RELIEF WORKS

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 46, 31 August 1928, Page 10

RELIEF WORKS

WADESTOWN ACCESS PARKS AND PLAY AREAS "VERY GOOD VALUE" What has been accomplished during tho winter on the relief works in tho western part of the city was made apparent to a "Post" reporter to-day, whom tho Mayor (Mr. G. A. Troup) motored over those that could bo covered in tho tinio at his disposal. One of tho most important of these works is the new and as yet un.-named street which has been formed as a link between Margaret street and Lytton street, and is part of tho scbemo to finally link up Wadestown and Northland. YVadostown is short of streets suitable for motoring. Most of tho streets are not more than 30ft wide, and many of them contain hairpin bends that tax the capabilities of tho motorist when ho overshoots the turn, especially if he has not the knack of reversing uphill and releasing his brakes simultaneously. Tho greatest lack, however, is in a through road of a good grade, wide enough to allow of motor traffic in comfort, and this tho new street will provide. ■ Years ago tho need for a suitable' routo was recognised, and viaducts, tunnels, and other means were suggested, while at one stage the utilisation of an upper road, which would have meant fairly steep grades and a good deal of excavation, was talked of. Nothing was done, however,; until the present new road was- commenced. Tho schomo | really starts at tho highest point in the Wadestown tram service, a little way before the terminus is reached. Between the knoll there and tho commencement of the new street, however,' there- is a considerable depression; that will bo obviated by future work, necessitating a deviation that will join up with the new street, from its junction with Margaret street. The new work would possibly not havo been commenced yet, though something of the sort would ultimately have become imperative, had not owners over its route given land for the street. It is a level street, .less than three-quarters of a mile in length, wide enough to take its part as a through road, and it curves in a sickleshaped bend round tho gully to near tho junction with.Lytton street. Here, instead of following the existing road, which dips rapidly, and has a sharp ■turn at:the corner, the new.street, passing through City Council property, will cut off the corner on a slight curve, excavations on a private property having been arranged for, and then Lytton street will be followed to the next corner, where again the corner will bo cut out, tho route then going on. towards Izard Park and Wilton's Bush, and eventually Northland. When tho new road, is completeu, an extension ■of .the tramway system will be made, perhaps a- far as Izard Park, but tho completion of the whole scheme, to tho point when a paying through trip to Northland will be possible, instead of the comparatively less payable "dead end," will take some years. This work is one in which the Mayor has been keenly interested, and ho is confident that the routo will beeomo. increasingly valuable as tho population of further Wadestown grows. The children's park at Kaiwarra has been pushed on nearly "to completion this winter by relief work. Space for recreation at tho township is- limited, and as tho park adjoins the j settlement, it will'be most useful to a number of children. A small pool, perhaps suitable later on as a swimming pool, is being made, near the gully. There are some three acres of playing area here, and if the road on the south side, which does not seem very necessary, were dispensed with, this could be increased.. This ground will be finished and* grassed next year, though the work in sight will probably occupy another two months. Khandallah will be well served with parks and recreation grounds when Nairnville Park is completed. The ground totals fifteen acres altogether, and when the present operations are completed, there will be some teii levelled acres available for, sports. Six acres are already covered with soil, and sown, and should be well grassed by mid-siimmer. This, should provide two, if not three, football grounds; at any rate two football grounds and a hockey ground. This work will be continued until the money allocated for this year is exhausted. The park can be considerably extended towards the north-east, but. here there is a gully to bo filled in before the level of the playing area is reached on tho opposite sloping ground. Adjoining the new railway settlement at Khandallah, the park lies well to the suu, and should be dry. It has a fine outlook. \ Western Park, lying close to North - lr.nd, also shows considerable progress this winter. I'Uye acres are now levelled and sown, and the formation, of a children's play area is in progress at the' southern end. A terrace between the road and tho playing grounds will accommodate necessary buildings comfortably. This park alsois capable of extension,, as there is a comparatively lovel area of somo two acres to the north, lying little below the lovel of tho finished portion. Passing down Glenmore road, tho wonderful improvement in tho wideniing and straightening out. of curves was readily appreciable. Tho improved appearance of the neatly fenced Botanical Gardens, a great advance on the old string of frayed cabbage trees, is apparent, and ono of the chief advantages of the Glenmore road work, from tho appearance point of view,. is the now comparatively straight continuation of the.footpath on tho eastern side, where pedestrians will have ample room. The general impression of tJio front of the Gardens all. along this sido is now one of neatness and orderliness, much better than the overcrowded thickets which tho widening has replaced. "I think we have got very good value in work done in relation to money expended on these rolief works," said Mr. Troup.