ADVANCE TE AROHA.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 45209, 5 April 1910, Page 2

ADVANCE TE AROHA.

TrrE creation of the “ City Beautiful ” has been more and more recognised of late years by civic authorities the world over. ' It is recognised that the crowding together of bricks and mortar, backyards and unadorned thoroughfares, is not only a menace to health, but the worst possible advertisement for a town to attract would be residents. In a Health Resort this argument is intensified tenfold, for where the attrac • tion of tourists is contemplated, the construction of the “ City Beautiful ” must be the first means to that end. In America, England, Germany, and other parts of the Continent, as well as all over Australia, landscape-gardening is gaining in importance year by year. The movement probably owed its origin to the notorious Monte Carlo, which first built up its claim to fame and attractiveness on its wonderful hanging gardens. There the boulevards and flower beds are completely renewed aud altered every night. Coming nearer home, in Australia landscape gardening may be seen on an extensive scale; and above all, it has been foundi“to pas.” Adelaide, designated the “ Garden City of the South ” took the lead ; Ballarat, Melbourne and Sydney followed, with all the other large towns in a greater or less degree. Adelaide has, however, spent the most money, and had the advantage over the others from the first, because the scheme was inaugurated at its inception. A circular reserve of some ten acres stands right in the centre of the city, which islaid outinlawns,flowerbeds, shrubs and trees. It is intersected by four cross roads, each section being enclosed with iron railings. Four _ other similiar squares are to be found in the heart of the town, and also in the suburbs. Between the city proper and the s iburbs again, is a reserve half a ! mile deep completely surrounding it, ' aud this has been gradually brought under motivation until to day the former waste park lands vie with the choicest gardens in the State, It is to these that the Government is now turning its attention more and more vigorously, aud spending more money annually than ever before. Formerly Adelaide was a place without a single natural advantage. It was situated in the middle of a barren plaiu, 12 miles from the sea, and without a single lake or river to break the monotony Now it possesses a beautiful artificial lake 3 miles long, 100 acres of Botanical and Zoological Gardens, and the finest and most extensive landscape gardens in Australia, the whole of which attractions have been made.

New Zealand, on the other hand, relies far too much on the natural beauties and advantages of the country. Yet this very reason should be the one to impel it to vle with its less advantageously situated neighbours, that its pre-emiuence may always remain supreme. Here in Te Aroha, for instance, what a comparatively little has been dene—what much might be done to enchance the natural attractions of the place ! With niggardly hand the Domain Reserve ha 3 been strictly confined to the bare area occupied by the springs—so strictly indeed as to cut off one of the very best clusters of them !

Now the everlasting complaint of Tourists and visitors to this resort is the limited nature of the means of interest at their disposal. To scale the mountain is not given to all, and especially with the large number of invalids or semi-invalids that come here seeking the benefit of the waters, is an utter impossibility. The area of access to them in the Domain is therefore but two or three acres. We would urge upon the Government the (oversight established in neglecting to take in the Domain frontage right down to the -,'ver. By going a little way up the Bald Spur it must be obvious to all what a splendid advantage would be derived by acquiring the block bounded by Rolleston and Wilson Streets. The river takes a broad sweep inwards here, and embraces this very block as if specially designed for the purpose by nature. On the side of it is a large swamp area, at present used for grazing, which could at veiy little expense be converted into a beautiful lake by turning the creek alongside into it. Any deepening necessary could be utilized for raising the block bounded by Wilson and Rolleston streets, which is quite unsuitable for • bidding purposes owing to its liability to inundation. There are only a few private houses on the block, and the tenure is miner's right. The occupants shov’d surely be public-spirited enough to be satisfied with equitable transfer in lieu of compensation, for they must realize that what is for the g >od of all is also for f heir own good, and any endeavoi' • to gain selfish ends simply results in blocking the way. To transform this block into a beautiful park leading from the Domain to the water’s edge, where visitors could indulge iu the pleasures of boating and fishing amid lovely surroundings, would be an acquisition beyond question. The side has been converted into a public pound. This should be utilised as an avenue to connect with the Bridge Domaiu, taking in the sports reserve en bank of the river to the width of a chain already belongs to the Government, but On the north route. The irregularity of the design would enhance rather than detract from the scheme. If, must be obvious to all that two small domains widely separated from each other, nullifies the effect of each. Moreover, any attempt to deal with nature on a small, petty scale convex ts the sublim.e ipto the ridiculous. The fact of Wbitaker-street intersecting this exteusion, has, as alreidy explained, a parallel in Adelaide, which is a city with a population nearly three times as great as Auckland. The present wooden fence wou’d be replaced by light iron railings, which would not obstruct the view, the snne obtaining on the opposite side of the avenue. Au.ther pressiug need in connection with the Domain is the acquisition of the private quid magnesia springs outside the present boundary, which are admitted to be the best and njo it palatable drinking waters of a 1!. This end could be attained at small expense by running an avenue through behind the frontage, with which there is no necessity to interfere at all.

Why should not Te Aroha have Domain grounds more nearly approaching the extent of Rotorua ? Our waters are acknowledged to be superior to any inNew Zealand, and equal to those of the Continent. The question is : A:e we to develop tl ‘s advantage and attract visitors to come here, and stay here wheu they come, or to allow them to go away and say there is nothing to do or to see when they are here f Delay is not only dangerous, the continual mr’tiplication of those difficulties whioh, taken by ’he forelock, can boa! uost, if not ent' vely, avoided-