NORTH END PARK.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14274, 13 August 1910, Page 7

NORTH END PARK.

To the Editor of the ■'Timaru Herald." Sir,—l was glad to see a letter in this morning's paper against the proposal to purchase the .Maori Reserve at Maori Hill for making another park in Timaru. I think all ratepayers and residents who have the interests of Timaru at heart will agree, that until the vital question of a tramway system for Timaru has been passed, no public money should be spent on luxuries. The cost of laying out and keeping up a park would go a long way towards the initial cost and probable deficit for the first year or two, of trains. We all wish to see Timaru in the forefront of New Zealand towns, but so long as there is no regular means of locomotion—without which no town can really extend or go ahead—she must remain in the ranks of the provincial towns. Moreover, is a Park at the north end of the town at all necessary? I am convinced that when such a line beach, the ideal playground of children, on" the beautifying of which a good deal of money has been spent is accessible, a Park w r ould meet with but scanty patronage. Very little advantage is taken of the splendid park Timaru already possesses, and in the south end it is much more needed than in the north, where most people have fine, gardens with tennis and croquet lawns, and are within easy reach of Caroline Bay. Another advantage of an (electric tram service in Timaru. would be, that the working class would be able to purchase land at reasonable rates and live out of town, thus doing away with the necessity of the proposed erection of workmen's cottages.—l am, COMMONSENSE.