THE NORTHLAND TUNNEL

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 79, 28 December 1925, Page 10

THE NORTHLAND TUNNEL

(To the Editor.) Sir.-yl agree with your correspondent “Ratepayer” that the Northland tunnel was never necessary. I was a resident and ratepayer when the tramway was planned for the Karori Borough Council by the late Mr. Richmond. The- plans and estimates were approved by the late Mr. Morton and Mr. Richardson, and a loan of £32,000 was carried. The carrying out of the work was undertaken by the city engineers, and the present engineer had the oversight of the job. Not long after the work began, fears were expressed that the loan was not enough to carry out the work to the cemetery. When the work had progressed as far as the deviation, the loan was expended, and the ratepayers had to face another loan of £17,000 to finish the work.

Now the Northland road was a part of the contract, and it was made and graded as far as the Northland School. The intention was to extend the tramwav to that point at a future date. This was the only correct way to carry a tramway to Northland, and the mystery to my mind is that any officer of the council should have suggested the new tunnel route. I understand that the reason given is that one or two curves on the Northland Road are too sharp for a tramway to take safely. Why was this not provided for at the start? Or why was the road not improved by putting in concrete retaining walls across the acute angled corners and filling in the space, thus making room for loops for cars. The money that has been spent on the retaining' wall on the west side of the present tunnel would have done all that was required. Further, the tramway would meet the needs of the residents on both sides of the Northland Road. To make a tunnel where there arc no houses to be served from the Northland stop to the north end of the new tunnel was, at least, uneconomical expenditure, which even the Mayor and councillors should have been capable of judging, thus preventing the scheme going forward. Even now this should receive some serious consideration. The line planned from Raroa Road conies below the Kelburn Presbyterian Church and through the property of Mr. George I'carn. From the lop of the cutting at this section a bridge could be made fo carry the tramway over the cutting on to the Northland Road and in tlie future to the Wadcstown district.—l am, etc., CHAS. CATHIE. Wellington, December 21.