GROWING CIVIC SPIRIT

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 99, 23 October 1924, Page 9

GROWING CIVIC SPIRIT

CO-OPERATION IN DEVELOPMENT

SOME HANDSOME BENEFACTIONS

PLAN OF THE NEW PARK

PROPOSALS FOR THE FUTURE

This afternoon, at 3 o'clock, Her Excellency Viscountess Jellicoe opened, the new Ladies' RestEoom, Dental Parlour, and Plunket Society's Koom, in what will now be known aa Biddiford, Park, Lower Hutti On"another portion of the ground, a modern fire station and ambulance "room have been completed. In the fire station will be housed anew and efficient fire r ehgine. and ambulance van. s j, A surprise was sprung upon those present by the welcome announcement of the, Mayor (Mr. W. T. Strand), that Messrs. Riddiford Brothers, had donated the sum of £5000 towards the erection of up-to-da,te swimming baths within the grounds. ;It has'been thought fitting that the park should be known as Riddiford Park. , A comprehensive railway and landdevelopment scheme on the east side of the Valley is also being prepared.

It is now eighteen months since the present Hutt Borough Council -•■ took office,, and during that period it : has been working quietly for the de- . velopment of the place. The council ' considered that the time had arrived , when the Valley lying toHhe north ■ of Wellington harbour should receive the attention and consideration to which it was entitled; ,that its natural Advantages should be devolve oped; and that one of the most fer- ■';• tile valleys; in New Zealand should be made available to carry a large population, not in a crowded; con- . gested (manner, .but with ample room lud healthy conditions. - FIRST: GOOD ROADS , It has long been recognised that de'elopment in this direction' had to : be :onsidered in. the light of a Valley as well as. a borough matter, and no doubt the council has done this in a practical way. The first aiid most accessary thing for Valley' development «vas good, permanent roads to link: jp with the city, and so heartily did the local bodies of the. district enter into the' matter that ..five', and a half miles, of ; the Hutt road ■ were* completed a few months ago. From this it is hoped in the near future to have the whole district (incluidng the bays) linked together wf£h many miles of similar road.. It is a good'thing to see the City of Wellington and the adjacent local bodies combining together ,in. a roading policy which will be a mutual , advantage which would be impssible to •carry out without co-operation. NEW RECREATION GROUND Whilst the Hutt Borough Council'has seen the necessity and advantages of cp-operative development, they have not forgotten the local requirements. One of the first matters to be taken up was the formation of a civic centre. This was begun by purchasing "a large block of. land in the centre of the. borough, and those portions which it/ was unnecessary to retain were disposed of, leaving about four and a half acres free of cost to the town. This is now being laid out in gardens, lawns, and playgrounds, under the direct supervision of Messrs. G. A. Chapman and F. G. Cooper, who are giving their time and experience, together with hundreds of plants, shrubs,

i etc, to.make it a place of becuty and pleasure. ' : LADIES1 REST ,ROOM Quietly nestling in one corner o£ the new Park is a "Ladies' Rest Room," a beautiful building, complete /with all modern conveniences, and nicely furnished. Associated with this is a dental parlour for the free use of the young children of the borough, where they will be attended to by trained nurses supplied by the Health Department. These rooms are provided for by, an energetic committee, consisting of representatives from each school, of whom Mr. J. Stonehouse is chairman. , ■" ■ ' ■ ' ■...■■ •. • ; . "■' i I CHILD WELFARE A very'strpng and -enthusiastic, Plunket Society has also been provided with modern, comfortable rooms in the building. It is needless to say how the work done by this society is appreciated in the Valley, nor how untiring have been tlie band of ladies responsible, with Mrs. D. A. Ewen as president. A very nice tea room attached will be let by the council to some suitable person for the convenience of ladies and others requiring refreshment. The whole building igjmost picturesque, facing constucted of red brick 'plastered throughout, and covered with Marseilles tiles. In the choice of the internal fittingß every comfort and convenience has been studied. * . . .■-.-.•' ! COUNCILLOR J. MITCHELL'S GIFT That portion of the building comprising tea and rest rooms has been built by the ratepayers; and the ;dental and Plunket rooms were built by] donations received from ladies and gentlemen interested in child and community welfare. ' The first donation, for this purpose was a sum of £500 redeived from Councillor J. Mitchell, whose generosity [was quickly followed by others whose names appear on a Donors' Board hanging in the entrance hall, there to proclaim their generosity for all time. This'■• does not mean that, the Plunkef, and Dental' Societies are housed free. They pay, to the council a moderate weekly-rental, which includes the cleaning and general upkeep of the surroundings. . V ■■■ .1 .. . : . ■

FIRE STATION AND AMBULANCE

On another corner of this land has been built a modern fire station and ambulance-room, in which.will be housed a, new and efficient fire engine and ambulance van. The station is connected with both telephone and alarm • system, which will enable an outbreak of fire or an accident to be speedily dealt with. Although the brigade is a volunteer one, it deserves great credit for its past fine performances, and now, with one of its members living on the premises, and its modern fire-fighting plant, the borough can feel well prptected; Here the comfort of the men has not been forgotten.' For .their convenience, are provided reading and social rooms. A well-lighted room containing a fullsized billiard table for the use of the members'has also been fitted up. FINE CIVIC SPIRIT There is, at the present time, ample evidence of the existence, of. a, very fine civic spirit in the Hutt Borough. The responsibilities as- well as the privileges of citizenship are realised. . Progress Leagues, Ratepayers' Improvement, Crala, and other societies are doing most excellent work, not with the usual faultfinding methods,- but with good constructive help and assistance working togetherfor the general good. '