Patea & Waverley Press FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 1939 THE CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL

Patea Mail, 28 April 1939, Page 2

Patea & Waverley Press FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 1939 THE CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL

canvass is to be made of the ■whole of the district in the near future for funds to enable the local Centennial Memorial to bo carried out, when it is hoped that the people will respond in a liberal manner. Each district is having a Centennial, and it behoves flu* people of Patea and district to see that they do not. lag behind. Pa tea’s memorial has the merit of being something that will add materially to the assets of the district, inasmuch as it, with the good work that has already been carried Gift by the Seaside Improvement Society, enables the town of Patea to be classed as a seaside resort. The memorial, it is interesting to note, will, when completed, cost about half of what would have had to be paid for the work had it been carried out by contract. Thanks to the assistance rendered by the unemployed, the Harbour Board and Mr. Peacoekc, who lias loaned the plant and exorcised a supervision over the work, the public will have a swimming hath and paddling pool twice 1 he size it would have had if this assistance had not been forthcoming. The bath itself, being GO feet long by 30 feet wide, will be large enough for adults to swim in if they desire 1o do so, in preference to going out in I he sea or the river. Picnic parlies from the country can avail themselves next season of the bathing pavilion, when l they can sit in the shade and watch their little ones paddling in the pool or learning to swim in the bath, a few yards in front of them. There has been excellent work carried out by the Seaside Committee, wilh the aid of unemployed men in forming a stone breaslwork in 1 Ik* bay, where it was at (me lime feared the river was encroaching at high tide. This breastwork has been planted' with ice plants and presents a charming picture already. The society, thanks to the generosity of friends, has been able to provide a .number of seats which have been fixed to the ground along, what is the beginning of an excellent csplnnadle. With the facilities existing for the supply of hot water at any time the

beach should be a popular place for both town and country people to visit. The little store that has been provided, where refreshments can be obtained, should serve to make the beach still more popular.’ Visitors who have seen the paddling pool state that it is the best they have seen in the North Island, and it should prove a boon to the small children in the summer months, where they can paddle to their heart’s content, free from all danger. In the bath alongside parents can have their children taught to swim by members of the local surf club, who have generously offered their services for this purpose. What parent is there who would not like to see his child taught to swim? Who knows but what the lessons received in the swimming bath may mean the saving of the child’s life at anytime? Lives arc too precious to the Dominion to be thrown away 'through children not having been taught to swim. The constructbin of tin- hath and paddling poo] should be regarded as an investment—one of the best that any parent could make. In addition townspeople, and country people 100, will have the satisfaction of knowing that the memorial will add to the value of their property, as it will help to popularise the town and make it an attractive resort. The memorial spells progress, and from every point of view is the. best that could have been desired, for it is both utilitarian as well as humanitarian. We hope that the people will realise this fact, and by contributing liberally enable the pool and bath to be finished off in a manner in keeping with the town and district. People who have visited the town and noted the wonderful natural advantages it possesses, have often wondered AA r hy it has not a greater population. The reason is to a great extent because the people have been slow to realise these advantages Avbieb have not been made knoAvn to'the outside world as they should. The. beach, the river, the sea, the domain, Avith its cricket, tennis and croquet grounds, are all most valuable assets Avhieh should attract residents to the toAvn in the future. The bigger the town grows the greater Avill be the value of property, not only in the town itself, but in the' adjacent districts. A memorial such as that now being constructed, is one of the best investments any ratepayer could wish to have. We hope one and all Avill realise this fact and contribute accordingly when Avaited upon in the near future.