CITY AFFAIRS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17206, 28 June 1916, Page 4

CITY AFFAIRS.

NOT ECLIPSED BY W r AR.

BEAUTY VERSUS UTILITY.

MAYOR REPLIES TO CRITICISMS

The Christchurch resident whose letter in yesterday's “Lyttelton Times” attacked many of the. (esthetic shortcomings of the city, may have the satisfaction of knowing that his criticisms have met with a quito serious reception by the civic authorities, who aie prepared to endorse them in some derails and challenge them in others. The Mayer gave the letter his very careful attention, and his reply shows an appreciation of tho needs of the C 1 “ Many of the points raised by your correspondent are small details, said the Mayor, “but I fully recognise that to a large extent wo have to depend largely on these details to make a perfect whole. Tho tramway shelter is admittedly an eyesore, but I am pleased to say that tho Beautifying Association has called for competitive designs for the removal of this defect. These plans now only await a conference of the Oity Council and the diamway Board to adopt tho scheme finally, hut it is hardly likely that tho bodies concerned will proceed with the improvements under present conditions. I am pleased that tho removal and reerection of the Goclloy statue in the northern part of the Cathedral grounds is meeting with general approval. “ The remarks about tho cleanliness of the streets are endorsed by many visitors,” Mr Holland continued, “but there is room for much improvement of the traffic on both footpaths and streets. On the streets there is a most objectionable practice of 1 cutting tho corners ’ and driving on the wrong side, while tho want of order on the footpaths is anything hut satisfactory. If only people would ‘keep to the right,’ endless confusion would be avoided. The unsightly hoardings are a disfigurement. I am having this matter looked up, to see if an improvement cannot be made. “I agree that low fence's add greatly to tho beauty of tho city in some places,- while in others high fences hide some objectionable sights. I believe there are in every city old, dilapidated dwellings. The council has no power to interfere unless they aro a menace to public health. These arc generally occupied by the poorest classes, upon whom a hardship would he inflicted if tho-houses, were pulled down,” : -the artistic viewpoint. Ml- R. Herdman Smith, director of the School of Art, was asked to express his opinion on Christchurch from an artist’s standpoint. Citizens will be gratified to learn that from an (esthetic point of view there is no overwhelming defect' in tho City of the Plains. “ Clnlistchurch is without doubt the most beautiful city in the Dominion,” said the director, “ and Itolleston Avenue is its .ovist beautiful street. Few colbnitd towns, if any, can boast of such cld-wcrld effects. With its noble avenue of trees and its architectural possessions, F.ollcstion Avenue is a -thoroughfare to delight, the eye—until the telegraph poles aro observed. It i; in such matters that defects arise! It seems a pity to spoil tho avonuo by erecting ugly posts, when at a- little extra cost well-designed standards could havo been obtained.

“ I think,” continued the director, “ that Christchurch has gone back, from an artistic point of view, during the last twenty years. Those men who laid out and planned the city had broad visions and did excellent work, but it is doubtful if the standard of beauty they set has ben maintained. Leaving out the Cathedral, the buildings in the Square are not what they might hare been had a little more consideration been givon to the general effect. I am glad there is a. chance of tho tramway sheltcn heirm remodelled, and trust that no modification of the prize-winning proposal will be insisted on by the Tramway Board. “SKY LINE” DETRACTS FROM CITY’S BEAUTY.

Mr Ilerdinan Smith supported tho advocacy of cantilever verandahs, ami urged greater control of the height c f city buildings. He thought it a pity that a new building should have been allowed to soar far above its neighbours, as from the {esthetic view-point such solitary “skyscrapers” spoilt the general appearance of the town. Ike .“sky line” in Christchurch, he added, was most irregular, and this detracted from the city’s beauty.. It would b>’ also well to abolish, if possible, all telegraph and tramway poles. . Many cities in England and in Australia had adopted the underground wiring system, and there could scarcely be two opinions as to the iraprovcmoits effected by the disappearance of unsightly poles. He, personally ? had no objections to hoardings, providing these wme treated with an eyo to . the general effect. In Paris, for instance,, the hoardings wore made most artistic. SUBURBAN ARCHITECTURE.'

The domestic architecture of Christ church was very good, continued Mr Herdnian Smith, and in some suburbs such as Fendalton, Papanui and Opawa. there were many tastefully designed dwellings. There was too much uniformity as regarded tho paint on the houses and rod’s. People seemed ;o keep to the light stone- colour for tlu> walls, and red for the roof. Perhapthe question of cost was partly responsible, but fax more , pleasing effects could Vo obtained, if greater variety prevailed, Excellent results could ho obtainod from green, grey or black paints. Another defect in modern local architecture was the lack of depth in tho moulding and relief work. Those were frequently so flat ns to cast lit.tli shadow. New Zealand had a similar oiimate to that of Italy, and could take an example front tho buildings ere.cted in Italian cities, where plenty of shadow effects wero sought for,. this adding much to the beauty and dignity of the surroundings. AVON BECOMING 100 CONVENTIONAL. Questioned regarding tho Avon, the. director said that lie thought the to waa a .tendency to “improve” the Avon too much- There was so much striving after uniformity, with tho clipping of trees and tho trimming of grassy banks, that the river was bccom mg too conventional, and almost cauallikifi. There were too many willows, and artists would be pleased to see other troc3 planted, and with less regularity of position. A cluster of trees was often more pleasing to the eye than tiees planted so many feet apart from each other in geometrical fashion. Tho bridges across tho Avon could be improved, particularly the Armagh Street bridge. The narrowness of the river, of course, would prevent anything like width of span, but the best had not been made or tho possibilities. COUNCILLOR TAYLOR’S COMMENT.

“It is a very interesting letter, and I agree with the writer in most.of what he says.” was tho comment of. .Councillor *A. S. Taylor on the correspondent’s letter. “Although I believe, ' ho continued, “ that Christchurch re one of the most beautiful towns in the Dominion, both naturally andj arcln tccturally ; yet, of course, there is _ always something for us to learn from tho cities in other parts of the world. Taking Bono VolenteV letter seriatim, it is to he hoped that the Cathedral Square improvement scheme will secure the liberal-minded support ot all concerned, and that the future ot the citv will bo regarded, and not merely" the present handling ot the traffic. Then Cathedral Square can be made, what it should be, and worthy of its place as the centre of the city. As far the-hideous fences, these should' bo abolished or improved. I understand that in America the open fence, or no fence system has been a great success, and is certainly more pietur--0 SCI “ Concerning old or dilapidated buildings, the Citv Council under tho Municipal Corporations Act has no power t.o deal with these whilst they aro sanitary, or no danger to the public. One has not to go very far to see a glaring instance of tho council’s helplessness Power should be given to municipal bodies to deal with such eyesores. As for verandah posts, the reform has al ready been made so far as the city s inner area is concerned. A recent by-law forbids tho erection of such posts within the citv’s inner area, and it wifi be noticed that all- recent erections have verandahs, when any, on _ tnc cantilever manciple. Decidedly this mi time should effect a great improvement in the city’s appearance. “As for dogs, concluded .Councillor Tavlor, “ this nuisance is increasing, and drastic steps should be taken. . A walk along the principal streets, city and suburban, will prove the danger to the public health of the present laxity. Some years ago the City Council used to send an employee out to capture stray dogs, and take them to thcDestroctoV. Some such action should bo revived if dog owners take no notice of appeals to prevent their animals becoming nuisances tfo the public.