The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, The Morning News and The Echo. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1878

Auckland Star, Volume IX, Issue 2681, 21 November 1878, Page 2

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, The Morning News and The Echo.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1878

For the cause that acks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

THE long looked for visit of Messrs Conyers and Lawson supplies good ground for the hope that the vexatious delays in the commencement of Public Works in this Provincial District will not be further prolonged, and that the long-suffering people of Auckland will not be subjected to a protraction of that hope which maketh the heart sick. We believe 1 hat the hon. the Minister of Works lias giveu the Commissioners full discretionary power to finally decide upon the alternative routes for the Waitakereri section of the Kaipara Railway, the extension of the railway to Queen-street Wharf, the removal of the railway workshops to Newmarket, the construction of a bridge at the Remuera crossing, and other works of importance for which money has been appropriated by the Assembly. With respect to the firstmentioned, Messrs Conyers and Lawson went up to-day to examine the routes, being accompanied by Mr Stewart, District Engineer, and Messrs Swanson and Macfarlane ; and the Commissioners' decision will probably transpire in the course of a day or two. Messrs Conyers and Lawson have also had an interview with the Chairman of the Harbour Board on the subject of the proposed harbour reclamation for railway purposes, and Monday next has been appointed for a conference to examine the plans, and consider the proposals which have been submitted. Through the courtesy of Mr Boylan we have been permitted to inspect the plans, from which we* gather that the following well-considered Scheme has been devised, and now only awaits the final approval of tlie Commissioi, jrs as a preliminary to an immediate commencement of the works. It is proposed that the reclamation shall be continued from the waterman's stairs, across to the railway station, containing in all an area of nearly 15 acres. Along the outside of this Quaystreet will be continued with a width of 85 feet, crossing the present railway station and passing on the seaward side round to Wynyard Pier and on to Parnell. Inside the Quay-street frontage of the intended reclamation, it is proposed by the Board to reserve a strip 100 feet wide to be cup up into allotments so as to place the Board practically on the same footing with regard to endowments as it stands at present. This part of the propsals, however, is only put forward tentatively, and may be somewhat modified should the Commissioners be of opinion that the 10J acres which will remain for the purpose of extending the line, and as sites for sheds are not sufficient. The Board appears to be actuated by a sincere desire to remove any obstacle which might impede the immediate commencement of a work so essentially necessary to the commerce of the port. Amongst the other proposals is the widening of the continuation of Queen-street, from Custom-house-street to Quay-street, to a width of 100 feet, instead of 85 feet as at present. Custom-house-street, from Queen - street to Fortstreet, will also be extended to a similar width and carried round to the Beach Road, a crossing if possible being made at the end of Short-street, so as to provide access to the Wynyard Pier. Messrs Conyers and Lawson also paid a i visit to the proposed site for the railway workshops at Newmarket, and expressed satisfaction with the area available. The only remaining consideration is that of the expense which the removal would entail, on which the Resident Engineer and other authorities are in accord. Another work which is in contemplation is the construction of a bridge at the Remuera crossing, and the lowering the grade at this point so as to enable the train to pass beneath the bridge, thus averting the danger of accidents. Messrs Conyers and Lawson will also finally decide upon the question of the railway station at Morningside, and, we understand, will take into consideration the offer of the contractors to construct a station at the Cabbage Tree Swamp Junction for £1,000. Mr Harding is now engaged in preparing an estimate which will furnish data for a comparison with Mr Stewart's estimate for £4,000.