DESTRUCTION OF CAMPBELL'S POINT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 68, 20 March 1915, Page 10

DESTRUCTION OF CAMPBELL'S POINT.

(To the Editor.} . % Sir, —I am very much surprised to see the "Herald" advocating the destruction I of Campbell's Point and Judge's Bay. I However, I suppose-it has ite-yarty to I Serve and cannot express an—unbiased"-] opinion or look favourably upon any I scheme which the Government rejects. I The present work of destruction taking place at Campbell's Point, from Mr.! Hiley's point of view apparently, is an j easy way to secure the~£remendoui'rail-| •way extension lie flunk's he will need in Auckland, without the minor difficulties of buying small private properties, and as it is quite probable that Mr. Hiiey does "not Beauty In' anything but straight steel railroads, smoking trains, and noisy goods yards; .he cannot be expected to iiave any consideration for any of our historic beauty spots, or the one remaining bay with a beach in the city. A leading article in this morning-'s "Herald" tells ns Mr Parr opposed this scheme a year ago. Why? He then had his two splendid ideas to carry out (1) The Paraell baths and (2) the purchase by Auckland citizens of Gillies Estate, which, of course, included Judge's Bay. I suppose that the -change in front is not difficult to understand when a politician s ambitions and aspirations are taken ir.to account. Mr. Parr has rendered our city wonderful service on all sides, and it seems a pity that he should now find himself in so awkward a position. Let us hope that even at the eleventh hour he will be able to turn round, and again champion the rights of the citizens of Auckland—nay, in this case the rights of the people of Xew Zealand, for are not Campbell's Point and Judge's Bay sacred to the memory of many of our pioneers, our first Governors, judges and bishops? However, putting the sentimental aspect on one side altogether, are the public getting a fair deal? Does it seem like it. when the deal has to be -done in a dark corner, and "the work is suddenly is being rushed through* the preliminary stages before the public--can realise what is happening? If the the proposed Campbell's Point railway are so "flimsy that they might well be ignored,"' why was the scheme not developed openly, and placed before-the public like-any-other Harbour Board or railway scheme? What was there-to be of, except, perhaps, the-applause-qf;the community at large? These public "bodies are reaily too modest. Please -note-that this-morning's leader only maoe one reference Jndge'sißay, a-passing one at that, and it immediately-jrent on to refer to "the present dreary mud-flat known as Hobson Bay," inferring that Judge's Bay and HobsoiLJJay are all the same. The Desfc -way to get the ' matter settled, is-for-every citizen to take the ! first opportunity to observe what is going-on- Let every citizen possible pay a visit to Judge's Bay on. Sunday. See thfe happy children, enjoying the fresh air, sun, and seaside, and all.this without the neeessity-ior-trarelling in ferry boats, etc Let -everyone realise that the ratepayers are finding- £16,000 for GilEes- Parkland, that-if the Campbell's Point railway scheme-goes .on, it -will lose its -Falne-as-ajjjark: entirely./ WMIe i OTerthere just let-every observant man' take -a -walk-on-to -Campbell's Point and see how fastens the pace of the. work of destruction, -To those who cannot "spare time to go over,, although -it is within the .city area. and. Id section, just let them take the top of Shortland Street before going to business and to _loofc:_aeross to CampESl's Point and see the human ants eating into the side of the cliff. They -will also remember that the men have not yet been engaged eleven days upon the wiark, then : perhaps they win understand the necessity for speedy protest, and will get their names on the petition without delay.—l am, etc.. C. E. BLAY3JEY.Slarch 19. PJS.—The •- "Herald", -refers- to party motives. Soifar-this has not been made a party discussion, although it might well have been. Many people, recognise, in 3lr. Gnnson a strong man, and one who ■would be-eminently fitted to become our first citizen, but -Auckland citizens want to have some voice in the disposal of their- property. Is the above case a sample of-what we might expect? (To the Editor.y ' Sir, —In one of his town-planning lectures, ilr. Davidge spoke of the Town Council's intention to-pureljase Orakei for' a garden suburb, a City Beautiful. With this in view, there was no fear that a railway embankmei* would ever run from Point Uesolution to Orakei bridge. Trust Mr. Parr for that. Well, we have trusted Mr. Parr—Mr.- Parr also asked us to do so. The lecturer pointed out that the only reason for embanking Euch an immense area would b e to convert it into the usual hitieoui collection of unsightly, Tamshackle. smoke-grimed sheds, that go to make up goods sheds, engine sheds, repair and shelter sheds, railway ■workshops, etc., and no one would think of erecting such slum constructions in front of the City Beautiful. Yet within the last few days the necessity of getting Toonn for these ver-v structures has been assigned as a chief reason whr the embankment muei go from Point Resolution to Orakei Bridge. Thje lecturer urged that such buildings, as well as factories generally, should be kept well i away from the scenic aspects of the city, and. indeed, stould he confined to a special district away from the great mercantile and shopping sites, as well as from the residential areas. Prevention of evil was. he sai-d. better than cure. It is only, right that the people should realise that modern town-planning is largely governed and modified by artistic principles and sense of beauty. Certainly it is a very extreme case, where great natural would have to be sacrificed to commercial exigencies. In the matter of the new railway exit there is no such exigency. The alternative route win more than meet all reasonable demands. We only-ask for a reconsideration of the question to give us the opportu*ifcy of proving our contention. 'So man need hesitate to ask for that degree of fairplay.—l am, etc., E. GOULDIXG. -. -(To the ; Editor;) Sir, —I cannot understand why you «md .some of your correspondents are making all this "to do:" about the proposed waterfront, railway. Mr. Metcalfe's scheme_Ja _:<3fuite impracticable. Hγ. Parr says~so. rWiv this i≤ so is, ao doubt, beeausen3>lr. Parr is a lawyer *nd Mr. Metealfe" merely an engineer, j Had. these, respective qualifications Deen ieversed~your attitude course, iiasa. been, more reasonable. You. remember, too-; *n> absmiJ-position .

