THE FIRST TOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 29, 4 February 1928, Page 11

THE FIRST TOUR.

NEW WATERFRONT ROAD.

UNOFFICIAL VISIT OF "OFFICIALS." HOBSON POINT BRIDGE CROSSED. In two creaking, clanging little trucks, which arc used for carting clay and metal, and drawn by a strange little "puffing-billv" engine, a party of twenty went over the new waterfront road yesterday afternoon. They crossed for the first time the temporary bridge which has been built at Hobson Point. It was the first unofficial tour over the road, by a party of "officials."

In the party were the Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, the city engineer, Mr. W. E. Bush, the town clerk, Mr. J. S. Brigham, the chief engineer of the Public Works, Mr. L. B. Campbell, Mr. J. A. Carr, chairman of the Tamaki Road Board, Mr. M. G. McArthur, late chairman of the Tamaki Road Board, during whose office the work was started, past and present members of the board, and Mr. A. T. Pyeroft. The party was taken over the load by Mr. R. H. Packwood, engineer in charge of the works.

From the beginning of the tour, which started fro mtlie end of King's Drive, until they had been brought back to the starting place after a trip lasting two hours, every detail was explained iu simple fashion by Mr. Packwood. Questions were put by all in the party, and they wore answered in a clear way. "Five years a<jo nobody thought that this road would be here in 20 years," said one member of the party. "It is great to think that in four months there will be a usable scoria road right round the waterfront."

On the seashore a solid wall has been built. The other day a test was put on it, a 33J tons dredge being driven on the edge all the way round. There was not a movement. Some of the slabs of stone that have been used in building the wall were once pa.t of Fullers' old Opera House in Wellesley Street. The party was impressed by the. work that had been put into this solid wall.

Over the jarring, irregular, temporary railway lines, the party was taken to the new bridge at Hobson Point. They walked across, being the first to reach the point bv the new waterfront road. This temporary bridge will be a most solid structure. Old hardwood piles from the Onehunga wharf have been used in the construction, and these are fortified by tram rails. Under the bridge at high-water, there will be 12 feet of water. In a weeir, railway lines will go across this temporary bridge. It will be about two years before the permanent bridge, which will be 300 ft long, will be finished. From the Chief Post Office to the newbridge is a run of only 21 miles. It was stated during the inspection that very soon work would start 011 the road from Maori Bay to Kohimarama. In the first place it was intended that the road should go over the hill, but it is now definitely stated that the roadway will go right round the waterfront. The Railway Deviation. Back over the rickety railway went the party, and after a bit of shunting, they started on the road for the Purewa tunnel. Across the Orakci deviation they travelled for a couple of miles, passing the site of the new Orakei railway station, across the basin, then to the mouth of the tunnel. A few of the party went into the mouth of the huge tunnel, which will carry double-tracks. The tunnel is nearly finished. Since the work has been in progress, the eastern Auckland foreshore has undergone a transformation. Like a great snake. the embankment hems in Judge's Bay, once one of Auckland's most beautiful bathing bays, and in its next sweep, a large portion of wide, shallow, Hobson Bay is confined. The route pierces the narrow peninsula near Orakei Bridge, and crosses the inner Orakei estuary, which, at full tide, was a beautiful sheet of water, yet at other times nothing but a capacious mud-flat. Here it has been arranged to impound the water behind an embankment, the result being the creation of an artificial lake or lagoon, which will sparkle in the sunlight and lend a touch of beauty to that part of suburban Auckland.