The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-04-27


which was excellent has been preserved
EMMA SQUARE.
Emma square is sadly IN need of the
same care. By removing the fences
the effect of space would be increased
by the streets on either side and with
| low curb of concrete to protect the
front and rear ends, with Towering
shrubs in the garden plats; good dress
ing of cinder sand around the band
stand: and judicious trimming of the
branches of the large trees, the place
would be much improved. A new band
stand of classic design would be eff
fectiye in this square.
1 Aala Park, on King street, has re-
deemed China town and if there could
be planted a border of royal poincianas
alternating with royal palms it would,
IN a few years, be a goodly sight. This
! park will be a great protection against
| the spread of ire in that district
In rebuilding the city of Baltimore
the question of frequent open squares
in the burned district is receiving Sc
rious consideration.
The plats of ground at the railroad
station, are well arranged. Flowering
| shrubs in groups and few palms
would beautify the spot. A well de-
signed drinking trough at the street
| curb, would accentuate it in an artistic
way, and be a veritable boon TO the
dumb animals of that busy neighbor-
hood. There may be reasons why
| drinking fountains for the people are
not desirable, but &hcn we consider
| that Honolulu has line water supply,
| daily by the inprovident yard-men, we
wonder that she possesses not single
public fountain in her boundaries. In
| this respect she stands unique among
| tropical cities. Nothing is more re-
freshing TO the eye in the languid days.
of sunshine, or more musical to the
ear through the tropical nights, than
the spray and splash of fountains: moth
ing adds more to the civic splendora of
a gala occasion.
"Pausanias named the presence of
fountains as a test of civilization, and
asked with reference to Panopeus if it
could be properly entitled to rank as
city having no public fountains of
water.
KAPIOLANI PARK.
Kapiolani park, I am happy to say,
is being improved. The strawberries in
year or two will be very beautiful.
Let US hope that some means may be !
devised of clearing the many water
ways, and thus adding to their beauty
by the reflections of tree and shrub. !
A bridge or two of permanent masonry
crossing the canals, with balustrades
and vases or caryatIds would contrast .
well with the verdure and delight the
eye. At the end of the trolley line, a
rustic pavilion with seats would add to
the comfort of visitors, although it /
xx-0frfd 4 Il II
classic Pergola raised a few steps, |
paved and overgrown with vines. shad-i
ing seats of stone or cement Rustic |
adornments are a make-shift, except .
when they accentuate sylvan retreat,
or private grounas. "A public park calls t
tor works of more permanent elegance.
AT Kapiolani park one looks in vain
tor path leading TO the sea, no single
foot of the vast sea front in that neigh !.
borhood is accessible to the visitor,
except he crosses private grounds or
goes TO hotel for the privilege of en-
Joy1ng view of the ocean. One can
not get much of an idea of the vast
expanse, looking through the palings
OF white washed fences. The citizens
owning estates in that ileighborhood, +
who would give even ten feet path
way to the sea would confer a boon on
the strangers who visit the park In a 3
measure the grounds. of the Aquarium
help this situation but they do not APP
pear TO belong to the park
In Buffalo. Niagara Park, or what is
called the water front along the Mia |
CARA river, is nearly a mile of beauti-
fully laid out terraces, with lawns,
trees, gravelled paths and flower
gardens, a band pavilion and artistic (
seats. No one can fail to appreciate the
beauty of an extension of the park to
the sea, who has noticed the wide vista I
which IS bounded by the sea wall at
the side of the highway leading into
the CITY. Although we have no open
sea views at the Park, we have a water
XXI which could be made one of the,
hnest of boulevards. 1t is now a burn {
ing desert waste and Notwithstanding,
from this place the finest view of the {
mountains is contrasted with the mu- J
steal boom of the surf on the distant {
reefs. i
A driveway with double row of {
Algaroba trees on each side, would re- I
deem this situation in few years. I
The Honolulu Iron Works Co. have
shown what can be done with trees. IT
Seeds planted little over a year ago, I
are now trees over ten feet high. 1t is {
not necessary TO wait tor apprOpria-
lions to build roads and pavements. get I
the lines and. with permission, plant
The trees, and the rest will come in due
time. We will at least have made a |
beginning in the way of shady avenue. i
and by building occasional balustraded T
platforms extending into the sea, with 1
permanent pavilions and seats of classic
design, we would have a water front {
hat would surDass those at Nice Bor- {
1eaux, Marseilles e-,d the many routes
au bords de la Mer" of the old world t
RECREATION GROUNDS.
Honolulu possesses numerous recre- a
alton grounds. the finest of which is the t
polo field at Moanalua. Recreation c
grounds. however, which are fenced in i
with high boarding, cannot be counted 5
as ornaments to the city, any more than r
4 circus tent They are necessary and ]
therefore they fulfil their purpose and
II