A STURDY CITY.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18096, 11 June 1924, Page 10

A STURDY CITY.

ADMIRATION FOR AUCKLAND.

A SOUTHERN APPRECIATION.

Mr J. A. Flcahcr, Mayor of Cliristchurch, who returned yesterday from a vitiit to Auckland, is filled with adniirutioti of the northern city. "It is now 12 years since I was last there," ho said in an interview yesterday, "and during that period the growth of tho city ha# been phenoni'onal. The activities of the city are extending in all directions, and everything undertaken shows njgm of careful udminiHtrution arid efficiency. The groat problems they hwve to face in Auckland are tlione of tttfeet and trufiio wuv»; The city is having to resutne property in all directions in order to cfirrv'out a proper scheme of reading. Theae schemes involve a very forgo expenditure, but owlntf to the situation ui the city are not costing a# much »j tho lontc run aa ona might m mcJinoo to think. For instance, tho Mayor of Auckland tolk mo of a <?£ J * piece of property with a WtirmUW to Queen street and a depth of lOGitor bo, w»b bought by the municipality for £G5,000. Tho object was to acquire lan(I to widen a short crcws-street. ?ho Council have actually arranged to teke off tho strip needed for widening and to sell the balance of the property for £50,000. There is also in oDeration a system of betterment whereby part,®] tlib cost of the widening w«H be levied on property owner* on the othor side or tho Htroet, and that will stillf° r " tiicr reduce tho amount of ®w(JO ®*' pended for tho strip required. "The concrete roads that are ®eing laid down in Auckland are very •foetivo and justify the expenditure. I understand the cost is about 14# 4 Kquare yard. Up to the present a total length of ten mile# of cmjerete rnadin* has Keen laid down with a total area of 200,000 square yards. It isnow proposed to put down another 100 AW equard yards of this type of reading. These concrete roada are a great, kos and asset to the city. There i» * system of proper control as to the kiwi of traffic which is allowed on the concrete roadways. Heavy metel tyrsd vehicles are not allowed to u»» tin roads, for their use is confined to motor lories with rubber tyres and horm* drawn (vehicles with metal tyres. Bp to the present the maintenance cost at the concrete roads hae been wry light, about lid per square yard. "One thing that struck roe shore all others in Auckland was the poorom el the water. After the C3mstd«irs& water it id awful stuff. Hi® high pressure supply is all right, but it is tj» quality of the water that Is the trashm. It is rusty and dirty in ipptmsM. and you wonder if a hath in it wui leave jou cleaner than before. if Auckland only bad » supply «f water like we hare in Ciimtchureh, it mtvid be a. boon."

Mr Flcsher said be had jbami (bm the site of the propefcod drie aqu&ro. The City Council owned property in front of tiie Totra Hall. T&# old leases were failing in, b*hJ iafcbft&d «f renewing them tb® city wore pulling the buildijigs tiowa, Tta* land would be used for the ewie sujea#® and it would giro « splendid aeitofi# for the Town Hall. 31m ocfeoat «Sw invoked the widening of • p>at»o» of Queen street. lit all directioss tb«sr* were signs of woaderfal progpnew. Tttee latest addition to it© city'* Mtarwrfeit# was the boo. A rea*r*» of thirty acres had set asida for the wm, which was not only a. crest tears* m enjoyment to the children, Imi text also a source of considerabla rewaiw.

Continuing, Mr Flasher Mtd tiwt Auckland had electrical trattMw'Jm* as much as* Christciuircb. Whilst fee was there tlw trans* on mm otsmsm were held up far over an boar. The system of rating is Aaddtal was on the annua! value. Frets <«*• quiries he had znade b» kid patfewKwl that the rates were my mem h&ffr* than in Omstcbureh for santar p*»parties. Some of th« buii3is«* weted in Auckland dwriog tibe M {w years were hug®. One tiling tlbttJt to> pressed him greatly *a* th* wvn&e*ful works erected l»y tiie U&rlxger Board. Th* scheme of btttoar i»prowm«nts had erideatb; hem meH thought oat and planned. I# ew> elusion Mr Fleeter s*id that hj» wwbed to acknowledge the kradtms tal ©owr» t«*v extended to. him fey tfe# M*?*w (Bir James Ounaon) and tfc» rarwSttft officials of the City Council.