AERODROME AT KOHIMARAMA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17649, 9 December 1920, Page 10

AERODROME AT KOHIMARAMA.

* Sir,~ii|e proposal to establish a key aerodrome-for the North Island at Kohim^rama'is so extraordinary tJi&t 1 think timely protest should be -made before the idea is translated into fact. .Anyone can see that the future growth of Auckland city will be in the direction of our magnificent eastern foreshore. Already there j are, hundreds of permanent residents ! there,: and during ' the summer, and on ' holidays the splendid beaches are patronised ""-by thousands. Moreover, the Government, as owner <o-f over 400 acres of land at Orakei.. has repeatedly expressed the intention of creating there our first model suburb—an - object . lesson in civic ideals to all New Zealand. Nature has provided all the advantages and possibilities; it only remains for us to live up to them and turn them to the best uses. If the next, five years repeats the progress which the last few have shewn in aerial development, and there is every reason to'believe that they will, our key aerodrome will be the centre of a vast activity with big machines arriving aAd departing to fixed time-table at all hours both day and night. For the most part « they will be enlarged; editions of the hydroplane which alight and t&.ke off from the foreshore. There must of necessitybe large workshops and hangars for these monsters with all mechanical facilities for repair and overhaul. One can well imagine, too, that the beach' from which these machines were worked would be a highly dangerais spot from which the public for their ow n protection must be | excluded, and finally the deafening noise created by the engines would be nerveTacking in the. extreme. And all this to be .dumped down and made a permanent ! feature of-, what is to be our choicest- resi- ! dential area and " our model suburb. The pictjjrgjjs-'not overdrawn and timely protest required to prevent such a blunder. Auckland ' fortunately has ample t'space adjacent to the city, where unoccupied laud* and calm water is; available and that' r , . without irreparably damaging our choicest assets.. , " |^ ,v - J&esepenj, v