Town Beautifying.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 9825, 26 July 1900, Page 5

Town Beautifying.

[to the editor. ]

Kin, —"t is somewhat ol a coincidence that when rummaging amongst some old papers the day before yesterday I chanced upon the following letter (intended when written for publication) directly bears upon your article in last night's i. sue re town beautifying. I will not alter it in any way, but simply leave your readers to allow for changes which have occurred during ihe seven or eight years (for there is no dale to it) which have elapsed since it wa_ written : Sir, —If Mr Michael FitzGerald were alive to-day he would be the best abused man in Napier, und all for what? Because lie laid out the town for 6 instead of 60,000 of a population. Poor blind, short-sighted man ! Even although there was then a nucleus of between 20 and 30 inhabitants Now, since puch mistakes are possible, does it not behove us to ask ourselves whether we «re perpetrating similar absurdities at the present time, and that a future generation will abuse us tor our supi-.eness and neglect of existing opportunities. There are many things ready to our hands that should be done, —done for our own convenience, comfort, pleasure, aud profit m the meantime, as also for those who are to come after us.

Having reached this stage of my exordium I think I hear some friend say, " What next, old man ?" Well, there are many nexts to my way of thinking, but the next is Arbor Day, the 6th of next month. On all sides we hear of projects iv othdr places for doing something in the way of tree planting on that day. Cannot we do something here? Is it to be butchering, biking, and candlestick making, and nothing more, so long a.. we get the paper, our meals, and our drinks regularly ? Here we have a perfect Cinderella of a town. The li .tie maid of immortal memory only required the application of Pears' troap, a new frock, a pair of slippers, a bit of ribbon, and a _pr ; g of something-in her hair, to make her the fairest of the fair, and win a princa into the bargain. j I well remember sitting ou the verandah of my house one beautiful moonlight evening talking with a much travelled Napier resident, who said something like this, "Very few of the people in Napier know what a beautiful place it is naturally, and how much moie beautiful it might easily be made by judicious tree planting. It reminds me very much of Monte Carlo ; its configuration is singularly like it, the one jutting into the Pacific, the other into the Mediterranean. Monte Carlo is beautifully roaded and planted, and splendid mansions meet the eye at every turn, but Napier has this advantage —the possibility of a greater variety of vegetation, including subtropical kinds and evergreens, and over and above all this a climate perhaps unrivalled in the world." (Ask Captain Edwin). Continuing, he said, "I have seen most of the show places of the world, and I really think this is one of the prettiest." Now, Mr Napier, having these natural advantages, cannot we supply the new frock, slippers, bits of ribbon, etc., in the shape of a judicious revision and extension of our tree-planting? I think we might; and I hope many others will re-echo, "we will." People would, I feel sure, interest themselves in improving their properties in this way, if only good advice were at hand as regards suitable trees and shrubs, the time to plant them, and their cost. Now. I conceive the first step is to secure ;the co-operation of such gentlemen as Messrs H. S. Tiffen, A. R. W. Lascelles, E. W. Knowles, H. R. and others, known for their knowledge of these matters. At this advanced season of the year the nurserymen would be likely to .cell what remains of their stock at very reasonable rates, especially when the -Durpose for which they are wanted is con s-ide red.

By way of endeavoring to give a practicil issue of this suggestion I will request one of them to advise in regard to Shakespeare ro<id, starting with the ground round the Old Provincial Buildings. As these are in the hands of the Government, it may be presumed that they know what to do with them themselves. Here on the right is a disused quarry, reaving its dark and staring face high above the houses. The experts will say what creeper should be planted which will ultimately hide its ugliness, just as a moustache will make an ugly face presentable. Here such and such a tree will grow and look well, here is one doing no good and should be rooted out. On this side is a troublesome bank or cutting constantly crumbling down, such a plant would grow well, having a nice bloom and help to strengthen it, and here in this great prawning gully a few blue gums should be planted, and a border of shrubs along the edge to conceal its unsightliness. Further up we come to the narrow tongue of laud as you turn up Sealey xoad. That is Corporation property. What should be done with it ? By all meaas make a recommendation. Further down we come to that terrible corner at -Coote read. All these matters having been noted down, owners should be interviewed and suggestions made, and in--formation given as to cost of trees and shrubs. I feel sure that many would fall in with these suggestions at once, and others would also do so as time went on. I trust the idea will so recommend itself that roads and places may be taken in hand in similar fashion, and that by this time next year a year's growth will so encourage us that the good work will be carried on year after year. As to the swamp, it does not look as ifjthe'Harbor Board would do much towards its beautifying. Who will champion the cause of Napier on that august Board? Oh, that another Tiffeu would arise and help ■us out through the mud.—l am, etc., W. R» Blythe.