A NEW TUNNEL

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 51, 29 August 1922, Page 8

A NEW TUNNEL

TO EASTERN SUBURBS

AN EARLY START WANTED

THE QUESTION OF. LOCATION,

One of the most important matte™ dincussed at lost night's annual meeting of the Eastern Suburbs League concerned the location of the proposed new tunnel through MoSnt Victoria. Alter a deal of consideration the following motion, proposed by Mr. E. A. Batt '(Hataitai), and seconded by Mr. R. F. Cox (Melrose), was carried unanimously:— That this meeting of the Eastern Suburbs League urges upon the City Council the necessity of an early ' decision as to the location of the authorised traffic tunnel through j Mount Victoria, and also requests that, in order to serve the best interests of the majority of the citizens ' concerned, the tunnel should pierce' the hill as far north as is consistent with the purpose of. having as ■ easy a grade as possible. j Those present at the meeting' were Messrs A. C. Blake, of Lyall Bay (president), A. D. Bayfield, E. A. Batt, F. B. Kean, D. C. Todd (Hataitai), J. J. Clark, A. G. Joigensein (Kilbiroie), B. F. Cox (Melrose), W. L. Palmer, W. K. Hewitt (Seatoun), F. G. Downee, (CM. Turnbull (Boseneath), J. M. Bertram, and R. LesKe Jones (Lyall Bay). | Point was made by various speakers of the possibilities of the growth, from both the industrial and residential point of view, of tbe^ eastern district beyond Hataitai and Kilbimie. In regard to vehicular traffic, the view was expressed that a better grade could be secured, by piercing the hill near to tbe College grounds and emerging. ■at Mozham avenue close by Goa' street. Such a tunnel would also serve to open up large areas of building land. * On behalf of Hataitai, it was urged that that district was not being parochial. The population of. approximate; ly 5000 was at present isolated. Seatoun delegates explained that they had an open mind oa the subject of the tunnel site. The meeting generally expressed the hope that whatever location was decided upon would not lead to any regrets afterwards. The feeling was that the tunnel should be south of Hataitai, but as near to that as possible. In planning the tunnel, consideration would have to be given to the probable population to be served in another.twenty years.. < A delegate suggested that, the .City Engineer should be asked to decide on the location of the .tunnel as quickly! as pccsibla, and .that if the site was not deemed satisfactory, the league should enter a protest. before tho work was commenced. . \ : ' Attention; was directed to the fact that in Lyall Bay the City Council had a wonderful I seaside retort, which should not be overlooked, and th»t Hataitai owed its rapid' expansion to the/construction of the existing (tunnel before' the completion of Crawford road at the southern . end of Kilbirnie district.

Mr. Blake stated that the City Council had an open mind as to which wu the best site for the new tunnel. .