NEW EASTERN OUTLET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16317, 25 August 1916, Page 7

NEW EASTERN OUTLET.

JERMYN STREET SCHEME. THE POSITION EXPLAINED. WORK TO BE EXPEDITED. A statement showing the position of the work now being carried out in connection with the Jermyn Street improvement scheme was made to a Herald representative by the Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gunson, yesterday.

The progress of the work, said the Mayor, had been somewhat interfered with by the excessive wet weather of the past two months, but despite this considerable progress had been made. Activity, particularly at the western end of the work, had been "delayed by the inability of the council to conclude negotiations with the Kail way Department regarding the suggested straightening of Beach Road, between Breakwater Road and Short Street. He had gone into the matter with the chief engineer of the Railway Department, Mr. McLean, during the latter's visit to Auckland this week, with the result that he was now advising the council definitely that, owing to the fact that terms mutually acceptable to the Department and the council could not be arrived at, the proposal must be abandoned. No request had been made for any of the Department's land, the alienation of its frontage only being desired. An existing lessee's interest formed an obstacle, which he had hoped to overcome, but to have paid the price asked would have placed the council in a disadvantageous financial position. It was much to be regretted that this improvement could not be effected, but its abandonment must now be definitely accepted. The city engineer was now proceeding with the work on the old levels, and every expedition would be used. The fire brigade station and other buildings in the vicinity in Beach Road, said the Mayor, would be demolished at an early date, and this would enable the roadway on its southern side to be widened to the new alignment. • The removal of the . tram-rails to the centre of the widened . thoroughfare was another work that would need to be carried out. At present the maintenance work on Beach Road was only of a temporary nature, it being desired to keep the expenditure down to the minimum required tomaketheroad passable, as it was expected that the paving of it with asphalt would be commenced at no distant date, or when the bulk of the remaining excavation work had been completed. It was estimated that about a further 70,000 yds would have to be removed. , The work would be pushed ahead as rapidly as possible.

Financial Position Satisfactory. In dealing with the financial aspect the Mayor stated that the total outgoings in, connection with the scheme to date amounted to £156,774. There were still nine compensation claims outstanding, and these would absorb a considerable sum. When these were settled the council would possess the fee simple of the whole property on the Beach Road frontage and also on both sides of the new Jermyn Street, ' as far as Eden Street, as well as of a considerable portion of the frontage as far as Symonds Street. The city engineer was now preparing plans for the sub. division of the allotments, and it soon would be possible to estimate what the returns were likely to be. It was quite apparent that, provided nothing unforeseen arose, the scheme would more than finance itself. A full statement in regard to this matter would be submitted to the council at a later date.

The Present University Buildings. The Mayor stated that the present -university buildings would not bo disturbed for some little time. About two years ago an understanding was arrived at between the council and the University College Council that the buildings would not be removed for five years from that time. The line of the new road passed over the site of the university buildings. Apart from this small section of. the work the scheme would be completed in about 18 months or two years from now, and it would then be possible to make the new road available for traffic by the use of Eden and Parliament Streets, the existing levels being capable of adjustment. The position, however, would be somewhat awkward to traffic, and he hoped that there would be no long delay in bringing the complete scheme from Beach Road to Symonds Street into use.

Railway Department's Action Criticised. A brief report on the .financial position of the work was presented by the Mayor at last night's meeting of the City Council. Mr. W. J. Holdsworth asked what sum the ratepayers had authorised for the work. The Mayor said an amount of £50,000 was authorised, not by the ratepayers, but under a special Act. Mr. E. Davis asked how the council stood as regards actual expenses and the original estimates. Mr. A. J. Entrican said he was extremely sorry to hear that in the Mayor's opinion there was no possibility of carrying out the new and much better scheme in connection with the railway property. Citizens would for years regret it if the council was not now enabled to straighten Customs Street or Beach Road. They should not sit still under the refusal of the Railway Department to come to an agreement on the matter. Pressure should be brought to bear upon the Minister for Railways to see if something could not be done. The bends in the road in question were inexcusable. No Government should stand in the way of the road being straightened. The Mayor: It is not the Government, but Departmental officials.

Mr. Entrican: Well, they are under Government control, are they not? If not, they ought to be. These bends will never be straichtened so easily as at the present time. He was sure that even the Minister for Railways would find it necessary to yield to public opinion and see the necessity of an improvement being made. The Mayor said the matter would be reported to the Works Committee. In reply to Mr. Davis, the information asked for was, he said, already in preparation jby the engineer.

A Claim for £14,064. A claim for £14,064 in respect of land taken in connection -with the Jermyn Street outlet was received by the council through the city solicitor, Mr. J. Stanton. The claimants were Sir G. Maurice O'Rorke and Major T. V. Shepherd, trustees in the estate of the late Jane Shepherd. The claim was made up &s follows : —Frontage of 156 ft to Beach Road, at £60 per foot, £9360; frontage of 190 ft 5Ln to Jermyn Street, at £20 per. foot, 53804; value of buildings, drains, fencine, garden and residences in occupation, £900; total, £14,064. The city solicitor enclosed a form of denial of claim for execution. The Mayor said the land in question was commonly known as Sir Maurice O'Rorke's property. It was decided to formally deny the claim.