NOT WARRANTED

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 109, 4 November 1926, Page 12

NOT WARRANTED

ROAD THROUGH THE GARDENS

CIVIC LEAGUE'S VIEWS

TERRACING ALSO INADVISABLE,

The executive of the Civic League, in a statement to-day, indicates that its members, after going over the ground, are of the opinion that the proposed road through tho Botanical Gardens is not warranted, and also that tho suggested terracing of the hill near the band rotunda to obtain spoil for tho widening of Glenmoro street is also inadvisable. "The league has taken tho matter quietly," is the statement of the executive, "because it was confident t!:at there was no danger of a. repetition of what took place with respect of Kent and Cambridge terraces. Tho City Council would never dream of cutting through the reserve bef'/o all the formalities as to securing a proclamation, etc., had been observed. "Early this week the executive paid a visit of inspection to the locality, and, by courtesy of the Mayor, were accompanied by the Acting-City Engineer, Mr. E. E. Luke. We were Informed that, commencing from the Botanical Gardens gate, the road for some distance really lies,some ten feet insido the Gardens, but that it is the intention of the council to leave this strip as part of the Gardens, as" it is now nicely planted. ROAD WIDENING ABSOLUTELY NECESSAEY. "Higher up in Gienmoro road the roadway is very narrow, and all were of one mind, that tho widening in this length is an absolute and urgent necessity, as it is in its present state positively dangerous. "In order that the necessary widening may be effected, the reserve, wjhich dips into a gujly at this point, will nave to bo encroached upon by the filling in of a part which cannot at any time possibly be made a playing area. To carry out this work, we were informed by Mr. Luke, it will be necessary to obtain about 20,000 cubic yards of spoil. If this spoil could be obtained nearby the cost would be approximately 6s per cubic yard, but if it had to be carted from a distance the cost might rise to as much as 12s per yard. The proposal of a road through tho gardens arose from that consideration, of obtaining the necessary spoil economically. "The members of the executive went carefully over the route to tho Glen. There are no indications of trees being destroyed or of any cutting, as has been suggested by some correspondents in tho Press, who have written as though a work of destruction had already been entered upon. There is no ground to fear anything of that kind. The route would really cut through tho spur of what is now a considerable hill, the growth on which is of no great scenic value, but at the Glen end of the route there is a gully to be filled in which undoubtedly has considerable beauty. NOT IN ACCORD WITH GENERAL WANTS. "The executive was unanimously of the opinion, after going fully into the matter, that the road would not be warranted for the roason that it would not serve the general wants of the people, though it would serve a small locality. An economy would be effected in obtaining spoil, certainly, and this aspect the council's engineers had every right to represent, but the executive does not consider that this would justify tho work. It is considered that t?s* matter should be further considered by the council to ascertain whether it is not possible to obtain the spoil by carrying out some other necessary work, so reducing in some degree the total cost. Mr. Luke carefully stated that the matter was not one on which he should express an opinion, but that any alteration of the reserve should bo referred to the Director of Reserves for report. THE PROPOSED TERRACING OF THE HILL. 11 "The iiroposal that the hill face above the band stand should be terraced was also considered, but it was thought that if the terracing was carried out to tho extent of obtaining 20,000 cubic yards, tho hill would either have to be heavily cut into or tho area from which the spoil was taken would hay« to be so wide that the decimation of trees would be more severe than by putting through the road, and the terracing would therefore be no better than the driving of a road. ''Our information is that the whole question arose when the subject of better access to the western suburbs was under consideration. Mr. Paterson reported upon the matter, and though the proposals have been talked over in au informal way, they have never been formally before any committee or the council itself. It is almost unnecessary to say that the league is strongly in favour of protecting public reserves, and that it will fight to that end when necessary, but it is not prepared to take action in any movement of general scare, as it recognises that there arc upon the City Council representatives of the citizens just as anxious to preserve the scenic and recreational features of Wellington as are people outside tho council."