THE OTHER WAY OUT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 63, 15 March 1915, Page 2

THE OTHER WAY OUT.

WATERrBONT BAILWAY SCHEME. CUT COUNCIL AITITUDE. A CHANGE OF POLICY. EXPLAINED BY THE MAYOR. One of New Zealand's best-kpown ;crvil engineers, Mr. H. H. Metcalfe, in the course.of an interview published on Saturday in the. "Star," condemned the I Railway Department's scheme for running a new railway outlet round the i waterfront, contending that it would' mean the destruction not only of Campbell's Point and Point Resolution, but | abso of Judge's Bay. As an alternative ' Mr. Metcalfe suggested that the scheme already outlined in these columns for 1 taking the line through by tunnel should be adopted, and incidentally maintained that -the City Council had been misled by the -disinfehuous proposals of the Department. This morning a "Star" representative asked the (Mayor (Mr. C. J. Parr) to explain why the City Council, which a year ago violently opposed the ■ waterfront railway proposition, had now approved of Mr. Hiley's scheme. I ALL ROUTES CONSIDERED. | "Tine history of the waterfront railway is quite clear," said the Mayor. "A | year ago. a proposal was made to the Council from Harbour Board quarters which meant cutting down the whole of' Campbell's Point. No mention whatever was made of the rail-way, nor was | any offer made of the valuable concessions in the way of a waterfront road, which I was afterwards able to obtain. Consequently, the City Council, at my suggestion, turned down the proposal of the Harbour Board. Six months later Mr. Hiley, General Manager of the New Zealand Railways, came to mc with a very different and much more important proposition. He indicated that the Government was prepared to spend £2,000,000 in 'providing an up-to-date railway station and equipping extensive goods yards and accommodation on the reclamation, and for a railway running round the waterfront through OrakeT, and out at Wießtfield. It will be admitted that the City Council was bound to give 6uch a great scheme, meaning so much for Auckland, its careful consideration. I went very fully into the question of whether there was another way out. Every possible route was inquired into, including that now proposed by Mr. Metcalfe. In fact, I insisted that the question of a tunnel should be very carefully considered. And it was. The result was that it -flus believed to be quite impracticable. One of the fatal objections was that the tunnel .cheme would make it impossible to provide accommodation for handling the passenger traffic, to say nothing of the goods.traffic I say, advisedly, that Mr. Metcalfe's scheme ie. quite useless. It would tap only about half the reclaimed area that the Government considers necessary for goods and' passenger traffic lt would mean moreover, if Mr. Metcalfe's scheme Avere adopted, that no adequate goods station or yards could be provided in Auckland, and the eastern end of ' the reclaimed land would "be quite "useless. Another fatal objection to the tunnel idea is that tie. passenger station for the northern line'would have to 'be brought so close to the steep, grade, via Parnell tunnel, a3 to emphasise and increase the present drawback of the grade. The only means of providing adequate accommodation for the growing Auckland business is the plan adopted, which utilises the whole of the reclaimed area, and provides for the inevitable development of the city and province." CONCESSIONS GAINED. "So much for the tunnel alternative, which I have ehown to be quite impossible. The City Council considered the interests of the 120,000 people of the city of Auckland, and the other 120,000 people, of the province, whose material -prosperity depends -so largely on adequate railway facilities. Most people are quite unacquainted with the phenomenal growth of the Auckland traffic. In six years it has doubled itself, and in less than two years, unless some remedy of a comprehensive nature can be found, it will be almost impossible to carry on tbe work. When I found that a railway scheme' was inevitable I stood for concessions, and I got them. • The department has agreed to . widen. Beach" Road and Breakwater Road,' to build an esplanade right along the waterfront, to provide a passenger bridge from Parnell Park, to the new road, thus bringing that end of Parn.l! within ten minutes of the city. They have agreed to preserve Judge's Bay and beach for all time by carrying the railway across on piles. A lot of exaggerated nonsence has been talked about spoiling the beach. The beach will not be spoiled. The water will flow in and | out as at present. Mr. Metcalfe's state- [ ment that' Point Resolution will be likely to be cut down is quite a mistake. Point- Resolution and the baths are to remain intact. I also succeeded in getting the Railway Department to considerably modify the original scheme for cutting down Campbell's Ppint, wiih the result that a very considerable area Of the point will be saved to the city. Furthermore, instead of an ugly clay faeej the Council proposes a terrace, to tie covered by grass anil shrubs, so that the idea that the railway will be .un 2 sightly is' quite incorrect. Surely, it will be much better for the thousands of passengers who enter and leave Auckland to run through beautiful- park and waterscape views rather than through a tunnel half a mile long. Yet another concession I obtained was the acquisition of the whole of the Kilbryde Est tate, which the Government purchases from the Harbour Board and hands over to us. I am satisfied, after months or negotiations and investigation, that the only way of adequately providing for Auckland's needs is contained in Mr. Hiley's scheme."