THE CALL OF THE SURF.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3639, 27 September 1912, Page 3

THE CALL OF THE SURF.

WAIKANAE beach.

ITS; POSSIBILITIES AND POTENTIALITIES.

(By “fckin Bather.”)

Few places are favored with a stretch of beach such as extends for miles along the Waikayae. Visitors to Gisborne are loud in their praises or the long span of sanded coast-line, and many acclaim it to be one of the Lest, if not the beach par excellence, of New Zealand. It is undoubtedly a beautiful and valuable expanse of water and an inestimable asset as a breathing space for ‘Gisborne and the whole of Poverty Bay As the summer season is approaching, a remark or two on the beach as ,a bathing place and holiday ground, its present condition and the possibilities for the future, will not bo amiss. Nature has done her part, and it now remains for the hand of man, plus tlie expenditure of probably a considerable amount of money, to cultivate the beach into a watering place worthy of the importance of Gis' orne and the surrounding district. There should be •>, wakening up of the public-spirited people in an endeavor to make the beach more attractive in many ways, and thus offer inducement to outsiders as well as the residents of Gisborne, to visit the seaside. Much less attractive and extensive beaches have been popularised and turned to remarkable advantage in tlio matter of advertising a town, in different parts of New Zealand. There can be no two opinions that the AVaikanae beach affords singular opportunities for improvement, and it could be turned into an undeniable pleasure-giving and popular place with the addition of such innovations as have been' introduced in other places. Even the much-vaunted Australian resorts. Coogee, Bandi and Manly, patronised as they arc by thousands upon thousands weekly, cannot boast the natural advantages which have fallen to the lot of the people of Gisborne. But. do the citizens of this town appreciate the remarkable asset which lays so close to the heart of the town ? Apparently not. It might bo argued that Gisborne has not got the population to go on, but that contention must be dismissed when it is known that places of at least equal size in New Zealand are supporting seaside places of great attractiveness. There arc many tilings to be done to the beach. First, the approach is unsightly, on account of the conglomeration of buildings and general untidiness.

Tile bather deserves first consideration, for, what in all the roll of recreations is more exhilarating or healthgiving, than sporting in the surf? In this respect, by the way, the be rich does not appear to be nearly so much appreciated as it should he. and greater encouragement should be given to people to take advantage of the cooling waters of the beach. It must he conceded that there are provided tolerably decent dressing sheds for Loth ladies and gentlemen, but at this the accommodation ends. These sheds have been put into good repair recently. The one fault about the men’s shed is that the platform Icadiim to it is fashioned in such a way that one has to perform after the manner of a person doing pounce, either entering or leaving the shed. A short flight of steps or a slanting approach, as at present, would do excellently, provided the batons, which are a source of irritation to tender feet, were removed and rubber matting or something i of the kind substituted. The absence of a cold shower, which so braces one and removes the taint of the brine, is sorely felt by bathers from other places. The unsightliness of the place is added to by the presence of the privately owned bathing sheds dotted about the beach. It is reasonable that people should ho permitted to dross in privacy, but should not the municipality provido sheds the same as are now in use at most of the Dominion’s watering-places? The presence of movable bathing-sheds Mould in itself lie a factor going far towards popularising the beach as a bathing place, and the profit gained from the small charges made for the use of the. sheds would make it in time a re-venue-producing concern. As at Timaru, for instance, which town Caroline Bay has been largely res]K>nsiblo for bringing into prominence in Now Zealand, the right to manage and let the bathing sheds could be leased annually to the highest tenderer, who also could have costumes and towels on hire. The present public sheds would serve their purpose well if left as they are, but this in no way minimises the necessity for the private sheds. Rafts could be placed in the deeper water beyond the breakers, to instil confidence into the swimmers, this also being a practice at numerous sea-sido places in New Zealand. Altogether, indications are fair towards tlie Waikanae beach becoming a firstclass bathing spot and if such facilities as suggested are provided the result would doubtless be to attract many more visitors to tin sunny climes of Poverty Bay.

The children, ten, have a righteous claim for improved provision for their comfort at the beach. Many more inexpensive devices would serve to brighten the lot of the little ones, who must gain great good by breathing the inspiring atmosphere from the sea. For the grown-ups, liberal seating accommodation might he provided, and let the suggestion he: as at several well-known seasides, those persons who have the welfare of the place sufficiently at heart, donate scats of a stated pattern. This system was adopted at Timaru and abundant seating accommodation is provided, the name of the donor being on each scat.

Tlic environs of the beach might be brightened up by the addition of suitable- shrubs,» which would setoff the surrounding lawns quite excellently. A band rotunda and a hundred and one objects might he aimed at, hut to do all at once is of course impossible. The townspeople would he serving ■Gisborne right well, however, if thej saw to it that progress towards beautifying the beach is made on modest lines. Attend to the bather and satisfy the needs <»f the children and, as lias proved to be the ease elsewhere, the call of the surf will be irresistible.