ROCK EDGES.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17691, 17 February 1923, Page 11

ROCK EDGES.

THE GENERAL EFFECT. The controversy which has been going on in the correspondence columns of "The Press" for some days a* to the beauty or otherwise of the rock edges which have been introduced by the executive of the River Improvement Fund, will at least draw the attention of the Average Citizen to the innovations, for it must be admitted that the pedestrian, intent upon affaire connected with the business of earning a living, is apt to overlook the beauties to be found in his everyday sun-ouna-m£3. , . „ A pressman made it his business yesterday to inspect some of the rocx edges, particularly those in the vicinity of the Provincial Buildings, whicli have been the subject of a good deal or correspondence. The low kerb ° r rough-hewn brown rocks extending n°m the Worcester stieet bridge to Gloucester street in Cambridge terrace must, it is submitted, be recognised as an. improvement upon the iron post ana chain fences which, until later years, formed such a sombre protection for the river banks and lawns. La t.'is stretcn the rocks have a good effect, ior, though they are sufficiently rough and irregular to do away with any suggestion of artificiality, they are well-placed as to balance, each low rock being separated by a higher one. They have been sunk in the earth a few niches, and there has been no necessity for the use of cement. It is an open question, as the controversy proves, whether the idea is as effeotive on Gloucester street and Cambridge terrace alongside tue buildings, for there, instead of forming a kerb to a sloping lawn, the rock edgo is close up to the building and the foutpath. Perhaps there is a suggestion.or "starkness" about this portion. The new gate, with stone pillars, which has: been erected at the entrance to the Provincial Building grounds, near tlie Gloucester street bridge, is, in the eyes of some people, out of keep.ng with tlie architecture of the buildings, but it must be remembered that the stone used in the pillars is still very new, and has not had an opportunity to "weather" to the colour of the stone buildings. Whether tlie kerb of rocks at the foot of the evergreen hedge is necessaxy as an improvement is questionable, but as the orgauisa', Mr R. B. Owen, stilted in his letter /to "Tne. Press," much still remains to be dona in this) vicinity. There can be no question as to the improvement effected at tbe othei entrance, near the Armagh street bridge, where the unsightly galvanised iron gate, painted a real ' Government'' colour, has given place tq a neat iron bar fence and gate, set in stone pillars. It is noticeable at this spot that the stone pillars harmonise very well witn the building, which is of more recent construction than the other stone portions of the block, and this leads one to suppose that it is reasonable to expect all the new stone to merge to a uniform colour when it is sufficiently aged. So far no one has challenged the efficacy of the River Improvement Committee's attempts to improve the river banks in the vicinity of the old Chester street Fire Brigade Station near the Colombo street bridge, and it may be taken for granted l that the praiseworthy work of converting that wilderness of rank growth into smooth lawns meets with general approval, in spite of the fact that rock edges have been utilised and even a drain has been converted into a miniature waterfall.