AUCKLAND'S PROGRESS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 216, 10 September 1903, Page 5

AUCKLAND'S PROGRESS.

MOUNT ALBERT.

Situated within a few miles of Queenetreet; and "with the electric tramwjy system well inside the boundary, it is scarcely to be wondered at that during the last two years the Mount Albert Road■ Board district should have -niacin marked progress. In a previous artieb, reference was made to the rapid spread of buildings in the Eden Terrace district. It may now in continuation be added that the erection of,new dwelling* continued across the boundary line into the Mount Albert district, which really starts about Rocky Nook, and extend"* to the other side of the Oakly Creek, where Avondalc commences. As might be expected, the principal building has been at the end nearest the city, notably on what is known as the Glenmore Estate on the Eden Terrace boundary, and also in the vicinity of Rocky Nook. Steadily the demand for allotments for residence sites is absolving- what a few years ago were grazing paddocks.. One area formerly known as Walter's Paddock has been cut up under the title of Worpto, and is being rapidly built upon, being situated off Onslow-road. At Kingsland a large amount of building has been going on, and also at Morningside, on what was formerly .part of'tha estate of the late Mr A. K. Taylor. Ona pleasing feature, .of the progress of Mount Albert is the superior type of dwellings that have 'been erected, tha old-fashioned square box havJng given place in people's ideas tp a more modern style of villa, generally'with gables and bay-windows. Altogether, about lSflj new dwellings have been put up in the Mount Albert district during the* last couple of years, and building is still going on. Further away from the cehtro may be seen fine types of ' residences! situated in good sized' areas of land, mostly tastefully laid out. In -addition to the new dwellings, it is also worthy] of note as a further evidence of progress, that many of the ol tier residences have been considerably enlarged, riotably the dwellings of Mr. G. Fowlds, M.H.R., Mr A. C. Caughcy, Mr G. Hatcher, Mr M. J. Coyle, Mr G. Knight, and Mr J. Jaguish. The. progress refen\ed to is-further illustrated by the fact that during the last tw6 years the valuation of the Mount Albert district has increased £45,306 —a piece of information which is due to the courtesy of the energetic secretary to the Road Board, Mr Haselden- ■■ ,

It may be safely assorted that the progress of Mt. Albert has really only just begun. , That fact is recognised by .the road board, and also the majority of the ratepayers, as a loan ha? been, authorised for the purpose of making the New North Road properly for the entire length that main highway .passes through Mt. Albert district, namely. from.Mt. Roskill Road right out ta btyond Oakley Creek, where it reaches the ■Avondale district. At Oakley Creek the board has just expended a sum of money for the purpose of improving, the filling in over the culvert, which fortunately, is work of. a permanent character. Another contemplated improvement is the project for doing away with the necessity of passing over the level railway crossing at Kingsland. In the earlier days, when only a few farmers' carts had to cross the line, there was not much danger, as there were only three outward and a similar number of inward trains daily. Latterly, however, 'o#ifig. to the running of workmen's 'trains as far as. Henderson, and the growth of settlement along the Kingsland Road, the fact has been emphasised ', that it is cessary to do something aboutthe level crossing. The word "emphasise" is used because some years ago r. sad catastrophe occurred there which resulted in loss of life. A loan, has now been authorised for.the purpose of throwing a bridge over the line neai the Kingsland railway, station. • The project is really a deviatipn of 'the road which it is proposed to take through the properties of Messrs. Waters and. Clarke. When tlii3 work is completed one of the .objections to living at Kingsland will.be removed,as many persons with traps are averse to 'taking, up property where they have to go over a level railway crossing probably twice a day. It is .worthy of, mention, as somewhat singular, that whereas formerly the Water used regularly to rise in the winter months at the back of. Kingsland station, and flood a number of paddocks, even sometimes rising above the level of the road, for the la=t three years .this has not taken place. Whether this is due to a decreasing rajnfall or the i ! act -that the increased requirements of Auckland city necessitates a greater drawing on the Vftstern 'Springs it is hard to say. In connection Avith the progress of Mt. Albert, it may also he stated that an amount of drainage work. has been attended to during the last 12 months, that gas' is being laid in the balance of the district, and that steps are being taken in fhe direction or securing a \vater supply. 1