MECHANICS BAY RECLAMATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 164, 11 July 1906, Page 7

MECHANICS BAY RECLAMATION.

» ffHE RAILWAY DEPARTMENT'S PROPOSALS

DEFENDED BY HON. E. MITCHELSON

The proposal of the Railway Department to take that portion of the Mechanics' Bay Eeelamatiou which it was suggested should be used for improving the roadway to Parneli, was referred to at the Harbour Board yesterday by Mr G. W. Basley, who brought the matter up at the Parneli Borough Council and Auckland City Council. Mr Basley said that he did not think it right that this land should be given up, in view of the fact that it was needed for the improvement of the eastern outlet to the city, and asked the assistance of the Board in keeping the land for the road. The chairman (Hon. E. Mitchelson) pointed out that the city could not cramp the Railway Department from having as much accommodation as was required for carrying on their business. Auckland was a growing port--one who remembered the old railway station under Fort Britomart could hardly realise the change. He had been Minister for Public Works and Minister for Railways, and knew something of the requirements. Foreseeing the laro-e amount of business which would result here he had. as Minister for Railways, taken the whole of the Mechanics' Bay Reclamation for railway purposes, and he was satisfied that the whole would be required. The longer it was left the greater would be the co=.t. Any person with common sense would see that the railway could not be carried on in the present confined area, and that a portion at least of the reclamation must be taken. The MinUtei for Public Works said that within two years the line would be open from Auckland to Wellington. That would mean a largely increased traffic, which could not be carried on in a cramped and restricted area. Looking at the matter from a colonial, and not from a parochial, point of view, he was satisiied t hat the Mayor of Parneli would see that the road must be taken, but the Board should see that compensation was paid. Formerly the Government could take it without compensation; they could not do that now, but the only tompensation they were bound to pay was the actual cost of the reclamation, and there was no doubt in his mind that the Government should not be allowed to secure that land unless they paid for it. The Board would be doing a great wrong to the port and tlie country if they said that the Department should not take any portion of the land that they must know was absolutely required. He believed that in the future the whole of the land owned by the Board would have to be secured, and then the State would have to pay heavily for it, for they would have to compensate not only the Board but also those who held leases from the Board. The result would ho that the taxpayers would have to bear a heavy expense. These points must be considered. The road referred to by Mr Basley was the shortest road, but not essential. A road could be made to join the King's Drive, and the extra distance would be a flea.bite. Part of the land required was owned by the Board and a solid road could be made. Mr J. M. Mennie believed that Mr Basley was only asking a rigli-fc thing in asking that this road should be continued into the city. This had always been looked upon as the road to Parneli, a road which would straighten the present route which was as crooked as a dog' 3 hind leg. and was obstructed by the railway bridge. He considered that it would be a public calamity if the road .were taken. He agreed that it was necessary for the Railway Department to carry on their business, but they could get land outside the road. The present Alpha and Manukau roads were not suited to the needs of the city, and the desired improvement could not be made without the piece of the reclamation which the Department intended to take. Mr W. E. Hutchison said that it would be impossible for the Railway Department to carry on their work in the future unless they took this road, and he believed that before 30 years the whole reclamation would be required. The Chairman: "Before 20 years." Mr J. K. Kneen thought that from a parochial point of view the chairman was wrong, but from a colonial standpoint he was undoubtedly right. The discussion then dropped. THE PROPOSED NEW PvOADWAY. A CONFERENCE. A meeting was%eld this morning in connection with the proposal of the Railway Department to extend the railway goods yard, thereby absorbing the line of roadway laid off lor the proposed connection oi Manukau-road, Parneli, with the King's Drive in the city. There were present: His Worship the Mayor of Auckland (Mr A. M. Myers) with the City Engineer (Mr W. E. Bush) and Town Clerk (Mr H. W. Wilson), the Hon. E. Mitchelson (chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board), Mr W. H. Hamer (engineer, to the Board), and Messrs. Mclutosh Waite. of the Railway Department, and Mr C. Wood, representing the Parneli Borough Council. The party met at the Parneli railway bridge, and ascertained that nothing definite had so far been decided regarding the removal of the stone pier from off the roadway. Tlioy then proceeded to inspect the proposed road line from various points of view. Plans were submitted by Mr Waite showing that the Railway Department were exceedingly cramped for room in the present goods yard, and their proposals to take in the whole of the present reclamation in Mechanics' Bay. to reclaim a further area and lay oil' a new roadway to take the place of the existing King's Drive; also to cut oil' a corner of the railway yard, and extend Quay-street iv a straight lim- into the King's Drive. The new line of roadway would carry the present walling of King's Drive'to the foot of Sehvyu Terrace across the inner portion of the Harbour Board's proposed deep water berths, and come °nt at the corner of the railway yard flear the goods shed, where it would join the proposed new extension of Quay-street. It was pointed out by Mr Waite that the demands upon the railway goods yard were increasing so rapidly year b y year that it was absolutely necessary for the sake of the city's imports that additional land should be secured for the extension of the yard. The existing congestion was pointed out on the ground. In the course of discussion it was suggested that in the future traffic on the King's Drive would possibly find »s outlet through Parneli by way of tfl e St. George's Bay-road, and that the connection from Manukau-road to •wag's Drive could much more easily

be obtained by a high level road alone the face of the cliff.

After viewing the matter from all points his Worship came to the opinion that it was in the best interests of the city, port, and Railway Department that the proposed extension of the railway yard should be carried out, thus absorbing the road line laid off on the plans tor the extension of the Manukauroad and moving the line from King's Drive further towards the harbour, the Kaiiway Department of course payin* all costs and re-erecting the railway bridge over the Strand with a single span. 5 Mr Mitchelson was emphatically of opinion that not only the proposed roadway,.but the whole of the reclamation, would have to be acquired. He thought the Railway Department made a great mistake in allowing any of the reclaimed area to be leased!