ST. HELIERS BAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15504, 10 January 1914, Page 5

ST. HELIERS BAY.

A YEAR OF PROGRESS.

MANY IMPROVEMENTS.

ACTIVITIES OF THE BOARD.

One of the most attractive of the marine suburbs of Auckland is St. Heliers Bay, which takes in the adjacent district of Kohimarama. The district is under the .jurisdiction of the Tamaki Road Board, and a couple of years ago the board decided on a progressive scheme of improvement. Some 18 months ago the board submitted proposals for loans amounting to £35,000 to the ratepayers, (he loans comprising £10,000 for water, £19,000 for roading, and £6000 for drain. These undertakings were sanctioned by the ratepayers, but. owing principally to the stringency of the money market; all the loans have not yet been raised. Nevertheless, much has been achieved during the past year, and the chairman of the board (Mr. G. F. Campbell) was able to give a resume yesterday of what had been done.

Recognising that a permanent water supply was one of the most urgent needs of the district, as the residents had in the past to depend on tanks, the board, in 1912, determined to raise the loan sanctioned for a water supply. It was successful in obtaining the necessary £10,000 lor the purpose from the Public Trustee, at 5 per cent. Arrangements were made with the Remuera Road Board for a supply of water from its mains at the rate of Is 4d per 1000 gallons, and during the past year mains were laid in a good portion of St. Heliers Bay and Kohimarama, and a, number of the residents now obtain their supplies of water from this source. The whole of the streets have not yet been reticulated, but in the course of the year all the bouses in the district will be connected up with the permanent water supply. The water is conveyed by a 6in main from the Remuera boundary, the principal main being 17,392 ft in length, and the reticulation system, when finally complete, will comprise 25,896 ft of 4in mains, and 22,504 ft of 3in mains. The money authorised for carrying out the other suggested improvements, such as roading and drainage, has not yet been raised, but the board is watching for a favourable opportunity to secure the money to carry out these important works. Several improvements, however, were effected during the year out of ordinary revenue. St. Heliers Bay Road, all the way from the Remuera boundary to the bay, is now in excellent order. It has been graded and metalled in places, and compares favourably with the main roads in other districts. Kohimarama Wharf Completed. The Harbour Board completed the Kohimarama Wharf last year. This is a substantial structure, and has given quite an impetus to the district, which now presents a picturesque appearance with its many neatly-designed red-roofed dwellings against the background of trees. The Road Board has constructed a new road from the west side of the district as an approach to the wharf. The cost of the road was £1200, and a loan was raised for the purpose. Bowling and Tennis Lawns.

St. Heliers possesses a beautiful reserve nearly nine acres in extent, and this is used as a recreation ground. There is a cricket field on the reserve, and last year a bowling green was put down, and was opened on November 29, in the presence of over 300 people. Tennis courts and croquet greens were also kid out, and it is expected that these will be ready some time this month. The bowling green has already proved very popular. Several other improvements are contemplated by the board, such as the erection of pavilions and a bandstand and the construction of a running-track round the cric&t field, besides -further improvement to the grounds. Already the reserve is one of the great attractions of the district, for it is situated within 100 yds of the St. Heliers Wharf. ' Frequent Steamer Service. The steamer servce to SI. Hellers and Kohimarama was considerably augmented during the year, and now about a dozen trips are run daily, both to and from these popular watering pfloces, instead of two trips as formerly. The result has justified the more frequent service for the splendid beaches along the foreshore have been visited daily this summer by hundreds of visitors. The Devonport Ferry Company has built a new boat expressly for the Kohimarama service, and this will probably be put in commission before the end of this month. Other Improvements. At the present time the hoard is reconstructing the old bridge on Vaile Road, which is a continuation of the water frontage to the eastward of the bay. The bridge was in a bad state of rep"air, and had become dangerous. The work of reconstruction is being carried out by day labour.

The board last year purchased a dray and team to carry out repair work on the roads. A new site was also purchased near the bay for £600, and the board office was removed to it. This has been much more convenient for the ratepayers Stables have been built on the section at a cost of £100.

Last year, as a result of representations to the Postmaster-General, a daily postal delivery was provided to all parts of the road district. Formerly residents in Kohimarama and Tamaki West had to go to St. Hehers for their postal packets A postal-note office has also been established at the bay, and postal-boxes have been placed in various convenient portions of the district. These facilities have been much appreciated by the residents. " Drawback to Progress." The area under the jurisdiction of the Road Board consists of about 4000 acres and the fact that the Church of England owns some 1800 acres out of this, has, Mr. Campbell asserts, been a drawback to progress. The Church property lies between Remuera and the Kohimarama portion of the district. As a result of representations made by the Road Board, some of the land on the main road has been cut up in sections to be sold on the Glasgow lease system. There is, however a large area of the land that is likely to remain unsettled for a long time, and the Tramways Company has so far not seen its way to accede to"the request of the Road Board to run a tram or motor-'bus service from the Remuera terminus to the bay For the same reason the Gas Company does not see its way clear to put down gas mains to St. Heliers. In regard to the lighting of the district, however the boa.rd is now considering the installation ; of electric lighting, and a scheme embody-! ing this idea is likely soon to be placed i before the ratepayers. | The Road Board is fully alive to the possibilities of its district, and is determined to continue its policy of progress.