GREATER ONEHUNGA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15251, 14 March 1913, Page 4

GREATER ONEHUNGA.

Sir,—Now- that the principle of eliminating th© multitudinous local bodies in and around Auokland, and the merging of their districts into the Greater Auckland i scheme is being recognised as . the most desirable means of attaining greater efficiency in municipal administration at a lower cost to the ratepayers, it is time more energy was infused into the question of ft Greater Orehunga. That the city of Auckland will ultimately absorb all the district between the Waitemata and the natural dividing ridgo between the Waitemata and Manukau Harbours at One-tree Hill is a foregone conclusion; and th»t,the destiny of the district extending from One-tree Hill to the Manukau ' lies with Onehunga I consider equally certain. Thus the* isthmus will ultimately be controlled by the twin cities of Auckland and Onehunga. . The natural dividing ridge to which I refer is the highest point of the isthmus, and can be roughly taken as a line extending from Boon's store to Coronation Road, and from there along the ridge behind the Veterans' Home, striking the Manukau behind the Pah Farm; and, to the east, along a line from the top of One-tree Hill to • Penrose railway station, and thence along the South Road to St. Ann's Bridge. The whole of this area falls naturally towards the Manukau, and in consequence should be under the control of a single looal body for the purpose of carrying out the important works of drainage and water supply. _ That the many advantages attained by joining hands with Onehunga are being gradually recognised by the districts at present outside the borotjgh boundaries is evidenced by the fact that one portion of the One-tree Hill district has already joined, whilst a larger strip of the 3ame district will, in the course of a week or two, have completed the necessary formalities to the same end. To amalgamate this area would increase the size of Onehunga sufficiently to enable it to employ a permanent engiceeij, thus leading to more comprehensive and improved methods of dealing with the roading problem. The establishment of an up-to-date system of fire prevention would likewise be one of the first ' matters claiming attention,, and a borough of such extent would undoubtedly do so. In the matter of drainage particularly, the scheme is highly desirable, ior there is but one way to drain the whole of this area, and that is into the Manukau. One-tree Hill has -just entered upon a comprehensive drainage scheme, but' it stops snort at the boundary I, have outlired, and the residents on the Onehunga side will derive no. benefit therefrom. Ib the question of water, these districts would, on joining Onehunga, participate in one. of the finest and cheapest water supplies in the Dominion. The first question naturally asked would be: How would our rates be affected? In this the benefit would be in favour of amalgamation; th© rates would certainly not be increased, and would, in all probability, be materially reduced. The wisdom of dividing the isthmus in the manner T have outlined has already been recognised by the Postal Department, for at the present time almost the whole district I propose should be included is already served from the Onehunga Post Office. As the initial step towards the practical adoption of this proposal, I suggest the formation of a committee from these districts, to gather information on the subject and place the matter fully before the ratepayers concerned. On such a committee I would bo very willing to act. C. Chris. Davis. Gieenwood's Corner, Epsom.