HATAITAI & TUNNEL SCHEME.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1772, 10 June 1913, Page 6

HATAITAI & TUNNEL SCHEME.

THE COST AND ROUTE, MUNICIPAL ELECTORS- MEET, Imposing things—a tunnel through Mount Victoria and tho finance of it, selection of route, etc.—bulked largely in the proceedings of tho Hataitai Municipal ■Electors' Association last evening. It wag the annual meeting, and Mr. A. Leigh Hunt presided over an attendance of about 40 members.

- The annual report covered work that had! been done during the past year in connection with tho post offico site, school site, shelter shed, firo alarms, and the tunned scheme (in connection with whioli Mr. Leslie Reynolds's report has been published), and other matters. The committee submitted a proposal to establish .» horticultural and industrial section of tho association, for the purpose of holding periodical exhibitions illustrating what can be produced in tho district. It is recommended that at- first tho efforts or this section should be confined to cut flowers, table decorations, pot plants, vegetables, and home industries, with particular attention to children's sections. A joint subscription is recommended to cover the privileges of tho_ association in both branches. In* connection with this branch it is intended to place at tho _ disposal of residents mature experience with referonce to the most suitable plants and shrubs capable of being planted successfully in tho locality. Tho report was adopted, as was the statement of receipts and expenses.

The Chairman on the Tunnel. In moving the adoption, of tho report, tbo ohairman explained that the annual meeting had been deferred ponding the arrival of Mr. Leslie Reynolds's report, which was now to haad. Speaking of the post office site, the chairman expressed th 6 opinion that the association would bo wise to tako a broad view of the matter, and not press for the erection of a building on the site at present. On the question of fire protection for the district, he suggested tho establishment of fire-boxes in different parts, as this system had worked successfully in other places. Other matters touched on the Greater Wellington Municipal' Electors' Association and the proposed Horticultural Association. Passing on to the more important question of the tunnel, and dealing with tho' various suggestions that had been put forward from time to time, ho mentioned that in Mr. Morton's report no allowance had been made for compensation. This, liowever, would be an expensive item, as the route would be right through the Wellington Collego ground. He ventured to suggest that .£20,000 would not cover the compensation to which the college authorities would be entitled. If . they agreed with him, that would mean that Mr. Morton s tannel would cost *290,000. And in addition to being 1 a very costly scheme, it would spoil the collego ground on» ono side tof the hill, and the possibility of making r valuable recreation on the oth*r, while it Tvx>uld carry the residents of Hataitai farther away from their homes. In consequence of these things, the association had gone very thoroughly into the matter, and had eventually sought the advice of 'Mr. Leslie Reynolds, who had succeeded in outlining a scheme, which would serve all districts equally well. His report had been published, and the estimatod cost (after allowing for what would be received for spoil and metal, and what would have to bo paid in compensation) would bo about <£52.000. Tho interest on such an amount would be a small item for the city when the immense benefits that would result from the construction of the tunnel, were set against it. The speaker instanced the case of Auckland, where the people had expended over .840,000 -in the construction of the Grafton Bridge in order that they might have an easier and quicker route to the Domain. Ho felt sure that the people of this city would not be less zealous In forwarding this tunnel scheme. As an indication of how public opinion had t advanccd in the matter, it was interesting to note that practically every candidate who spoke at tbe recent elections had expressed himself in favour of the tunnel through the hill when tho best route was chosen. The association did not suggest that the wprk oould be oarried out nt once, but desired that the counoil should commit itself definitely to the scheme. In conclusion, Mr. Hunt congratulated the association on what had been done in connection with the tunnel scheme, and ho paid a tribute to tho work done by tho secretary (Mr. J. L. Arous), and the members of the executive . committee. \ Mr. J., S., Barton expressed the'opinion that the association had - finally justified its. existence. - • The Other Business. Mr. H. D. Edwards moved, and it was unanimously resolved: "That, having received the report of the outgoing committee with' reference to the school site, tho association urge -upon the Education Board the necessity of securing a site at the earliest possible date." On the motion of the chairman the incoming oxecutivo wns directed to bring into being a Horticultural Society on tho lines suggested in.the annual report, tho executive being empowered to increase tho subscription by >:n amount not exceeding Is. Gd. The election of officers resulted as follow:—President, Mr. A. Leigh Hunt;vicepresidents, Messrs. A. D. C. H. Seville and J. M. Fleming; executive committee, Messrs. R. M. Isaacs, W. M'Goldrick, J. S. Barton, E. A. Batt, J Kershaw, H. I). Edwards, H. Nimmo. H. TV. Tolan. TV. Bear, and W. C. Robinson; hon. secretary, Mr.'J. L. Arcus; hon. audijpr, Mr. W. Grigs-