AS OTHERS SEE US.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 March 1917, Page 2

AS OTHERS SEE US.

"irRESSIOXS OF.NEW PLYMOUTH.

A Dunedin gentlemen who recently visited New 'Plymouth has written to the Dunedin Star giving an example of how to boom a town. The following are extracts from his letter: —

"Visiting the West Coast of the North Island, after an absence of many years, I was struck with the marvellous prosress in the towns of Wanganui and New Plymouth. In the latter town a number of public-spirited citizens banded themselves together to assure the progress of their town. Their first consideration was, •What are our assets? Wo have beautiful walks, lovely bush, magnificent scenery, but the people wc wish to cater for have more or less the same? What have we that they do not possess? Tlie beach and bathing facilities. How ran we make the most of them?' And this was the method adopted: They built.at different ends of the beach two pavilions, the one I was taken over being two stories high, measuring COft x SOi't over all. It was built on the beach on a ven- fine concrete foundation, the superstructure being creosoted timber, and asbestos sheets. The ground lloor afforded the most perfect accommodation for bathers of both sexes that I have ret seen in New Zealand. The men's quarters contain three fresh watav showers in beautifully concreted apartments, ample nnd ehVen't drainage on the floors,i and raised platforms for tlie bailors to stand on. Comfortable seats nil round, and numerous partit'ons assuring privacy. Also, the ladies' quarters were, I understand, furnished in the same rcspeot. There was also a small store, for the sale of bathing suits, towels,, and soft drinks, etc. Upstairs tlie tea-room measured GOffc x 40ft, with ladies-' rest room and kitchen attached, and every sanitary accommodation, the iotal cost being £1750. This syndicate have also built bungalows on the beach.' The town water is laid on to these bungalows, the electric light is in process of being connected, the sanitary arranaements are all that can be desired, and these houses let during a long summer season for £os to 2os per week. As a consequence they bring the. people in vast numbers to then beach. During my visit 1-500 people came in from Stratford for their yearly picnic, all taking the trams-from the station to the beach at the breakwater. My friends tell me that at one time the people from Stratford, tltham, and Tfawera used to go one vear to Wanganui, .another year elsewhere, out now the picnic to New-Plymouth is a. yearly fixture, and mutually appre-

I'or. those/ said my friend, 'who preier it,,.we give morning, afternoon, and all-day leas at lid a head. Those ■bringing their own provisions and camping- o°n the beach, we supply with ho. water and milk as much as they require without enarge.