THE GIFT FOUNTAIN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 4 May 1940, Page 12

THE GIFT FOUNTAIN

fTo The Editor] Sir.—The pity of it! A beautiful gift j is promised to Nelson, and Nelson does not know what to do with it. Is it a town bereft of ideas? It was the same way with the Early Settlers’ Memorial. Was there one really worth-while idea brought forward? Lord Bledisloe gave a fine oak seat to be placed on the top of the Zig-Zag. and after it had been there for a short time, the City Fathers, i rightly or wrongly, decided that that was not the right place for it. and that it would be safer on the Church Steps, where it now stands. Perhaps the Councils of Nelson and Tahunanui lead the people in the way of treating gifts. The very finest gift to the city, and perhaps one of the finest gifts that have ever been presented to any town in New Zealand—the very beautiful chains that protect the sea wall, from the boatsheds to Tahuna beach, the gift of the late Mr John Tinline —has been very badly neglected. The chains'do not receive their Coating of tar until they are rusting away, especially the Tahuna end. and should the Tahuna Board be expected to do their part of it when j it was a gift to the city? As if this j neglect was not bad enough, when the ■ batter was taken off the cliff a few years ago. some of the chains were taken down for the convenience of the men tipping the spoil over the wall, and they were left hanging or lying on the rocks, and are now well buried in sand j —to the eternal disgrace of the then i Council. The land that the Council have reclaimed by the tip now lies awaiting development. What is to be done with this large area? It has great possibilities. If the wide tide-way up to the Saltwater bridge were bridged over and | about four feet of soil put on top of it, it could be planted and we could have another and longer avenue of Monte Carlo palms, that are such a charming feature of Anzac Park. An avenue is a beautiful thing, and it is a pity that there is not one in Nelson, which was once a city of trees. Could not a curving avenue of limes be planted on this area such as the very lovely and little known one. in the Park, known as The Quarry, in Shrewsbury. in England. Perhaps the generous donor of the fountain would like to consider this, and if he could see a plan of Shrewsbury in some Guide Book he could see what a lovely thing it is. But unless he has seen the trees themselves he could hardly believe the height and size to which they have grown. A fountain is a beautiful thing, but to be properly appreciated it needs to be in a place where people are constantly passing, and is there an open space in Nelson large enough for the blowing spray not to be a nuisance? — f am. etc.. OPEN SPACE. Nelson. 2nd May. TTo The Editor] Sir. —With reference to Mr Cheek’s suggested that the wishes of the donor should decide this matter, it is well known that the Council has obtained the views of the donor and that she has expressed a definite preference fci the Church Hill, and a strong objection to the Queen’s Gardens.—T am. etc.. CITIZEN TTo The Editor] Sir.—l think there is only one place for the fountain to be placed, and that is Anzac Park. This has been suggested by several. In the absence of any wish expressed by the very generous donor, and there seems to be several sites favoured, it would be a comparatively easy matter to conduct a plebiscite through the newspaper, say. for a week, and the site favoured by the majority, there erect the fountain. This is an old idea, though often still used, and if such were done I feel confident Anzac Park would be selected Queen’s Gardens has been suggested. More people pass Anzac Park in a fortnight than would pass Queen’s Gardens in three months. I heartily support Anzac Park site. —I am. etc., “JOHN CITIZEN.” Nelson, 3rd May. [To The Editor] Sir, —Nothing so far advanced by correspondents has made any impression rn my original conviction that Anzac Park is pre-eminently the site for the gift fountain. And anything that will add lustre to the name of “Anzac” will. I feel sure, meet with very general commendation. The future of Miller’s section is, unfortunately, quite uncertain. The Queen’s Gardens are insufficiently prominent in location, and in addition to the large central fountain in that very beautiful retreat, we have two supolementary fountains playing daily. The choice on the Church Hill will be firmly opposed.—l am, etc., R.S. Nelson, 2nd May.