Identifications For Attractions Of City

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28911, 3 June 1959, Page 2

Identifications For Attractions Of City

Visitors to Christchurch will be helped considerably by the City Council’s decision to erect a sign in Cathedral square, directing them to the Canterbury Museum, the Botanic Gardens and the McDougall Art Gallery.

But visitors (and some residents of Christchurch) would be grateful for something more. Criticism often made by visitors from overseas and from other parts ot the Dominion, is of the lack oi identification on many of the city's historic, ai)d beauty spots; An overseas cquple who completed a tour of W .South Island recently and who were looking for a way to spend an hour or so m Christchurch before embarking on their aircraft, were surprised when informed that the Botanic Gardens were a short walk from their hotel. When told how to get there, they recalled that they had passed the gates, but seeing Jno sign, had assumed they might be the entrance to a private garden or institutional grounds. This may sound far-fetched to Christchurch residents. Tourists are by no means the only persons who have found it difficult to identify the Botanic Gardens. Newcomers to the city have haa the same difficulty. “Where Are We?” The anonymity of some ot Christchurch’s points of interest was discussed by a group of new arrivals recently. Several said they had frequently been asked by camera enthusiasts to name a building. It had been some time before they discovered what the large group of buildings opposite the Botanic Gardens was. As far as a stranger was concerned, it was no help to read a notice outside which warned against bicycles being left leaning against the walls. A little further on there is a boys’ college of great interest to many New Zealand travellers. No sign tells the visitor it is Christ’s College. When an old boy was questioned on this he took the somewhat pompous view that it was unnecessary and perhaps a little vulgar to brand such a wellknown and dignified institution. World travellers however, considered this to be a parochial attitude and a manifestation of inverted pride. Signs need not necessarily mar the beauty of historic places. Tasteful inscriptions on gates or buildings of interest the world over do not detract from their charm in cities where attractions are far better known than m Christchurch. Some identifications such as memorial gates add beauty to gardens or buildings. Puzzled Photographer

A woman who entertained a European tourist after her tour alone through the South Island, needed to help her guest to identify colour slides taken of Christchurch buildings, which the visitor found the most appealing architecture she had seen in New Zealand. She was disap. Tinted that they were not better marked. Foreign students '-’ith no knowledge of Christchurch or its religious background said they

would appreciate a sign indicating the name of the Christchurch Cathedral and its denomination, like those seen in front of other churches. At present the only information given was the times ol services.

Hagley Park could ' ell be identified at its Armagh street gates others said, remembering that they had passed the gates several times before realising it was the entrance to a public right-of-way. The Provincial Chambers was another building well worth visiting which deserved ide itification CQUU£iJ Chambers were uhfiamed except for ,'a< small felass box noted the council’s houO business in unobtrusive letters, said visitors. The building deserved at least identification as bold as its next-door neighbour—the Civic Theatre which carried its name in large bright red letters.

Although it is possible to find out the names of all these buildings, it takes time, and time is the commodity that visitors rarely have.

The beauty of Christchurch s landmarks was something to be proud of, said visitors. No-one would like to see them marred by tawdry signs but it was time that something was done to let admirers know what they were looking at.