FIFTY YEARS AGO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15689, 17 August 1914, Page 9

FIFTY YEARS AGO.

_— » MECHANICS' BAY. PROPOSED RECLAMATION. (from tho HdiAiD of August 17, 1864.) fffl are glad to be able to inform our Let« th«t Mr. Henry Wri «- 0.E., has ' instructed to examine Mechanics' Bay, 1 to report upon tho scheme wo lately 'Located for enclosing it, and carrying Iha Parnell road across it to Queen Street. That gentleman was busily engaged on Monday in tho work assigned to him, and L report will doubtless he a very valuWe one. and show both how this great • inrovement may best bo made, and the cost of effecting it: _ M Wrigg livings to bear upon his task 'ijrgo amount both of theoretical and 'tactical information, the latter derived Lin a large professional business in very rtleUiive engineering and drainage works ? the North of England. Being therefore neither an amateur self-dubbed C.E., nor bound up with artV politics, or art 'nterests, his report will at once commend itself to the favourable consideration of the public. The Parnell community, who .« "taking the bull by the horns," and having this work performed, deserve great credit for at 0I "'° boldly grappling with the difficulty, ami not waiting till the Provincial Government could take action in the matter. The latter, both as the central authority, and as having t!io charge both c [ general and local improvements of this character, ought to have been the first in the field, but doubtless it will not check, but rather aid, all in its power those who Juvfl made a commencement in this nocesjary work by engaging a thoroughly competent professional man to report upon the subject. There need, bo little or no (ears on the score of expense in so far as that portion is concerned which would naturally fail to the share of the Provincial Government, for the land gained would doubtless speedily recoup tho whole of tho expenditure that would be incurred in enclosing the bay.