THE GILLIES PARK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15563, 21 March 1914, Page 6

THE GILLIES PARK.

In his latest defence of the Gillies park scheme the Mayor has attempted to make his case good by under-estimating the possible growth of Auckland. For Mr. Parr this is an unusual and somewhat significant attitude. Either he is more impressed with the criticisms of the proposal than he cares to admit, or his faith in the future of Auckland is not what it was. He dismisses the straight road which is to run from Quay Street to Orakei as a myth, and attempts to make it more mythical by stating that the Chairman of the Harbour Board was recently unable to give an assurance that it would reach even Campbell's Point in 20 years. Mr. Parr has already made use of this statement; Mr. Gunson has expressly denied that anything of the kind ever emanated from him. The Harbour Board's intentions with regard to the waterside road have seen clearly explained by Mr. Gunson as follows :—" The board is now continuing Quay Street eastward for a distance of twice its present length. Ultimately, the scheme is :o go still further eastward, and possibly to Orakei, with a fine foreshore esplanade 100 ft wide. Circumstances exist which might make Dossible a considerable portion of :hat extension at a much earlier late than is anticipated.'' The conversation on which Mr. Parr •elies may therefore be safely set iown as a myth. Auckland must lave a road along the eastern foreshore, and Mr. Parr's efforts to convince the ratepayers that it vould be true town-planning to curve this road round Campbell's Point and' through the bottom of;hc proposed park only serve to emDhasise the fatal objection to ;hc purchase. This objection is hat it may eventually prove in expensive obstruction in the j way of an improvement of im-1 neasurably more value to the city ;han the nine and a-half acres in -he Gillies estate. Even if straight ines are, for the moment, obnoxious ;o the Mayor we must not forget ;hat they bring the suburbs nearer jO the city. The prospect of a •ailway running round the foreshore Mr. Parr also regards as a K»gey. In his more optimistic noods he would not consider the act that this project has been discussed for 30 years as a sufficient •eason for classing it as a myth. Auckland has never lost sight of it 'or thirty years, and it is safe to sredict that in another ten years ;he weight of the goods traffic will compel its realisation. As to both •oad and railway Mr. Parr is ippalled when he contemplates the cost. Aucklanders are not accustomed to Mr. Parr as a pessimist. Etc has the courage for Jermyn Street, he is not afraid of a big own-planning scheme for the improvement of the old market square, but he can see no money available for the eastern foreshore vhile the Gillies park obscures his rision. He is happier and more convincing when he is describing he buoyancy of the city's finance, md picturing the bright future of Auckland. In a week he may be limself again ready to help forward i big scheme for the permanent imsrovement of the Domain.