PINE HILL ROAD DIVERSION.

Evening Star, Volume 11221, Issue 11221, 21 April 1900, Page 1

PINE HILL ROAD DIVERSION.

The question of the Pine Hill road divert sion came before the City Council at their meeting on Wednesday on consideration of a letter from the City Solicitors, who wrote requesting to be informed whether it was the intention of the Council to again promote this session the Bill introduced last session on their behalf by Mr Mackenzie, the purport being to deal with roads through the Town Belt, and especially the Pino Hill road. The Bill, drafted in accordance with a compromise agreed to with the objectors to the proposed diversion of the latter road, declared it to be lawful for the Council of the City of Dunedin by special order to create and dedicate highways through the Town Belt in addition to, or in substitution for, such as already exist, and to change the course of any highway within the Town Belt in such manner and to such extent as to them may seem best; and as to any existing highway, or any such as may be hereafter created or dedicated, apd ftny part thereof, to delino the limits thereof, and to declare or change the purposes for which the same may be used, and to declare and regulate the rule of the road and the traffic thereon, notwithstanding any enactment or law to the contrary. The Bill was in due course referred to the Local Bills Committee of the House of Representatives, who struck out what were practically the operative clauses; and it was therefore abandoned, without proceeding further than the second reading, and was never, indeed, considered in cither branch of the Legislature. A brief discussion ensued in the City Council on the question submitted by the City Solicitors, during which the Mayor stated that thei'e was a sort of half promise by a member of the Ministry to grant a substantial subsidy towards the construction of a bridge over the Water of Leith at the end of George street, which would enable a road to be made connecting with the Pine Hill road, which would give the settlers '-in that locality easy and direct access to the City and enable the present road, which now cuts through and renders useless for recreation a portion of the Town Belt, reserve especially suitable and much required forthat purpose, to beclfise’d, The Mayor proceeded to say that if the Council did not see their way to the construction of the bridge the road could be deviated and brought round by the North Dunedin Drillshed,joining the Main North road at the present bridge. The matter was referred to the General Committee to report.

'1 hroughout the agitation last year on the subject, whilst supporting’ the very reasonable desire of the residents at the north end of the City to have the portion of the Town Belt Reserve now bisected and rendered useless for athletic games by the Pine Hill road made available by diversion of that road, we have consistently advocated the claims of the residents of Pine Hill and the neighborhood to consideration. Without a satisfactory compensation, we affirm that it would he most unjust to deprive them of the easy communication with the City which they have enjoyed for so many years, and on the strength of which they have made their homes in the district. They would, it is known, be satisfied that the present road through the Belt should he closed, provided that a bridge adequate for the traffic is built at the loot ot George street, with which, at comparatively small cost, the road at the loot of the hill could be connected. The deviation referred to by the Mayor—carrying the road round by the North Dunedin Drillshed—would obviously not be acceptable, and is further objectionable on many public grounds, and most certainly would prove eventually more costly than a bridge at George street. By a bridge we mean, of course, a substantial traffic bridge. The idea which has been mooted of a footbridge is simply absurd. Such a structure would serve no purpose whatever, being of no use to the country settlers, and in no way relieving the congestion and strain of the traffic l>3’’ King street, which, it is sufficiently clear, must before long force upon the authorities the necessity of widening, if not entirely rebuilding, the present bridge. The proposal, moreover, to deviate the road would involve additional expense, in that the removal of the drillshed would be imperative, whilst the new route would. be circuitous and in several other respects awkward for wheel traffic, which has principally to bo provided for. The real objection to the rational project of a George street bridge comes from persons who have an interest in maintaining things as they are, and concentrating the entire traffic in the present route for their personal business purposes. A light iron traffic bridge on the site indicated, constructed with some view to the ornamental and picturesque as w r ell as to utility, would certainly not exceed £2,000, and would be most advantageous not only to the Pino Hill people but to the north end of the City generally, improving the value of property in the neighborhood, and making the banks of the Leith most eligible lor private residences. The Pine Hill district would be materially benefited by the facilities of access, and a thriving suburb between that district proper ,and the Town Belt might be expected to spring into being. We hope that the General Committee of the City Council will take a sensible view and grasp the situation in a, practical manner, with due foresight of the not distant future. It will be false economy to adopt the deviation scheme ; and there are grave doubts whether, in the face of certain strong opposition, it would bo sanctioned by Parliament. A bridge at the end of George street would, as we have stated, involve no very considerable expenditure, and would be satisfactory in every way. The local objections would bo met, and the important object at once achieved of a good recreation ground being obtained at the north end of the C : ty.