NORTHCOTE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 4528, 3 December 1884, Page 4

NORTHCOTE.

(By a Resident.)

While the suburbs of Auckland are extending on every side of the city, the north side of the Waitemata is attracting its share of the suburban population. With ita greatly improved steam ferry facilities, Northcoto has begun of late to open out its attractions for citizens and settlers who seek salubrious homes away from aero wdedcity and yet within easy reach'at all hours of tho day. Signs of progress are visible in every direction. , Several large blocks of land are in course of being opened up at a short distance from Stokes's Point and the Lake, offering tempting retreats for all who aro wise enough to prefer semi rural abodes and a pleasant and invigorating trip across the water to the daily rumble of the 'bus, and the confined atmostphere of street dwellings, Though so near, and in full view of the town, and indeed within earshot of its busy din, this district is hardly known at all to many. On stepping ashore at Northcoto after a ten minutes' voyage, one is struck with the sudden transportation into the still - ness and wild beauty of the country. The air is bracing and fragrant with the aromatic manuka. The notes of thrush and blackbird and lam: recall the sweet associations of . a far-away land, with the old melodies of home. Bless the birds ! and let them have a few grains for their song. You who have gardens will not find their grub costs too much to begrudge. The land around Northcote has the great advantage of being high and dry, without the proximity Of tidal marches. Theformationofthegroundia undulating, with a natural drainage, rising from an elevation of from one hundred- to two or three hundred feet above the.sea. Deep and well-wooded ravines intersect the district. Green fields and orchards, with a rising villa or white cottage, appear here and there to vary the scene. As for the panorama presented to the eye from nearly every part of the neighbourhood, it is simply unrivalled. The famed beauties of the Bay of Naples, with Sorrento and the Isle of Ischia, rising outof the azure sea, having the cone of Vesuvius for a background, are equalled, if they cannot be surpassed by these views of the Waitemata and the Hauraki Gulf, with Bangitoto towering above the waters, without any of the fiery terrors of his Italian brother to alarm the neighbouring city. Both qpenes are familiar to our eye, and if we bad any doubt as to which landscape should bear the palm,we should let the cool and health-giving breezes of our own bay settle it in favour of Takapuna and Northcote. The soil appears to be of a semi-volcanic nature, becoming more markedly of volcanic origin near the. beautiful Pupuke Lake; which occupies the' extinct crater,, close by the ocean. A number of tasteful villas have recently been built around the lake, and, possessing the advantage of a magnificent sea beach, this locality will shortly be the site of a fashionable marine and sea-bathing: resort, It is connected with Northcote by a good road, recently constructed, the distance being only three piles. .Both localities are aleo connected with the city by telephone.. This road, which affords a delightful drive, passes through the Hospital and Roman Catholic School Reserves, which - are now offered, on building leases in convenient sections, on some of -which suburban residences are being erected. This portion of the district has the advantage •of being protected from those westerly winds that render the western parts of the neighbourhood somewhat bleak, and it ia far removed from the smoke and other drawbacks incidental to the vicinity of large public works. With such an outlet for tho rapidly increasing population of tho city so close at hand, and the advancing settlement of the rnral districts, the necessity for a1 bridge across the Waitemata is daily becoming more obvious,' and this would prove an immense boon to both sides.* :-;ii • ■ s1