THE QUEEN CITY.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20623, 12 August 1932, Page 13

THE QUEEN CITY.

IMPRESSIONS OP AUCKLAND. The Christchurch City Engineer, Mr A. S. Galbraith, who spent his annual leave in Auckland, gave a representative of The Pbks9 some of his impressions on revisiting the northern city. Mr Galbraith motOTed from Christehurch to Picton and from "Wellington to Auckland, returning by train and ferry steamer. From the point of view of the town planner, Mr Galbraith was impressed with the co-ordination of traffic and transport .facilities. He remarked that he had been struck with the city's inj comparable situation, as a commercial centre, especially when the future was considered, inasmuch as its railway centre, its road centre, its maritime centre, and its air transport' service eonverged on the shores of the Waitemata harbour. They were so situated that they could develop Bide by side in the most convenient manner possible, due entirely to the natural situation of the city. On the other, side of the isthmus there was the Manakau harbour, giving access to the Tasman Sea and the Indian Ocean, which could be utilised not only for shipping but also for air transport. As for the Marine drive, extending from, the city to Orakei, Mr Galbraith said that in this respect Auckland had forged ahead of Sydney, where the absence of such a drive was conspicuous. Unfortunately for Sydney, the" harbour shore frontages had been absorbed by private owners. Xoad Beoonsttttction. Segarding the roads in the North Is-" i land he traversed, Mr Galbraith said | that they were in excellent condition. Most noticeable was the amount., of bituminous pavtSg- carried out in the southern portion of the island. In the Auckland provincial district concrete paving predominated. In 1919, when he visited Auckland, concrete roads were just beginning to be laid down by the Auckland City Council. He had visited the city on several occasions'since and he has been considerably impressed by the way these roads were withstanding I the increasing traffic ef the city.