Esplanade options evaluated

ODT Wed, 22 Sep 2010

The esplanade at St Clair has so long been subjected to the crumbling process as to be unworthy of the name.

The matter has for some time engaged the attention of the Dunedin and Suburban Reserves Conservation and the St Clair Improvement Societies, and a large and influential deputation from these bodies waited on the City Council last night.

This was not a small local matter. An esplanade was required for St Clair, and anything that tended to be betterment of the Ocean Beach meant the benefit of Dunedin as a whole.

The deputation would ask the council to bear in mind that it did not in any way wish to reflect on either the Ocean Beach Domain Board or the St Kilda Council, for it fully recognised the valuable work which both these bodies had done; but both had been hampered by lack of funds.

What esplanade existed was being gradually washed away, and surely the council must see that it was an urgent matter. He might mention also that the movement had the sympathy of the Ocean Beach Domain Board. The idea was to extend the esplanade to Forbury Road, as originally built.

Dr Roberts pointed out that to have an esplanade extending from St Clair to Forbury Road would be a very great boon to the community, and would be used by thousands of people, not only from Dunedin, but visitors from elsewhere.

Nothing had been done to enhance the natural beauties of this part of the coast. There was not even a seat provided.

Mr J. A. Park pointed out that in the Ocean Beach the city possessed an important asset which had been much neglected This beach proved a constant attraction to a very large number of respectable people, and it was for these that this deputation, with the held of this council, proposed to cater.

The Mayor assured the deputation of his sympathy, and assured them that he would do all in his power to further its wishes. He could see nothing in the way of allocating something and he would do his best to have something put on the list. In the meantime the council would refer this matter to a committee. The cost of the esplanade will probably be about 3000.

• Considerable activity prevails at present in horse-dealing between Australia and New Zealand. The steamer Victoria, which left Auckland for Sydney on Monday night, took away 30 draught and 47 light horses, and the Wairuna, which left for Newcastle yesterday, shipped a further consignment of 140 draught horses.

A New Zealand dealer who has just returned from Melbourne states that there is still a big demand in the Australian markets for New Zealand horses, and that good quality animals could be easily disposed off. West Australia, he said, was particularly eager to buy.

- ODT, 22.9.1910.