should ,be carefully safeguarded, and Pukekura Park and the racecourse form a magnificent nucleus for a ring of dpn spaces around the town. The river valleys also be beautified.. As New . Plymouth grows many public building* . will be needed. If scattered about the town th.-ur effect will be largely lost, and it is therefore important that as far at . practicable they should be grouped to* ' gether in some central position. By th* '■ provision of a new Town Hall near the Huatoki, a fine opportunity is provided for a civic centre. An ornattienUl .' water, with cascades, etc., in the very ' heart of the town, could thus be provided, with riverside walks connecting ; the railway station and public square with the already beautiful Pukekura Park and Marsla'nd Hill. Dealing with , the industrial district. Mr. Davidge savs i the district in the neighbourhood of the .' breakwater and the oil wells will undoubtedly be the natural site for new - factories and manufacuring processes. It is a mistake to regard town planning as an expensive luxury, continues the re- [ port, The essence of good town plan.- • ning is economy and the best economy i is to foresee the needs ef the future.