THE NEW NAPIER

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 74, 29 March 1932, Page 8

THE NEW NAPIER

TOWN PLANS APPROVED

SPANISH ARCHITECTURE

UNDEKGEOUND SERVICES

One of the moist important phases of the v reconstruction of Napier following the disastrous earthquake has now been completed with the final and definite approval by the Town Planning Board of the proposals which were made in order to effect the much needed improvements in service lanes, street lay-out, aad the general amenities of the town. Considerable delay in the work of reconstruction (.reports the Napier "Daily Telegraph") has been caused by the consideration of the new regulations, but now that these have been definitely approved the work may be proceeded with without any further delay from this soorce. In briefly trading the history of the town planning sdheme Mr. A. B. Hurst, who was appointed by the Napier Commissioner t» conduct negotiations with the property owners of Napier, recalled the fact that even before the earthquake the necessity of improving the streets of Napier was realised. It was realised that improvements would have to. be effected if the Napier of the future was going to grow. This view was accepted by the owners of property in Emeirson street, who voluntarily agreed to- make over ten feet off the front of their properties. FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES. With the wipfing out of the business area following- the earthquake ~the possibilities of extending the lay-outs further than previously intended became very real and a voluntary committee, under tine leadership of Mr. L. B. Campbell, Ctommissioner for Napier, set themselves -about the task of considering proposals. The work of the committee wasi severely hampered by financial strinjgeney, continued Mr. Hurst, and it was found that the original intentions "would be far too costly for the boro-qgh. Modified proposals were formulated,, therefore, and it was these which had met with the approval of the Town Planning Board. The main features of the new regulations1 are the widening of principal streets and the provision of service lanes which will give a two-way exit and afford better fire-fighting facilities. The extension of the Marine parade beyond the pnesent wall for its total length as far as the concrete road to Avratoto is also an ultimate object of the proposals. \ UNDERGROUND SEEVICES. All corners .are to be splayed under the new regulations, while an item o.ver which especial care has been taken is that of the borough services. In the business area of the future all power and telephone- lines will be underground, while the prohibition of verandah posts -will give the shopping areas a clean and attractive appearance. Reference to the architecture of the new Napier -was also referred to by Mr. Hurst, t«3h> stated that the architects of the district had voluntarily co-ordinated in the design of buildings in different areas. Owing to the financial stringency it had not been possible to develop the community blocks of buildings to th-e extent originally hoped, but this aspect was not being lost sight of, and there would be a considerable number of units partly owned by different jfropesrty owners. ' ; The predominating style of architecture in .the New Napier was Spanish, with a number of good examples of modern architecture. These two types fortunately blended excellently, said Mr. Hurst, being simple and depending greatly on colour for their attractiveness. Two better styles could not ■have been selected.