TRAMWAY VIA HILL STREET

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 254, 10 July 1926, Page 10

TRAMWAY VIA HILL STREET

<. WHOLE OF RESIDENTS IN ' OPPOSITION DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW WORK PARLIAMENTARY GROUNDS TO BE IMPROVED The decision takrn this week that the City Council shall proceed with the proposed work of connecting Tinakori Itoad and Moleswcrth Street by tram lines via Hill Street has by xio means met with the tacit approval of the people most affected- A petition, signed by the whole of the residents and property owners of Hill Street—with the exception of the Roman Catholic Church authorities —has been deposited with the City Council, protesting against the aisturbance of this thoroughfare with a tramway line, anti the attendant disabilities, which they aver are likely to interfere with the native quiet of that district. It was the intention on the part of soma of those concerned da Thursday evening to approach the Government with the idea of preventing the Order-in-Council being granted for the work, but having become acquainted with the plans in the meantime, they have been persuaded that no relief can be expected in that quarter. The plans of the work have evidently been prepared in consultation with Government engineers, for they provide for the taking in of a strip of lift, of Government land—the bank on the northern side of Parliamentary ground—in return for which the city proposes to supply the Government with 14 concrete motor garages and three storerooms in the lower part of the proposed new wall, facing the back of the library portion of Parliamentary Buildings. From that it has been concluded that the whole scheme has been one of mutual convenience between the council—or at least a faction of it—and the Government, whose bank will be made perfectly safe for all time at the expense of the city, find at the same time will be provided with Bccommodation equal to seventeen garages in . return for a strip of land of practical use to no one (the steep slope of an allegedly unsafe bank). A Little Bit of History. The history of the ivork (and it has a history) is somewhat interesting, and may—now that the plans have been approved and passed by the City Council —now be frankly examined. It may bo zoinembored that the question of a shorter route to the western suburbs is not one of yesterday or the day before. Away back in 1910 it was referred to, Mid even then the matter of routes was entered into with some spirit. Indeed, it became so pressing that it was arranged between the Mayor and the Prime Minister that a commission of engineers, consisting of Messrs. R. A. Holmes, James Burnett, and the late W. H. Morton, should go into the matter. They did so, but with this in the back of their minds: that the then Prime Minister was absolutely and openly opposed to the Bowen Street route. This left the choice of ways to fither the route via Hill Street and the one via Aro Street. Hill Street was favoured, and it was the plan got out by that commission that was produced at the Citv Council on Wednesday evening last. But though the commission pronounced in favour of it, nothing was ever done, and the report and plan were pigeon-holed, as it was said that Mr. Massey was opposed to any interference with Hill Street by tramway, partly because of the noise the cars would make in close proximity to the House of Representatives and Assembly Library

(the new House had not then been constructed) and partly becauso of the danger that seemed to lie in any interference with a bank which hud become notorious for slipping. When the latest agitation commenced two years ago, a change had come oyer the scene. The new House of Parliament had been built for one thing, and the noise of the cars rounding the bends was not likely to penetrate to the political holy of holies; and the niattei was dealt with bv Sir Francis Bell, who probably saw how a very substantial ’improvement could bo made to Government property at the expense of the city, and consequently was never averse to a favourable consideration of the proposal. As a matter of fact, it is understood that a tentative arrangement was arrived nt whereby the Government would concede this lift, strip of bank to the city for street purposes provided the work was carried out in a certain way. This meant the provision of the garages and store rooms at the foot of the wall in the Parliamentary grounds. These plans were then prepared, nnd were submitted to the City Council and approved by !l votes to 6 on Wednesday evening. What the Plans Divulge. Initially the plans for the new work provide for the regrading of a great part of Hill Street. Tn addition to the lift, strip referred to, the Government is conceding a piece of land on the corner of Molesworth Street and Hill Street ns an easement, and the new fence will merge into file concrete wall about 30ft. from the corner. From the highest point on Hill Street, near the Basilica, it is proposed to cut away half of the present roadway to a depth of just over 6ft., the object being to provide a lower road for the tramway tracks (and consequently a better grade) than would be the case were the present roadway retained for tramway track purposes. This division of the road into two simply means that at a certain distance up from Molesworth Street on the one side nnd Tinakori Road on the other, Hill Street will become a road with two levels. The upper roadwav will varv in width between -7ft. M>d 37ft.. with a 7ft. footpath, whilst the lower road (which is to take the double tracks) will be 32ft. in breadth and will have a footpath lift. 6in in width. The unper road will be supported by a concrete wnll rising from nothing at cither end to fl height of about 6ft. in the centre. ' The extra width represented in the measurements of the two ronss is provided for in the width of the present road plus the 11ft. strip that is "icing taken from the Parliamentary grounds. The maximum height of the main retaining wall measured from its base is 2ffft. Encroachments te bu RcHrljusted. As all the space possible will be required for ths metamorphosed Hill

