PORT CHALMERS AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 19407, 16 November 1926, Page 2

PORT CHALMERS AFFAIRS

PROGRESSIVE LEAGUE The Progressive League hold a meeting last night to discuss local requirements. Mr J. Y. Love (president) was in the chair. Several motorists were present. - . Miss’ A. Mill wrote asking if, the league would endeavor to stop • the wholesale destruction of trees which was going on about the tojvn. : —lt was stated that trees were being cut out on tho Sawyers Bay road to give a better view, and the brush used in connection with the reclamation of Mussel Bay.—lt was decided to inform the writer accordingly; also that it was understood that ornamental shrubs would bo planted whore tho trees had been cut out.

The Chairman said that over £2O had been collected locally to help to improve the road lending from Sawyers Bay to tho Main Highway at the Upper Junction. Ho had talked the matter over .with Mr Ausell, of tho Motor Association, and the latter had stated that if the sum raised locally were increased to £SO, tho Motor Club would very probably supplement it with a substantial donation. An estimate made a year or two ago showed that £SOO would be needed to put the surface of the road in good order. It had already a solid foundation on which to, make a good.road. It was in order to , get tho~ opinion of local motorists that they had been invited to attend the mooting. Perhaps it would be advisable to form an association to look after the interests of local motorists.The discussion which followed resulted in a resolution being passed to call a meeting of local motorists to consider ’the position, tho league to retain tho money collected until after tho motorists had met.

In regard to better lighting being provided at the posting boxes of the Post Office, it was stated that this matter had been previously before the league, and the Borough Council had also made representations to the post-master.-—The Secretary (Mr R. Young) said tho local postmaster had told him that the matter was now in the hands of the Public Works Department to be carried out..—lt. was decided to ascertain the cause of the delay, and also to ask that the private boxes at the Post Office be made available after 8 The Secretary reported on what had been done by. the Railway Committee of the Otago Expansion League. The question of providing a Deisel engine or motor haulage on suburban lines was being gone into by the committee.Members were of the opinion that too much time was lost in stoppages at the various stations on the Dunedin-Port line. The railway officers in Dunedin were very sympathetic, and_ readily considered suggestions for the improvement of the service, hub it seemed that the difficulties could not be really remedied until the line was duplicated.—Tho Secretary said it had been reported that when the duplication of tho lino was completed from the city to Sawyers Bay, a tunnel might be cut under Mount Cargill to straighten tho line to Waitati for the north express trains. That would certainly be much better than the present track by way of Mihiwaka and tho Cliffs. The Chairman said that an enthusiastic meeting of representatives of the local sports bodies had been held to consider the layout of tho recreation area now being reclaimed at Mussel Bay. The question of tenure had been discussed with the Borough Council, which would control the reclaimed area. A number of other matters of local interest were also dealt with, including more access being provided at the local railway goods sheds.