WAITARA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 16051, 8 February 1918, Page 7

WAITARA.

FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. Feb. B.—Referring to the leading article dealing with the making of New Plymouth attractive to visitors, 1 remember being one of 15,000 visitors who invaded a well-known English water-ing-place in one day. Those 15,000 people would probably average a week’s stay, which would mean that probably £30,000 or £40,000 would be spent in the town by them. Visitors can amuse themselves during tbi> day time, but the evenings are dull if there is no attraction. To provide this most of the larger watering-places arrange good outdoor concerts, not merely the town hand, but concerts by travelling companies of repute. The town guarantees a certain sum to the company, and not infrequently is in pocket by making a small charge for seats and by passing round the hat. TVhat could be more delightful, than a concert on the beach or in the park, with the young and energetic promenading round about while those so disposed were seated around the platform. New Plymouth has great opportunities, and there appear to be men in the town who are making the most of them. At present it is in the making, but a few years hence there,is no doubt that visitors will be flocking there for their holidays, and the whole district, including our own to«*n, will be the richer for i;ho money that is spent. No doubt the providing of attractions for visitors in the evening has already been considered by the gentlemen who are so active in putting tht, attractions of New Plymouth before the public, but I have mentioned the jqptter of concerts for the reason that when there is a choice of holiday resorts most people will choose the place where they can spend a pleasant day by the sea, and can also end up the day in the open air in listening to some good music.

The mason bees of the Seaside Improvement Society have made an excellent job of the men’s bathing shed. It is a most commodious building and should be much appreciated by the increasing number'of visitors to the beach who enjoy surf bathing. There was a talk some time ago of tho harbour board surveying the waste land into eighth-of-an-acro sections and leasing them for whares for those who like beach life, but nothing has happened so far. There are several people to my knowledge who would .be willing to erect suitable buildings.