WATERFRONT ROADING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 221, 18 September 1930, Page 11

WATERFRONT ROADING.

PRESERVING THE BEACH.

ALTERNATIVE SCHEME

ADOPTED.

BREEZE AT COUNCIL MEETING.

The Auckland City Council, at a special meeting yesterday, decided to adopt the revised scheme for constructing the waterfront road at Kohimarama, so as to avoid carrying the roadway over the beach.

The decision involves an extra cost of approximately £3700.

Permission is to be sought for the raising of an unemployment relief loan of £29,450 for carrying out the work, and £2235 for the improvement of the council's reserve at Epsom. The total of the loan will be £31,750.

The commencement of the .meeting was delayed for some time owing to the fact that there was not a sufficiently large attendance to constitute a quorum. An unusual incident occurred when Miss A. Bastcn objected to what she- held to be an attempt to force a decision prematurely, and walked out. She was persuaded to return by Mr. J. Dempscy, chairman of the works committee, and. the subsequent proceedings were harmonious, the final decision being to all intents and purposes unanimous.

Wishes of Residents. A large amount of correspondence had been received from property owners and residents in the district. . Two resolutions passed at a meeting of all but one of the property owners concerned were forwarded by Mr. H. L. Koefoed. The first, signed by 11. owners, stated that the signatories agreed that the road should go through their respective properties, as shown on the council's plan. ■ The second, signed by . nine owners, expressed the Jatter's willingness to treat with the council individually, but stated that they were unanimous in the wish that the council should fill up each section to the level of the road, raise and set back the houses as required, and generally make a uniform and workmanlike job. The Harbour Board disclaimed jurisdiction in the matter, but forwarded a report from its engineer' stating that if the road were built on ,thj beach, as originally proposed, the- beach would, in their opinion, gradually build up outside the embankment. Financial details were explained by the. city engineer, Mr. J. Tyler, who said that under the revised scheme it would be necessary to buy the whole of one property, for which the owner was asking £2700, or 85 per cent in excess of the Government valuation. Allowing for certain deductions the total cost of the revised value would be £20,040. The Government subsidy would be £5580; The Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, who presided, eaid he had formed the opinion that the beach would not be harmed to any extent by the original scheme.'To this Mr.', G., Ashley pointed out that' it was a case of taking the' space of the beach. - There would be lees room at high tide. ■, ' ~. ', v ; The Mayor agreed, but said he could not see any justification for spending the extra money when other work was needed elsewhere. All the property owners except one were prepared to meet the council. ■ . . < The town clerk, Mr. J'. S. Brigham, pointed out that the council had power, to .obtain adjustment in cases where claims were considered too high.

"Beach Will Be Lost." ,; Mr. G. W. Hutchison moved that' the revised scheme should be adopted and that where the town clerk considered claims too high, the properties should be taken under the; Public Works Act. Mies Basten seconded pro forma, but eaid she objected to the matter being decided there and then. She declared that the meeting comprised mostly mem. bers of , the works committee, and-she proposed to leave. Mies Basten then left her seat and went to the door of the Chamber.

The Mayor appealed to her to return. "I suppose you realise that you are, leaving us without a quorum,"he said.. ,

Miss Basten: But. apparently if«i stay the beach will be lost.

The Mayor: But you seconded the motion.. "} I appeal to: your eense of justice. ,• .

Mies Basten went'out, but Mr. Dempsey followed her and persuaded her to return. "I have come back to" play the game," remarked Miss Basten, on resuming her seat. . . . ; Mr.' Dempsey moved, as an amendment, that steps be taken to raise an unemployment relief loan .'based on the total figures submitted, but that tho section of the road now in question be not proceeded with until arrangements had been made with the property owners concerned. He did not want to see the council committed to acquiring any of, the properties while as yet it had no binding, agreement with the owners.

' The Deputy-Mayor, Mr. A. J. Entrican, said ho was firmly of opinion that the best thing to do would be to enter into an agreement with those property" owners wha had agreed to sell at a reasonable price. When this was done.it made it more or less plain sailing for the acquisition of the remainder of the land that was needed. • , The amendment wae lost by a large majority, and the motion wae carried without opposition, Mr. Hutchieon explaining, that it was proposed to invoke the Public; Woi'ks Act only in the event of a deadlock.