ANDERSON’S BAY INLET.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20418, 26 May 1928, Page 13

ANDERSON’S BAY INLET.

TO THE EDITOR. Sih, —Mankind has been well likened to sheep. Somebody set the ball rolling in declaring that Anderson’s Bay is a menace to health, and quite a number have taken up the cry, and really you would think they were going to die as a result of the effluvium that is emanating from dead octopuses. • The sight of an octopus, dead or alive, seems to terrify them, and they flee for their lives. After all these years they have discovered that the bay in that particular locality is insanitary, and they can get even the health authorities to declare it so. Strange—is it not?—that the bay can be cleaned up, and kept clean, is beyond the bounds of impossibility. The only thing to do is to fill it up and build, and see the revenue it will provide for the city! Everything we do now or think of doing must be subordinated to the question whether or not it will pay. To what are we all coming? Nature has bountifully given us a beautiful harbour, and here right at its_ extremity lies this snug little bay within a bay, sheltered and nestling at the foot of the surrounding hillsides, and because there are a few dead octopuses and other objectionable matter to he seen at low tide, with an accompanying smell, this beautiful and charming spot should be turned to purposes of revenue. Perish the thought! Let the people of Dunedin who have an eye for the beautiful, see to it that this proposed wanton destruction of such a lovely watering place as could be made of Anderson's Bay inlet shall in no circumstances tnko place. It seems a monstrous surest iou. By all means clean it up, but till it in—-never! If a lake were macxe 1 as could so easily and ■inexpensive it might be made a “ bird san " as well as a habitation for fisi. We hear a lot days about sport. What has become of the sport of rowing? Do we see as much of that healthful pastime as we used to? The good old days of yachting and rowing have evidently passed away, and what finer sight could one witness than that of young men in the strength of their manhood upon the water of a summer’s evening, and as they “ dip ” their- oars what pleasanter than to hear their merry voices and laughter resounding across the bay! In Anderson's Bay we have an ideal stretch of water for boating and rowing. Let the bay be kept intact for that purpose. By what right and authority does ‘‘Bay Resident ” claim to speak on behalf of the people in that district? How has he come to know the thoughts and wishes of the residents that he should dogmatically affirm that th>y “have made up . their minds,” etc.? “Bay Resident” is much concerned about the amount of revenue that will accrue fro: ■ the sale of the land for- residential purposes, _ There seem to he som-* ir- 1 .: aho are incapable of thinking along any other line than that of profit. They are prepared to destroy anything and everything if it will pay. My advice to the people of Anderson’s Ray is to see to it that, revenue or no revenue, the natural “ beauty spot ” that they have there —if they have vision enough to see it as a transformed area unaffected by the ebb of the tide with dozens of boats upon its limpid waters on a fine summer's evening—will not be, filled up and plastered over with buildings because of few grumblers.—l am, etc.. Another Beauty Lover. May 25.