Street some attention has been given to the matter of certain encroaclimenta, and whero these have been found to have impinged on the public street (the original road reservation), the owners of property are to be asked to set their fences and buildings back. The encroachments concern certain properties at the Tinakori Road end of Hill Street. It is also intended to resume a small portion of land contained in the coal and wood yard at the corner of Hill Street nnd Tinakori Road so ■it a good curve can lie obtained for the rounding of the tracks into Tinakori Road. Lower Tinakori Road Tracks to be Abandoned. The new tramway through Hill Street will, it is plainly seen, effect many changes in the aspect of that _ street. It is also going to affect Tinakori Road, for the track between Park Street and Hill Street in that thoroughfare is to be abandoned, nnd those living between those two points will either have to walk to the Hill Street or the Park Street corner to catch a car. This will mean that when the Hill Street scheme is completed the onlv cars to traverse the full length of Molesworth Street will be those bound to Wadestown. The mid-Hill Street stopping place will ho about opposite Guildford Terrace. r MEAT COMPANY DEPOSITORS CLAIM FOR REFUND. Through the member for Masterton (Mr. G. R. Sykes) a petition was lodged in the House of Representatives yesterday by Messrs. B. A. J. Bell, of Devonport, M. J. Gallagher, and A. W. Chapman. The petitioners stated that they represented the general body of depositors who lent money to the Wellington Farmers’ Meat Co., of Masterton. The amount of money so invested was stated as £31,068 2s. Bd. The petition stated that when the shareholders found that the company was in financial difficulties a committee of shareholders reported on this matter in these terms: —“That a moral responsibility lies not only on the directors but on the shareholders to see that individual depositors with the companv do not suffer as the result of their faith in the saibility of the concern.” Later, the company went into liquidation. The Bank of New Zealand, the principal secured creditor, refused to allow the depositors a refund of the sums deposited with the company, and still refuse to recognise any claim. The petitioners submitted that the bank had lost £31,000 less than it would have lost had there been no depositors. The Government of New Zealand was a shareholder in the bank to the extent of one-third of the bank’s capital, and it was contended that by virtue of the Government’s one-third interest in the assets of the Bank of New Zealand, £lO,OOO odd of the depositors’ money had really reached the Government. Therefore, the petitioners asked that the House vote £lO.OOO to he distributed pm rata among the depositors of the Wellington Farmers’ Meat and Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (in liquidation). REFORM CAUCUS DAIRY CONTROL ISSUE. A caucus of the Reform Party was held yesterday morning and lasted for about two hours. The meeting was actually a continuation of the caucus held recently. The principal questions considered were the dairy control issue and the report of Sir Frank Heath on the organisation of scientific and industrial research in New Zealand. It is understood that no decision as to policy was arrived at in connection th the first mentioned matter; it is doubtful whether the Government’s Dairy Export Control Bill has been drafted yet. (The annual conference of the Reform 'arty’s organisation, it is understood, will be held in Wellington next week.

ADDRESSES-IN-REPLY PRESENTED TO GOVERNOR. Yesterday the Addresses-in-Reply to the Governor-General’s speech at the opening of Parliament were presented to His Excellency the Speakers of the two Houses, accompanied by meniliers, making visits to Government House. The address from the Lower House affirmed that Imperial conferences were vital agencies in promoting harmony and co-operation between all parts of the Empire. Gratification was expressed with His Excellency’s testimony of the prosperity of the Cook Islands, etc., and the confidence _ the native populations had in the administration of their affairs by'the Dominion. Sorrow was expressed in both addresses at the death of the late Queen Mother.