Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 1911. NELSON'S OPEN SPACES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVI, Issue XLVI, 29 June 1911, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 1911. NELSON'S OPEN SPACES

PROVING LAI, GROUNDS AS BARBACKS AND STABLES. THOUGH Nelson cannot complain of being oveil 1 -populated, the time is not far .distant- when the open spaces within the city area will become fewer and fewer. It constrains the citizens, therefore, to preserve those that are public property, to make the most of them, and to be vigilant against all attempts to take them away or to disfigure them. A case in point that calls for early protest is the rumouredi intention of the Defence" ifVut'horitiies, to eilect Permanent Artillery barracks and stable® on that part of the Piovincial Buildings grounds facing the Police Station. The area, is part of the enclosure bounded bv Harleystreet on the one side and the Queen's Garden fence 011 the other, in immediate proximity with the Lands. Office, and not far from the rooriis- where public courts are held. The dimensions are comparatively restricted', and the prospect■ C'f barracks, for several men and stahles for numerous horses points to congestion, disfigurement, and probably to the creation of something of a nuisance ; because there would be little room for horses- to be depastured in a cleanly way while a good- proportion of the available site was taken up by but ildi 11 <rs. °*» * * *

By slow degrees the Government has been restricting the nublic use of the Provincial grounds, and it is time that a protest was made. Som c . years ago, for no ascertainable reason except a cheeseparing economy in gravel, vehicle traffic through the grounds from Bridge-street to Hardy-street was prohibited, and the main gates were practically closed. The traffic did no harm, except by cutting up the roadway a little, and it gave visitors and others a pleasant short cut.

with a view of grass and trees. Then, the Harley-strect gate was closed against foot and bicycle traffic to the Provincial Hall and the Magistrate's Court, and a small track from the end of the Police lane was substituted. Finally, the space opposite the Police Station, where it is understood that the Artillery Barracks' may be erected, has

be-en practically i\u>od to children riiid others who have used it ;is a. playground for two or throe, generations. Ail this has Lr-i-ji done within a public area almost within the centre of the city, and little protest has been nia.de : although, as a matter of fact. it is doubtful whether the Government has a greater mora.] right to the-grounds than the public of Nelson, to whom it should belong as a. legacy from lbs old Provincial da vs.

Nothing might be said l if the fun-em-inent attempted to keep the grounds beautified. But nearly the whole area is unkempt and uncared. for. Part of it is "a. dumping ground for ofliec irubbis.li. and some time ago. when old documents and printed matter were be l nig burnt, the odour arising permeated the air a. couple, of blocks. Yet no region in the whole city would lend itself to beautih'eation to greater advantage than the grounds surrounding the Provincial Buildings. "With co-operation between the Government., the City Council, and public-spirited, residents, splendid shrubberies and plantations could be laid out. and there would be no finer city "lung" in New Zealand. In fact, in the future, unless the grounds be irretrievably ruined 1 by buildings such as Artillery Barracks and stables, the. citizens of Nelson assuredly will devote attention to the Provincial grounds as offering ' a ready source of city beautincation—practically an extension of the adjacent Queen's Gardens. Under the conditions now threatening, however, we mav have instead such sharp contrasts as the picturesque Provincial Buildings and the Suter Art Gallery in juxtaposition with cheaply-constructed soldiers' barracks, stables, and horse litter.

Finally, quite apart from the shortsightedness of sacrificing part of the city's few central open spaces not yet alienated, the restricted area available for barracks and stables and pasturage iii; the Provincial grounds opposite the Police Station appears to be rmite unsuitable for the pua-tpos-e intended. The buildings themselves would take up so much, room that there would be very little left for the paddock accommodation of ten or more horses. The consequence would be that paddock accommodation of some sort would have to be found. In any case, great care and cleanliness would have' to be exercised, both in the barracks and' in the stables and their vicinity, otherwise the whole locality would be made an eyesore—probably a nuisance. It is hoped, in these circumstances, and also in view of preserving a precious open space for the future beautification of the city very near its centre, that the public of Nelson will do their utmost to prevent the Government from spoiling the' Provincial grounds in, the manner indicated as possible. The.re are other areas available within easy reach of the Drill Hall for barracks, stabling, and horse paddocks, and even if the required area had to be purchased, it would be false economy to deface a portion' of the Provincial grounds through parsimony. The matter is of importance sufficient to justify the City Council and the Chamber of Commerce at least in making inquiries as to the probable intentions of the Defence Department. All are willing to do a great deal to help the full development of the new defence scheme. But sacrifices should stop short at offering up the last of the people's heritage of open spaces almost within the heart of the city.