TUNNEL QUESTION

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 90, 16 April 1920, Page 7

TUNNEL QUESTION

DEPUTATION TO THE COUNCIL

A large deputation of resident* of Hataitai, Kilhirnie, and other suburbs interested in the construction of a. new tunnel to serve those localities, waited upon the City Council last evening.

Mr. i A. Leigh Hunt said that the' Dig deputation was the outcome of one of the largest meetings ever held on the other side of the tunnel. It represented the whole district comprised in the Eastern suburbs, -,u\d the question was now no longer purely a Haitaitai one. He did not desire to go over old ground, but would assume that the council, was agreed that there should he a tunnel; and what,he desired to do was to urge •that the , provision that was to be made would be sufficient for twenty or fifty years hence, when the population was very much larger. If the tunnel aid cost £100.000, the interest of £5500 would not be excessive for the city to bear, and the spoil could be used for a recreation ground. He hoped that the work would be treated as urgent, and he suggested that a round-table conference be held with residents' representatives. There were about 200 acres waiting to be settled, and if reasonable access thereto was given, it would greatly assist in overcoming the present housing difficulty. Mr. H. H. Huggins supported Mr. Leigh Hunt's remarks. He deprecated the matter being looked upon as a local, or parochial, one, as it concerned the city a£ a whole. He hoped there would not be any conflict over routes, but he would suggest. that the f urtlier north, the tunnel was pierced tha better for the whole district

The Mayor said there was no doubt as to the importance of the early construction of the tunnel. He would like to hear proposals for bringing Miramar into the city boundaries, because the council had to look upon the tennel from the point of j view of what it would do for the people outside of Wellington. He considered it deplorable that the present circuitous journey should be necessary for Hataitai people, and he thought the council would approach it from that point of view. The City Engineer woujd advise them on the matter of routes, but he did not think they would favour con6truction where the grades were steep. He hoped that it would be a traffic tunnel as well ss one for trams.-

Subsequently it was decided by the council that the City Engineer should bring down a report upon the matter..