The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, OCTOBER 6, 1901. TOWN IMPROVEMENTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 230, 7 October 1901, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, OCTOBER 6, 1901. TOWN IMPROVEMENTS.

The efforts of the Beautifying Association and tiie Borough Council to improve and beautify the town are deserving of the hearty support of every ratepayer, and though it may bo said that matters have progressed very slowly up to the present, yet there is room for commendation to the bodies mentioned, more especially when it is considered what these bodies have done with the limited funds placed at their disposal. It is a recognition of tho effort that has been put in operation iu other and richer towns towards keeping out of sight the ungainly, ami , having a more tender regard for the things that are lovely and beautiful. “The town is everybody’s home,” says a recent writer, “ and it should be kept as lovely, and made to look as . attractive as a private property.” Building laws, street ordinances, and koaltk regulations can bo devised to 1 bring about a beautiful town. The i ouncil have as much right to enact laws to make tho city beautiful as they have a right to enact laws to suppress or condemn nuisances. Anything uni sightly should be properly considered - a nuisance, and steps taken to get rid of it. If the authorities would set the ' example aud endeavor to mabo tho town beautiful, tho people would soon fall into sympathy with the effort. 1 Citizens oftentimes do not care to take the initiative when they feel that their neighbors will do nothing to assist, but 1 uioro often work to nullify all that has ’ been done. If the authorities would, however, exorcise their prerogatives of : regulation in the improvement of our I streets, it would soon bo found that the people would try to at once put their own places iu order. Those who did not do so at once ! would soon be shamed into doing so by the appearance of their neighbors’ properties. The sentiment is growing, and the authorities of every city are studying how best to meet the requirements of the growing popular sentiment. Gisbomites when they go abroad aud see other cities, are impressed with the fact that much could be done to make their own town beautiful, aud it is their duty to stir up their fellow-townsmen to tho full sense of their responsibility. The Beautifying Association are at present in urgent need of funds, and all who are in a position to assist with contributions, no matter how small the amount, should do so. To properly : appreciate the efforts of the Associa- j tion, one has only to take a stroll in the vicinity of the Point. The locality in question has been greatly improved within tho last few months, but funds are now required to finish the work. It would bo a great pity if tho Association had to stay its hand for want of assistance, and on that account wo hope that all those who | are able to render a little help will do I so.