FORESHORE STREETS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14808, 11 October 1911, Page 8

FORESHORE STREETS.

BIG IMPROVEMENT SCHEME. HARBOUR BOARD'S APPROVAL A FINE BROAD THOROUGHFARE. The decisions arrived at by the conference between the representatives of the Auckland Harbour Board and the City Council recently regarding the straightening of Customs-street West and Quaystreet came up for approval at the meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board yesterday. A letter was also received from the City Council suggesting certain minor alterations to the agreement in the direction already published, and that the Council should be granted a 75-year8 v lease of the site at the foot of Hobsonstreet for the purpose of public baths at a rental of £75 per annum. The Chairman (Mr. J. H. Gunson), in presenting the recommendations of the Board's representatives (Messrs. Hutchison, Heather, Alison, and himself), explained that while he and Mr. E. W. Alison were dealing with the Minister for Railways regarding the Mechanics' Bay reclamation, the question arose as to the straightening of Quay-street. The Board's representatives were successful in obtaining the consent of the Minister.to convey the site at present occupied by the railway engine-sheds to the - Board, thus placing the Board in a position to negotiate with the City Council for the continuation of Quay-street through Mr. D. Goldie's timber-yards to the present breastwork, and ultimately across the proposed reclamation. Under the agreement submitted the Board gave portion of the railway engine-shed site to the City Council for the continuation ot Quay-street, and in exchange got two valuable pieces of land from the Council at the head of the Railway Wharf. For the widening of Custom-street West the Board surrendered a good deal of land to the City Council for widening purposes, and a magnificent broad thoroughfare would be provided in consequence. By this means the value of the Board's lands would be .considerably enhanced, and a fine outlet would be given by Fan-shawe-street and Customs-street West from the Freeman's Bay reclamation. He moved that the report be adopted subject to an agreement with the. Minister lor Railways regarding the. granting of the engine-shed site to the Board, and that a committee consisting of Messrs. E. W. Alison, H. D. Heather, W. E. Hutchison, and himself be appointed to make any modifications deemed necessary. Mr. E. W. Alison seconded the motion and congratulated the chairman upon the able manner in which he had carried out the most difficult negotiations with the Railway Department and the City Council. The scheme projected was of such a comprehensive nature and would have such far-foaching effects upon the future of Auckland that it was gratifying to find such a spirit of give-and-take prevailing. Mr. -J. H. Bradney also congratulated the chairman upon the ability he had displayed. The Chairman : It.is the Board's committee you should congratulate, Mr. Bradney, not me. Mr. Bradney : I congratulate both the Chairman and the committee.

After other members had added their congratulations the motion was carried. The Chairman, in reporting upon the negotiations proceeding re the Mechanics' "Bay railway reclamation, ; stated that, under the authority of the Board, Mr. Alison and he had carried to a further stage the negotiations in regard to the railway reclamation, etc., and the lessees' interests at Mechanics' Bay. They hoped shortly to be in a position to .report further. The report was received.