CHRISTCHURCH CHARM.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 243, 14 October 1929, Page 5

CHRISTCHURCH CHARM.

AUCKLANDER'S ANALYSIS. INTERESTING COMPARISON. MAYOR OF DEVONPORT'S VIEWS. Comparisons between the cities of Auckland and Christchurcli were given to a Southern journalist by Mr. E. Aldridge, Mayor of Devonport, when lie j visited the Southern city last week. | "It is hardly fair to give one's impression of Christchurcli after only a week's sojourn in the city," said the visitor. Every city has its own personality, and to interpret its character rightly, it must be seen under varying conditions —just like an individual. "I can say this, however, that if the personality of Christchurcli is the composite of its inhabitants then your citizens must be charming people. Christchurcli, seen in the garb of springtime, is altogether lovely. Coming from Auckland, with its continual perspective of hilltops and seascapes, it is a complete change to ramble about in a city whose horizon line is the distant snowcapped contour of the Alps. I need hardly mention the green beauty of the banks of the winding Avon, which will forever redeem your city of the plains from any charge 01 monotony. "I should like to say that I have never seen anything so lovely as the public and private gardens of Christchurcli adorned with all the blossoms of springtime. Auckland has nothing to equal them, nor have we any public facilities to compare with your vast acreage of level sports grounds. I was driven out to Shirley golf links the other day, and have also seen your incomparable Y\ ilding Memorial tennis courts. As I looked on these and circled your wonderful Haglev Park, I felt positively envious. In my own borough of over 10,000 people our natural facilities for recreation are quite inadequate and we have been compelled to embark 011 expensive harbour reclamation schemes to provide the community with those necessary amenities which belong to Christchurcli by right of birth. "In comparison with Auckland streets, Christchurcli is noteworthy for its comparatively few buses. These vehicles get larger every year, and _in the Northern centre they constitute a traffic problem of some magnitude by the demands made upon space in the streets in the provision of proper turning room. Your Cathedral Square, however. would provide bus traffic with space for an ideal terminus such as Auckland does not possess."

Standard of Citizenship. Mr. Aldridge declined to express an opinion regarding civic matters. "I have only a faint conception of the municipal difficulties of Christcliurch," ne said, "and am not competent to pass judgment. Measured by your beautiful public buildings, your clean streets, and vour abundant water supply, however, vour standard of citizenship is very high, and will bear comparison with any cify in the Dominion. If by virtue of their greater populations and somewhat congested business areas, Auckland and Wellington have entered upon the skyscraper epoch of their city life, that docs not necessarily constitute conditions superior to the modest architecture of L'hristchureh. The dignity of your greystone Cathedral, and the cloistered calm of your University buildings, make an appeal quite distinct from the purely utilitarian challenge of the business premises of the larger centres." Asked about the aspirations of his own borough, Mr. Aldridge said that one of the outstanding features oi the local politics up north was the discussion on the proposed Waitemata Harbour bridge. "If this is undertaken," he said, "the future of Auckland's Xorth Shore will be a great one. At the present time there are 25,000 people resident there, and altogether dependent on ferry transport. Facilities for quick trans-harbour communication by bridge would bring Takapuna and Xorthcote within ten minutes of the city by motor car, and, contingent upon the location of the structure, would also shorten the distance to Devonport."