Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 1914. THE TAHUNA BEACH.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 8 January 1914, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 1914. THE TAHUNA BEACH.

FOR bathing and for a children's playground the Tahuna beach is one of the finest in New Zealand. Yet it is noc patronised by Nelson people to the extent it should be. The main drawback is the difficulty experienced in getting there. It is all very well for the people with conveyances and those able to pay for cabs or motors; but the average family has no opportunity of making the visit to the beach except without either a. walk that is too long for the little ones, or else. a.n expenditure that cannot be reasonably afforded, except on rare occasions. It is a thou-, sand pities the railway line was not- put round the Port in the -early days, or what doubtless would have been a cheaper scheme, tunnelled through the hill somewhere ir)' the vicinity ■ of Emano-street. • Even now a report on the tunnel proposition would be money well spent. The tunnelling would, not be very extensive, and if the line could be laid on an easy gradient it would save a. gr6at deal of wear and tear and extra hauling power involved in connection 'With the present line. Another matter worth consideration at any rate, is the laying of a light line froir* Jlnnesbrook along; the side ■of the hijl to Tahiina. Such a line would not be expensive, and. it might serve the purpose very .well. The alternative to the railway is some form of electric trams. Systems Jiave 1 been' installed with co>nspicuoui success in som© of the smaller towns of the Dominion, and there ia pressing -need that''the matter should thoroughly inquired into from a local point of ,view. . This much is certain, that a tram system connecting with Tahuna would bring its fine beach witJiV in easy reach of every child in the city. We have mentioned the various ways of affording access to the beach in order to create interest in J the matter. Which scheme it is advisable to i*dopt we are not. prepared to say j for the closest inquiry by expert? is' necessary to accurately weight, the pros and cons. A tramway- system, provided it could t»e economically run, would undoubtedly prove most beneficial to the place, for some form of cheap conveyance is- essential if full advantage is to be taken of Nelson's residential attractions. In the meantime we would like to see special ■arrangements made "with the convey- j ances available to provide as cheap a service to Tahuna-as possible. Persons traveling singly could be made to pay a little extra in order to provide family tickets at a price, that would not be prohibitive. At the present time the beach offers many attractions, and with the continuous hot weather hundreds of children could find healthy amusement on the sands' for days together. Unfortunately they are now in the stuffy schools in this, the most trying month in the year; but the little ones also enjoy to the .full a day on the open beach, and they could" be catered for- now. The obvious fact in connection with the

beach' is that -whilst there are numbers of people there,. tha average NeJsonian •does not realise what a valuable asset he has there, or else he is unable to take full advantage of : it. Surf bathing is most refreshing and enjoyable, and the exhilarating sea breezes are laden with health-giving powers.