THRIVING TIMARU.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14588, 12 February 1913, Page 3

THRIVING TIMARU.

ITS PROGRESS AND PROSPECT

No. lII.—A GLORIOUS GIFT.

(by ocn special reporter.)

The crowning glory of Timaru cimo as a lucky gift from Nature. To-day Caroline Bay stands as tho magnet that draws visitors by hundreds and by thousands. It is its broad expanse of shelving sand that has won for Timaru the title of "seaside resort."' And it is the tremendous "booming" to which the town has been subjected because of the growth of the bay that has pushed the place ahead in many directions of lace years.

The visitor who flics into Timaru to- j day from tho north, and sees this j quarter-mile stretch of sand between . himself and the water, will bo surprised to learn that a quarter of century ago the water reached to tho very | rocks which now fringe the railway j line. Surf and shingle, alike pre- • vailed. There was no sand. There, was no bathing. It was just such a j barren shoro as prevails still elsewhere I along the coast. HOW THE BAY CAME. The bay eamo by accident. It was an unforeseen consequence of the harbour works. Apparently, as tho first niolo ; and breakwater extended seawards, the , shingle drifting north was flung and j piled and ground unceasingly against this obstruction. The constant wear and tear ground the metal finer and finer, and produced a sand which was drifted round tho outer end, carried into the area beyond, and there circled and settled. When the northern molo was put forth, the circling area was further circumscribed, and tho "settling pond" action facilitated. Whether this theory is absolutely correct, or whether more consideration should be given to the influence of tho Waimaitaitai in bringing down sand, matters not; tho fact simply is that sinco tho initiation of the harbour works Miis growth has been in progress and has provided a sandy bay on a coast which otherwise knows not such a luxury. Up till the extension of the. protective works by the construction of the eastern arm, the shoaling of the bay was rapid and continuous; and it was even suggested- that eventually the whole area would fill up and solid. land exist right across from the molo to the Dashing Bocks. "With that extension, however, the shoaling has been checked for the suspended sediment is now thrust further out into the sea, and carried up the coast. In the last ten years, there has been practically no alteration in the depth of tho soundiugs across the entrance of tho bay, which at present, on tho lino mentioned, stands at from fifteen to eighteen feet. This depth obtains about two thousand feet from the edgo of tho beach, and will indicate how even and gradual is tho slope. IMPROVING THE BAY. Is is some fourteen or fifteen years sinco tho first efforts were instituted to improve tho Bay. Mr D. Stuart, as chairman of tho Harbour Board., organised a working bee, and did some valuable work. Air J. Craigie, MVP., subsequently offered a prize of £10 for tho best plan for beautifying tho Bay, and afterwards persuaded tho Borough Council to borrow £2500 for tho. purpose. This expenditure was backed up by private efforts, and altogether about £1000 was spent. This provided a band rotunda, a bathing shed, walks, trees, and other permanent conveniences. 'At different times other work was <lone by- tho Council until a litflo over a year ago there sprang into being, in;-,full maturity, the Carolino Bay one and only object of which is to popularise £he Bay and improve its facilities for "visitors. - ■ •-. Already this body has dono wonderful and valuable work. Its membership is largo and enthusiastic; : itfinance is healthy and expansive. By a baza air it secured nearly £1400, tho borough gave £400, tho Harbour Board £150, and other contributions gave a total revenue of some £2400. Already over £1000 of that has been spent on improvements. There .has been provided a ".marine parade on the north molo of the harbour—the best in New Zealand; a solid-looking piazza at the back of the beach for shelter purposes; and swings and see-saws, life-buoys, entertainments, and sports have not been neglected. Tennis courts have recently been added, and other improvements are in progress. THE FUTURE. The. Association, in point of fact, has a most ambitious programme ahead of j it, and when it has done all that it in- , tends to do Caroline Bay will be as a place of popular enjoyment, absolutely : unrivalled in New Zealand. This is its immediate programme: Construct a ; thousand pound pavilion for shelter and, concert purposes (erection already started); construct a thirty-chain promenado along Benvenue Cliffs, and plant it with trees at a total cost c_ ( somo"£2so to £300 (some work already done): and reorganise the background of the Bay in accordance with a plan of landscape gardening laid down by a leading Christchurch firm. The top walk will be adorned as time goes on with decorative pergolas, festooned with roses and a covered way provided with delightful sea-views. Even at present the popularity of tho Bay is astounding. For bathing purposes it is unrivalled. Its safety is unique. The timid may choose their own depth and never exceed it. Tho expert swimmers may revel in deep water untroubled by currents. Tliere have been j no bathing troubles whatsoever, and on some mornings two thousand bathers have entered the water before noon. But more than the bathers are catered for. -There aro delightful and easilygraded walks. There aro green lawns and shafly shelters. Tliere aro evening concerts and moon-light promenades. '."With all theso tho triumph of the future may well be deemed assured. TIMARU'S PROSPECTS. On the basis of the advance recorded in this and in the preceding articles a glance may now fitly bo taken at the prospects of the future. The residents lof the borough are naturally optimistic and. predict further expansion. That certainly will come for the development of tho district is not yet at its maximum. There are even those who predict city size for Timaru with the advent of manufactures. Certainty of prophecy is impossible on this point, but it can only be mentioned that first Timaru must secure raw material and cheat) power, and, secondly, must find a market for her goods. The combined limitation of carriage and marketing will probably act as a natural bar. In the meantime Timaru's prices are hish and she is prosperous. Land already is very valuable, and residential sites a mile" and a half from tho centre sell at the rate of over £400 an acre. Houses are almost unobtainable, and rents aro not low. But while Timaru has "boomed" it has not had a wild boom, and there is no suggestion that a slump will occur. In noint of fact those owners of country land which has been cut up in the backblocks have large holdings in real estate in the town and speculative ventures are light. Timaru's prospects are certainly sound and solid. As the gate of the South Canterbury garden, her expansion is certain. Whilo manufactures may not come to her, the handling and exchange of the staple products of tho soil will always afford her the very best of reliable business. And the beauties of the Bay, encouraged and developed as they are, will increasingly ensure the attendance each summer of delighted thousands.