watkk works of east london. 335 



Beach Development. 



The Council have ])aicl considerable attention to beach 

 development and bathing during: the last 12 years. However, 

 very little money has been available, and only one really per- 

 manent building has been erected. This is known as the Orient 

 Pavilion. It is a double-storev reinforced concrete building. 

 It was built by direct labour and completed in June, 19 14. It 

 cost a little under i5,ooo. It is now let at a yearly rental of 

 £720. 



The tidal baths are a great feature during the summer 

 season, but the water is too cold for winter bathing. Surf bath- 

 ing is indulged in all the year round, and in this connection 

 the Council have put up extensive wood and iron and wood 

 public dressing-rooms and cubicles. 



Whereas practically no revenue was collected until 1907, the 

 revenue from these concerns last year was £1,768 14s. 8d. 



In recent years the Council have graded off and hardened 

 the carriage-way from Rhodes Street to what is known as the 

 Orient Beach, and taken over and opened up Signal Hill, which 

 is one of the beauty spots on the beach. The Esplanade was 

 widened between Currie Street and Rhodes Street, and the sand 

 hill cut down to the 60th contour. This area has now been laid 

 out 'as hotel and boarding-house sites, with a new high-level 

 Esplanade on top of the present grass bank. Moreover, the 

 Council have before them a proposal to expropriate the area 

 between Rhodes Street, Rees Street, the Beach Hotel, and the 

 Esplanade, and to replan it, ])ossibly as shewn on a plan which 

 I have prepared. The area is a mean one, and Ouanza Street, 

 Fitzpatrick Road, and Clifford Street meet the Esplanade prac- 

 tically at right angles. The gradients are steep and the junc- 

 tions dangerous. The number of building lots on the area is 

 .^6, and the present valuation of the lots and buildings is 

 £36,515. Should the area be replanned, there would be avail- 

 able about 23 lots for sale. The crescent would commence at 

 the Beach Hotel and end in the high-level Esplanade before 

 referred to. It is proposed that a large area should be reserved 

 for gardens, band-stands, etc. The area between Inverleith 

 Terrace and Moore Street has been planned, and one lot has 

 recently been disposed of to the King George's Mansions Co., 

 who are, I understand, about to erect an hotel of 100 bedrooms. 

 Moreover, the eastern esplanade was extended from the Lime 

 Kilns to the Blind River. Grass plots were laid out and foot- 

 paths constructed. Members mav be interested in an inspection 

 of the plans of the whole scheme. 



In this connection I think I cannot do better than quote from 

 my report on the estimates for 1919. 