few weeks ago on the loan proposal, and how Mr. Parr was-forced to._iniiinaie that they would have to vole again until they in voting the right way! With regard to Judge's Bay and the proposed scheme of embankment, park,, railway iridge, etcj.'.l haye 1 Some eKglrfc -recollection —of a - man -called 1 Hogarth, who made a study of curves.' Even to this day we occasionally hear of I his "curve of beaury," but then' Hogarth j-vras unacquainted " with .-railways, and l.niodprn_cfllDmercia3J3m. m JTiitse. various _schemes"Tind the assurance of- ttfe Mayor that they will not spoil the Bay call to mind- two well-known riddles: " When U« horse not a horse?" Answer: ''When he"s turned into a -field." '• When is a idoor not a door?" _Answerj_."Whcn it'e [ajar." Sir, would-ypu,_-pf your kindness, enlighten mc and say, *" When ie a bay not a bay?" Someone said the answer was: "When it's owned by a judge and ' improved 'by a lawyer." But ray informant may be Classed.—T am~~etc., UNCONVERTED. (To the Editor.! Sir, — " City Councillor" in Thurs- ! day's "Star," takes mc to task for defending the retention of this matchless vantage point, and playground — the people's own heritage—-from utter destruction, in the impending harbour and railway improvements and extensions. Xo doubt "Citr Councillor" can see little use in the bays and curving headlands that beautify our harbour. The only possible use he can see for these is that the bays make splendid reclamation spaces, and the headlands handy material wherewith to reclaim them; such reclamations, when let. being handy re-venue-producing properties for all time. That the harbour would be thereby transformed into a long straight gutter, shelterless and devoid oi the sinuosities which all good harbours, such as Sydney, for instance, possess in a high degree, does not seem to trouble these experts who conceive that their opinion alone is worthy of consideration in such matters. Xow that an easy and practicable route for a loop railway line, without involving the destruction of the bays a nd promontories along our harbour front, has been practically demonstrated as available, it is to be hoped that every man-and woman in the community who •value flrerr own and their children's birthright in' the ' Beautiful " bays and promontories along our harbour front, ■will "forthwith sign the petition that is awaiting .signature,, in the.. Victoria Arcade, protesting against the needless destruction of their property by the harbour and railway authorities. " City Councillor's" jibe about the " few wealthy men around Judge's- Bay, who wish the bay-to be kept intact for their yachts." I can afford to smile at. ■ 'Exactly the opposite is intended. T consider the interests of the great tnass of the people are involved in this question. ■Is -there any reason why they should be needlessly and tj ithout consulting them, filched away?-^ L l.am,.ete.. EX-OOUNCILIiO-R. iPA&XELL. (To the Editor.) Sir, —When about six months had elapsed since all the details of this scheme had been definitely settled, 1 began-to congratulate myself that I had lived long enough to see that for once in.the history.pf Auckland a_;bi£ public improvement ha;d been agreed "Without the usual quarrelling and" dissension. For onofe, I thought, Southerners., would be unable to langh-at us and politicians would not have an excuse for hanging the work up for years and.delaying Auckland's progress-in the usual manner." But it seems we must go through the old process again. The scheme is one that requires careful thought, and a proper conclusion cannot be come to in five minutes. 1 ■will confess that when it was mentioned tome at the first, and long before it had been publicly discussed, niy inclinations •were against it.. Xbw, my enemies C3TI. have.any), will never accuse mc of being unmindful or unappreciative of the natural beauty of my native place, but I am bound to admit, as a reasonable being, that the advantages of this comprehensive and -well-considered scheme immensely outweigh the trifling disadvantage of losing the "-end of Campbell's Point. Have not you yourself, ilr. Editor, frequently advjieafcsd a fine esplanade along;-the-ibarbour -front? If. so, how are we going to have it without an embankment across"Hobson's Bay? We now have the dhance of getting a fine level roadway one 'hundred feet wide, for a good part of the way to Qrakei, and subse(ju'entiy it wHJ no doubt be extended to St. Hslier's Bay, thus shortening the journey from, town ifchTee or four miles. Is ns>t this alone a sufficient compensation, for an acre of OampbelJte Point? Besides, when the cutting "is- finished And -made into threeT or. lour widel7terraces, properly planted, and with sfcome. staiifc, the oli point wall be far nrore ornamental ihna it Jβ Mir. As for Bobson's Bay, its (reclamation has been) urged; for twenty yearns, and tfbe- sooner its nasty mudflats axe transformed: the better. Surely, you do not urge -that they will be any k:ss. If the -water of Judge's Bay is imprisoned it would make a. beautiful little Jake for canoeing, swimming, etc., aad <th» magnificent beach we beaT co much about need not be destroyed. Aβ for the half nrfle of .tunmsl which you advocate with co much, ability and enthusiasm, please Mr. Editor, do!- not forget that we (have endured -the tortUTe of tihe Parnell tunnel all our lives, and ■Wβ tfiought tihat the day of our defiveranee was at hand. We do mot ■want our visitors and ouT-selves* to be dragged in and out of our city through a dirty hole in tfe r ground instead-of by a pleasant lhaibouirside esplanade. "We meet mot aJlow trivial sentimentality .to obstruct the progress of our town aod province, and I am convinced that the objectors to? tibe scheme have not given it careful and unbiassed ooßsideration. —I am, etc., H. E. VAILE.