NEW BRIGHTON RESERVES.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14406, 13 July 1912, Page 6

NEW BRIGHTON RESERVES.

TO THE EDITOR OF "THE PRESS." Sir, —The public of North Canterbury havo to thank you for the prompt and decided stand which you made against tho alienation of the most valuable part of the New Brighton reserves. To sell reserves at any time and under any conditions is a questionable policy, but to sell the very best of what forms tho chief distinction of the borough, and will in years to come be of the greatest valuo to the whole district, is indefensible. For the Council proposes to cut off from tho reserve, to a depth of 10£ chains, the whole of that portion fronting tho, sea, so that ! for all time tho seaward view offered to futuro health and plca-suro-seekers in tho Domain, will be tho back-yards of a lot of £300 cottages erected on 44ft frontages. Those who opposed tho scheme, and were so frequently the other night dubbed "sentimentalists," may be excused if they prefer a foreground of dune and sea between them and tho mountains. The sandy beach is a splendid natural promenade, but, owing , to tho constant winds, it is rare that ono can sit there in comfort. Among the dunes, however, sheltered spots may always be found, which to the weary or the convalescent arc a. delightful refuge from tho harassing conditions of the foreshore. New Brighton may become, if only it escapes- ill-advised improvements and the evils of overcrowding, one of the great health resorts of New Zealand; and it is incredible that the ratepayers as a whole should endorse, the attitude taken tip by the Mayor, that tho reserves aro their affair alono, and not held in trust for the whole district. Many at least will remember with gratitude tho eonsiderato foresight of the pioneers of the Sehvyn County Council who set aside these reserves, and were certainly not animated by such parochial ideas. Tho spirit in which this proposal is being made may be judged from the fact that the Mayor, in meeting the argument that the Christchurch Domains Board might with as much justice sell tho frontages to Park Terrace and Rolleston Avenue, deprecated the size of the Hagley Park reserve, and described it as a "sheep run."

Any who have had experience of watering places in. the Old Country will agreo that those are the most attractive which havo maintained open spaces on tho sea front. It would surely l>o the height of folly for New Brighton to barter for £200 or £300 a year that which offers such splendid possibilities.—Yours, etc., JOHN" H. HOWELL. Lonsdalo street, New Brighton.