NEW TUNNEL

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 9, 11 July 1922, Page 8

NEW TUNNEL

FOR EASTERN SUBURBS

The question of the construction of a new tunnel through Mount Victoria Hills was considered at a meeting of the Eastern Suburbs League'Held last, night.

Mr. E. A.' Batt, president 'of the Hataitai Municipal Electors' .Association, said the city ratepayers were under the impression that the new tunnel was essentially a Hataitai tunnel. This was a wrong impression; the whole ti the districts on the eastern side of Mount Victoria were effected, and the Hataitai Ratepayers' Association was of opinion that to best serve the whole district the new tunnel should be pierced through Mount .Victoria just north of and running parallel to the present tunnel. He stressed the fact that, the grade at the location stated was a good one, about 1 in 25. The engineer's scheme, it was understood, was to pierce the tunnel in a line from, the college grounds, the tunnel connecting up with Wellingtonroad, in Kilbirnie. The scheme advocated by the Hataitai Association was much shorter. : It was felt that the City Council should definitely decide upon a route, and ' carry the work out. The Eastern Suburbs' League should press hard to see this important work carried out. The population of Roserieath in 1911 was 758, in 1922 1125; that of Hataitai in 1911 was 2037, ,and in 1922 3677. Mr. Batt appealed to the league to assist in this great cause, and remove the apathy that apparently existed now. It concerned all those who used the trams. ...'.. :

The president of the league (Mr. A. C. Blake) thanked Mr. Batt for his remarks.

It was claimed that the route suggested by Hataitai would be about 15 to 20 per cent, shorter than the existing tunnel. '.;...

It was decided to ask each affiliated association to consider the matter and report their respective views to the league, with the view to a combined public meeting being held at a later date; Mr. Batt to attend the meetings of the respective associations and explain details.

The following motion by Mr. Batt was unanimously carried: —"That this representative meeting of rat spay ers and residents of Hataitai and North KUbimie urge upon the City Council the necessity for an early decision as to the location; of the authorised traffic tunnel through the Mount-Victoria Hills; and also requests that in order to serve the best interests of the majority of citizens concerned, the tunnel should pierce the hill as far north as possible, preferably in the vicinity of Elizabeth-street, where the distance through the hill is shortest and the easiest natural grade of approach occurs." ..,'-■