TARANAKI JOCKEY CLUB.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 December 1918, Page 7

TARANAKI JOCKEY CLUB.

IMPROVEMENTS TO RACECOURSE. No one who has not seen the improve* ments effected by the Taranaki Jockey Club at its course at New Plymouth, principally in connection with entrance and exit arrangements, can have anv con. ception of what has been* connection. A completi has been brought about, • the grounds of the club in the position of being equal to anything in the DominionA great deal of consideration has been given to the matter, and great credit is due to the club's architect, Mr. T. H, Bates, who designed and planned an entrance on the lines suggested by the borough inspector, Mr R. Day, that must be a great satisfaction to the club officials and will be found of the greatest convenience to patrons of the turf. The span of the John Street entrance covers over 80ft altogether, and, when completed, with concrete columns and wrought-iron gates, will be of an impressive as weir as a permanent character. Immediately on the left-hand side of the main drive is a footway 10ft wide which leads right up to the ticket-box and entrance to the grounds proper Adjoining this, but separated by a substantial concrete kerbing, is the entrance drive , for priva'3 motor-cars, ivhich, after reaching the entrance gates to the grounds, curves away to the right to a large parking paddock at the rear of the totalisator-house, giving accommodation for a large number of cars. To effect this arrangement the old cottage occupied by the custodian has been demolished, and on an adjoining site, in a bcautifud and commanding position, has been; erected a. modern concrete bungalow finished off in rough cast and fitted with, every convenience. This building looks exceedingly picturesque and is a decided ornament to the grounds. For the exit of the private cars a drive ha 3 been ia.d out on the opposite side of the main entrance, the track making a graceful sweep out 'beyond the circuit provided for taxi-cars. This latter, which is for taxis and private taxis, is a 10-foot drive, somewhat* like a deep horseshoe in shape, and is banked up at the top just where the turn is made. From the disembarking platform a broad walk }ia3 been laid out leading up to another ticket-box and entrance gate to the grounds proper, and this walk is fenced off on the right-hand side by a substantial wrought-iron fence, on a base of concrete kerbing. One of the features of the whole arrangements is that the drives are so arranged and constructed as to practically totally eliminate the chance of accidents Car 3 cannot pass one another, and the traffic must therefore keep in procession, and if a reasonable speed is maintained the whole arrangement should facilitate an expeditious handling of the rush of traffic both in and out of the course. The elub is to be commended on its decision in this reapect, and tlio contractors (Messrs Roberts a nd Son's), have very faithfully excented the design and plana. It is suggested that pedestrians will obtain perfect safety by using the lefthand footpath in Gover Street, or; by goins through Pukekura Park, the latter being preferable by reason m» m6tbr traffic being barred from Liardet Street.