"UN-ENGLISH"

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 135, 9 June 1928, Page 11

"UN-ENGLISH"

«. CHRISTCHURCH CRITICISED A SHOCK TO THK CITY So .many people have commented upon the English appearance of Christ-' church that it comes almost as a shock to (md that there is one person at least who considers Cliristchurch to be uuEnglish in appearance. This view is held by Mr. D'Arcy Cresswell, a frequent contributor to the literary columns of "The Press." Mr. Cresswell, who is an old Christchurch boy, and who was educated at Christ's College, has spent a good many years abroad. After leaving college here he went Home to complete his education, subsequently joined up for active service, remained in .Christchurch for two years, went Home again, and returned a few days ago after au absence of seven.years, says the "Press." "I am struck with Jio un-English appearance of Cliristchurch," said Mr. Oresswoll to an interviewer from "The Press" yesterday. "It takes niore than a few autumn leaves and a little Gothic architecuro to make a place English, you know." He considered that the most English thing about Cliristchurch was Haglcy Park, and after that tho Avon, but the latter was not very English in appearance for tho reason that there were too many wil-. lows growing along its banks. One never saw clusters of such trees lining the banks of English streams. Outside Cathedral square, Christchurch reminded him more than anything else of the backblocks of Arizona. Ho was not making this comment in disparagement of the city. No one, however, could say that the wooden houses in the suburbs were English in character—they were truly American and so were the gardens which surrounded them. The streets and the shops with glass verandahs, and the irregular buildings were peculiar to the colonies or America. "It seems to mo," said Mr. Cresswell, "that Christchuroh badly needs painting. Tho shabbiness of Ihc buildings hern for want of a coat oE paint contrasts badly with the brightness of tho skies. About the only building I have seen in Christchurch which does not look as if it requires painting is Bishopscourt. Lytteltoii is also badly ofi: in regard to paint, and gives a visitor a very bad introduction to Cliristchurch. If seems to mo that paint must be very dear in New Zealand." The architecture of Cliristchurch does not impress Mr. Cresswell favourably after what he has seen abroad. The Cathedral, ho considers, has a few interesting features, but he does not like the design of the steeple, but at tho same time thinks Cliristchurch is fortunate in possessing even such a piece of conventional Gothic architecture as that represented by the Cathedral. The Royal Exchange buildings ho regards as vulgar in appearance, and would like to so the Salvation Army Citadel, with parapets aiid turrets, "carried by assault and dynamited." It is a matter of regret to him that tho design of the citadel has proved so "infectious" as to have been copied for tho new training college in Peterborough street. Another piece of architecture that has caught Mr. Cresswell's eye unfavourably is tho Bridge of Remembrance. He cannot see how the arch can be related to the bridge and says that an arch is_ always used in the support of something- large and impressive, whereas the arch in this caso is supporting nothing at all. "It looks to mo as though it was intended to admit the nor'-westers into Cashel street by tho size of it," was his comment. What to his mind is the best piece of architecture in Christchureh is the old Provincial Council Chambers, and he is pleased that the Government has made a gift of them to the province. ANOTHER CRITIC. In supplementing this criticism a correspondent writes, to the Christchureh "Sun":—"ln a burst of civic pride, I sent, by a recent mail, a budget of photographs of Christchureh to a friend who lives in Devon, England. I had hoped his reply would be full of little phrases such as, 'How very English/ etc. Instead, he wrote: 'Christchureh is obviously a charming place. Judging from your photographs, it reminds me of some of the fine cities in South America. . I think the Cathedral particularly impressive, even though it is very small.' Then came the unkindest cut of all: 'How picturesque to have that little creek running through the town. It's very good of Christchurch lo call it the Avon; but, really !' I am sending Home no more photographs! Let us ignore this cowardly writer ami go on persuading ourselves that wo arc thoroughly, beautifully, essentially and properly English."