PARNELL WATERFRONT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15554, 11 March 1914, Page 11

PARNELL WATERFRONT

PROBABLE ALTERATIONS.

COMMITTEES TO CONFER.

BIO" SCHEMES TO CONSIDER.

Notification was received from the City Council by the Harbour Board at its meeting yesterday that the former body had set up a special committee to confer with a committee of the board on questions affecting Alterations to the Parnell waterfront. The tourd thereupon appointed a committee, on the motion of the chairman (Mr. J. H. Gunson), consisting of Messrs. A. J. Entriean, P. Virtue, G..R. Hutchinson. W- E. Hutchison, and the mover to carry on negotiations with the City Council's committee, and report to the board.

The-chairman subsequently stated that this committee of the board was thoroughly conversant with all the conditions existing on the Parnell' foreshore having had the matter of Campbell's Point in hand. There were some very important matters requiring consideration, and with the cooperation of the city, the Railway Department, and the board big things were possible. The whole question, however, must be approached in a broad spirit, and with a full realisation of the important interests of the future which were involved. " Auckland is destined to be a very large port." said Mr. Gunson. "andgroat, and leading ports can only be built up by hold and comprehensive schemes. I believe if. the questions for consideration by the two committees arc dealt with in this way we may before very long bo in possession of a very fine outlet right across Hobsoti Bay to O'rakei. The board's interests lie in the fact that, it is the owner of the whole of the tidal lands and the harbour-bod across the area involved.

REPENT PARK PROPOSALS.

THE MAYOR'S ATTITUDE.

in the course of an interview yesterday, the Mayor (Mr. C. J. Parr), discussing I the proposal that the city should acquire the Gillies Estate, Parnell, as a park (as to which a poll is to be taken on March 26 next], expressed the opinion that to throw this scheme over in favour of the ! Hobsan Bay Park proposal would be an extremely foolish move. The area of 75 acres in Hobson Bay was, he said, still under water, and likely to remain so for the next quarter of a century. Two years ago the Hart our Board offered this site to the Parnell Borough Council and the jßenvuera Road Board, loaded with the condition that those 'two bodies should undertake the whole cost of the reclamation work. This would involve a.very heavy expenditure, estimated by a wellknown civil'fengineer (Mr. Ware) at £60,000. The local bodies had hesitated because of this very question of cost, and clearly it was too' big an undertaking for a road board.

A "Red Herring Across the Scent."

"To drag this Hobson Bay scheme up now as an alternative to Gillies Park is merely to draw a red-herring across the scent,'" declared Mr .Parr, "and it serves no useful purpose. There can bo no possible doubt us to which is the best pro position. Gillies Park is easily the best scheme for the city, and for Parnell which is now part of the city." Proceeding, Mr. Parr urged that one thing should be done at a lime. There was now a chance of securing the magnificent Gillies Estate at a cost of £15,000. Now that the city's fman-.'s were so buoyant the interest on the hum would never be missed If through, the action of a few ill-advised malcontent:' the citizens lost this property they lost it for all time.

Allegations of Short-sightedness,

"It. is rather peculiar, By th? way," continued the Mayor, "that the same agencies which, a few months ago, wanted to tip. 5J acres of Campbell's Point into the. sea for spoil seem now determined to - kill the Gillies Park proposal. If they succeed in depriving the citizens of this fine public estate now, I have no hesitation in saying that in years to come their action , will be remembered as a piece of almost criminal short-sighted-ness."

Hobson Bay Scheme Practical.

Mr. Parr admitted that the fibbson Bay proposal was quite within the realm of practical politics, but declared that it was essentially a'. matter for Remuera, which district was virtually without park space. A reserve at Hobson Bay would benefit Remuera much more than Parnell. ■ The former district was not able to undertake such a work as the reclamation of the area, but if it became part of the city within the next few months, one of the first things he would propose would be to assist in securing that are*. " I believe a much better bargain could be made with the Harbour Board for Hobson Bay than that which was suggested some yeare ago," said the Mayor, "and. when the time comes I shall bo j pleased to use my efforts in that direction."

Extension of Quay Street. Referring to another point at, issue between the city and the Harbour Board Mr. Parr said the acquisition of the Gillies estate, rather than retarding the efforts for a ■ waterfront road would be a further incentive to the City Council to push on with the work. Any fears, in short, that I the Gilljes Park scheme would militate against' other important works were absol lutely groundless.