NEW BRIGHTON RESERVES.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14407, 15 July 1912, Page 8

NEW BRIGHTON RESERVES.

TO THE EDITOR OP "THE PKES3.'

Sir,—l, too, must protest with yourself and others against tue alienation of any portion of tne New Brighton reserves. Although not a resident, I, with" scores of others, tako a lively interest-in the place. Years ago I spoilt portions of many summers there, enjoying rambles along the beach and through the sand hummocks and planted reserves. _»I took an active part with others in planting trees with the schoolboys on the reserve, also in" planting trees in the streets of New Brighton, almost all of which have been allowed to die out for want of a little care—the recent firo completing the devastation. Tlio streets of New Brighton to-day remind ma of tiie streets of the gold-digging townships in Victoria fifty or sixty years ago—baro and uninteresting. Those of your readers who have visited Sandhurst or Bendigo recently have been struck with the beauty of the streets, lined with beautiful trees, affording grateful shelter in the hot summer weather. This should bo the aspect of New Brighton to-day. But I am wandering from what is meant to bo the point of this letter, viz., to beg of the thinking people of New Brighton not to sanction what I would describe as sacrilege, but rather set about planting the reserve under consideration. If planted with suitablo wind-resisting trees such as Pinus Austriaca, and P. Maritima, Cupressus, Macrocarpa, and others, in less than twenty years New Brighton would have a valuable asset in the shape of an attractive spot where visitors would resort in large numbers, and where they could enjoy at the same time a view of the beach, the magnificent spectacle of tho everlasting breakers and the health invigorating _ea breezes. Carry out the proposed spoliation, and these privileges would bo cut off for ever. The public would be confined to tho sea beach. I have been informed that it is proposed to erect a stone sea wall! Surely there must be a mistake 1 It must be fresh in the memory of the Now Brighton ratepayers that a large sum of money was expended in forming an esplanade lined with planking, which it was thought would be effectual against tho encroaching sands. Tho structure, however, was ultimately enveloped. The same fate would assuredly overtake a sea wall. Marram grass appears to be tho only effective remedy. In conclusion it appears to mc that all reserves should be inalienable without the sanction of Parliament, and I truet that wiser counsels will prevail at the next meeting called to consider tho matter of selling part of the reserve.— Yours, etc., M. MURPHY.