MUSINGS ON THE FUTURE OF AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9149, 3 September 1888, Page 5

MUSINGS ON THE FUTURE OF AUCKLAND.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—On Sunday last I took a stroll to a part of the Manukau harbour which I had not visited since the time when we were all soldiers, and when this locality was distinguished by one solitary building, known as the Whau Block-house. Now I find a township there, with several houses and substantial fences, and cultivations, with young plantations, roads formed, and other signs of progress, and known as Avondale South. I thought if we only had the American spirit of enterprise, or the Melbourne money diverted over here, what a future for us all. Those who have lived on the West Coast know the bracing, healthgiving breezes that are experienced there. Only last week I had a letter from a friend in Melbourne. He mentions that one contractor had just completed building eighteen hundred houses at Elsternwick, and had just signed a contract for two hundred more at the same place, in brick. This place is seven miles from Melbourne, about the same distance as South Avondale is from Auckland. At Elsternwick they go to and fro with a first -class return ticket for the moderate sum of ninepence, and, no doubt, annual family tickets proportionately less. Now, here is a town laid out within an easy distance by road of our city, about a mile and a-half from the Kaipara railway, with no engineering difficulty to connect it, situated on a pretty bay, with prettier sister bays adjoining, close to the main channel of the deep water of the harbour, only requiring a short wharf to reach it. I say is there not a future before this place ? Well, sir, after resting a while absorbed in thought of the future of all I saw around me, I strolled on through the tea-tree to Onehunga, casting my eyes towards Auckland, with the thousands of acres of lands lying idle, waiting for occupants. I thought how long before the Mount Roskill road will be continued in a straight line through Mr. Joseph May's splendid farm, to the south of the mountain, opening up all this vast tract of country now in a state of nature, terminating at this part of the Manukau harbour, and Paterson's 'buses running every hour for health, pleasure, and profit, returning by way of Onehunga or the Three Kings. Mr. May's farm of magnificent soil all cub up and occupied by our Auckland merchants, tradesmen, and others, with Mount Roskill itself forming a large reservoir for the supply of pure water to that suburb, Mr. Vaile's cheap railway fares allowing the people to live here cheaper than in the city, and away from the smoke and stinks of the town. I ask myself the question why is ib that with so much land lying idle close to our city, as well as throughout the country, should anyone be leaving this fair and beautiful land ? The only answer that suggests itself is that the wretched mis-govern-ment, both past and present, the reckless waste of money on useless and unproductive works to benefit rings and cliques; and the only cure I believe is to sweep away altogether the present Government with all its expensive paraphernalia, returningeven to a Crown colony if necessary. Then I venture to predict such a boom of prosperity will set in here chat our youngest children will not) live to see the end of.—l am, otc., T. B. Hill. 150, Queen-street, Auckland, August 28, 1888. S