TOWN PLANNING

Southland Times, Issue 17242, 13 January 1913, Page 2

TOWN PLANNING

MODEL INVERCARGILL SUBURB. THE SCHEME OUTLINED, The question of town planning comes very prominently before the public just now, and In fact has been frequently before them for some time past. One hardly ever takes up a newspaper or magazine nowadays without seeing some mention of It. On the occasion of the recent Architects’ Conference in Dunedin, Mr Hurst-Seager, of Christchurch, gave an interesting and instructive address, illustrated by limelight views, on the methods and purposes of town planning to a large audience in the Burns Hall. His remarks proved a revelation, opening the eyes of his auditors to the necessity, as well as to the beauty, of well-planned towns. WHAT OTHERS ARE DOING. The most prominent nations of Europe and America have been making great strides of late in the movement. In England some years ago. the Right Hon. John Burns introduced in the House of Commons his now famous Town Planning Bill, and a Bill on similar lines was before the last New Zealand Parliament but one. It was wrecked, however, through one objectionable clause. In the Old World and America, not only la town planning recognised as necessary for city extension, but it is also looked upon as necessary in the re-modelling scheme of many of the leading cities of the world. One of the first to take a stand in the matter was Napoleon, who re-modelled Paris on town planning principles, and made it the magnificent city it is to-day. Vienna and Berlin are noted examples of good work done on the Continent. In London two fine streets, Klngsway and Aldwick, have recently been cut through the heart of the bad slum quarter which have completely transformed it, while a third great street in the Empire’s metropolis is now being similarly treated. In many other English and Scottish towns, such as Dumfermline, Bolton, Manchester, and others, sweeping changes have been and are still being made at enormous cost, in order that original faults may be rectified, and that the cities may be made more adaptable for commercial business, and also to give a nobler aspect to the best buildings. In America changes are rapid. In Chicago, something like £1,000,000 is allotted annually by the authorities for rectifying the defects of a strictly right-angled system of planning, such as is observed in Invercargill. In smaller towns also, as the noted examples of Bournemouth, Letchworth, Port Sunlight, and others in England, what are known ns beautiful “garden suburbs’’ have been created. So great is the Interest taken in this matter in Europe, that large numbers of German architects have visited England, to learn from English experience, and these visits have been returned by English architects. Two years ago the Royal Institute of British Architects carried out a most successful International Conference in London on the subject of townplanning. The conference was attended by architects and artists generally from all parts of the world. Coming nearer home we find a number of English architects and engineers being deputed to plan the new Royal city of Delhi, in India, while the Commonwealth of Australia has only just concluded an international competition for the plans of its capital city. This all serves to show the general growth of feeling, that cities and even villages should no longer be planned in a haphazard, and often a too commercial manner. INVERCARGILL’S SUBURB. A large block of suburban land, comprising some 239 acres, was recently acquired from the Adamson family by a local syndicate. . This land lies to the east of Richmond Grove, beyond East Invercargill. It is an exceptionally fine piece of country, with gentle undulating surface, good natural drainage, and is very high lying. The object In view is the cutting-up of the territory for commercial purposes. Mr E. R. Wilson, architect of this town, has for some time past made a special study of tqwn planning, and his work in connection with the laying out of Queen's Park demonstrated a wide knowledge of this subject. He was commissioned by the syndicate to prepare a scheme for this newly - acquired property, which it has been decided to name “Surrey Park Garden Suburb.” Mr Wilson has produced a scheme which has met with the entire approval of the syndicate, and the encomiums of all who have seen it, including Mr Hurst - Seager. On Friday the plan was submitted to the Southland County Council, as the local authority Messrs Wrn. Macallster, J. T. Carswell, and Mr Wilson. The Council members expressed high approval of the proposed operations at Surrey Park; but found it necessary to refer the plan to the County Engineer before finally deciding regarding it. THE SCHEME OULINED. The main idea in the scheme is the provision of ready access to every part of the properly, from any other without having to go round two sides of a triangle. Provision is also made fer a central area. An avenue, one and ahalf chains wide, sweeps round in a semi-circle from the East road to the Junction of Newcastle and St. Andrew streets, North Invercargill. The central area is called "Surrey Place.” Another avenue will go from the corner of Yarrow street direct to the rac.ecouse entrance gates, while a third traverses from this latter point to the north-east-ern corner of the properly, tapping that country to the north of the racecourse, which will undoubtedly at some future time, form part of the town. The owners of an adjoining holding of 00 acres to the south-eastwards of Surrey Park will, it is understood, fall In with the scheme which comprises the laying out of their property. An avenue will be laid down from Surrey Place through this property to the corner at the East Road cemetery. In Surrey Place provision is made for a good setting of public buildings, churches, hall, school and tramway shelters, and on its confines for a band rotunda and recreation grounds. At other principal street intersections, there Is provision for future tramway shelters, monuments, drinking fountains, etc. Delightful vistas will be plentiful through the property. Ail street corners will be rounded off to a wide sweep to avoid the dangers of quick motor traffic so pronounced in Invercargill. All streets and avenues will be arranged in such a way as to tap all adjoining streets and roads present or future. Care has been taken also to enable traffic from this now suburb to connect with the public area just being formed at Queen’s Park. The two places are practically identical and will serve to enhance greatly the convenience and the appearance of Greater Invercargill. The work to he done at Surrey Park is the first and biggest thing of its kind ever attempted In New Zealand. There are 680 quarter-acre sections in the whole area, and IT acres are to he devoted to public conveniences. The length of the streets in the aggregate is 673 chains. II is the intention of the syndicate to cut up the property In large areas, and to go ahead almost immediately with tree planting in the avenues and grounds. Mr Wilson has already received two applications for copies of his plan, one request coming from as far away as Sydney.