THORNDON ESPLANADE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 145, 16 December 1910, Page 2

THORNDON ESPLANADE.

-THE RAILWAY DUPLICATION. COMPLETE DOUBLE LINE ON' 22nd JANUARY. It is anticipated that trains will run on the duplicated line from Lower Hutt to Wellington from 22nd January, 1911. Tho Mayor (Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P.), rriado the following statement to the press last night, the matter having been considered in committee : — "Mr. T. Ronayne (General Manages of Railways), on behalf of tho Minister for Railways, submitted to tho council to-night 3, proposal jn connection with tho carrying of the duplicated Hutt lino over the land reclaimed at Thorndon to tho site of the proposod new central station. This proposal of tha Goneral Manager provides for tho taking over of an area of land on the Thorndon Esplanado (opposite the Esplanado Hotel), belonging to tho city, and tho transference to tho_ city of a similar area in exchango thorefoi'i in accordance wjth the provisions of tho Thorndon Reclamation Act. In the plan submitted tho present crossing, opposite tho Esplanade Hotel, wiil be altered, and a new crossing provided, seawards, abutting on a piece of land which has been reclaimed. This contains One acre, one rood,, and 25 perches. Through this area a new road is to be constructed by the Minister for Railways and properly fenced. The rest of tho one acre, one rood, and 25 porchos is to bo top-dressed with good soil and grassed, so as to serve as a recreation reserve for children. The avonuo of trees will not bo interfered with, though tho band rotunda will have to bo romoved seaward about fivo feet. In connection with tho present esplanade, no alteration is proposed, but Mr. Ronavne states that in tho near future it will bo necessary. foi the puvposo of obtaining a large/ area for station yards, to reclaim an amount equal in area to the present osplanado, which, on tho taking over of tho present osplanado by tho Railway Department, would bo^ transferred to 'the city. "Believing that the proposal was a reasonable ono and within the spirit of the Act. and realising that an equal area of. land to that taken for railway purposes will bo vested in tho council, the latter has assented to the proposition subject to the requirements of tho City Engineer •n_ reference to the covering with proper soil, and the provision of a suitablo crossing."