EDENDALE PROGRESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18887, 9 December 1924, Page 13

EDENDALE PROGRESS.

THE TRAMWAY EXTENSION.

FINISHED AT x EARLY DATE.

ACTIVITY IN DISTRICT.

With the early completion of the new Edendale tramway extension—it is expected that cars will be running over at least a portion of the track by the New fear—the long-deferred hopes of the residents of that large suburban area, which forms a not inconsiderable portion of the borough of Mount Albert, will' bo realised.

While all tho other main outlets to tho city running parallel with Edendale Road, namely, New North Road, Dominion Road, Mount Eden Road, and Great North Road, have been served for some years by the tramway, Edendale Road has been left, and many a weary tramp to tho present Dominion Road terminus has been the lot of residents. The stumbling block has really been the absence of an overbridge over the Northern railway line. Probably had such a bridge been in existence before, the trams would have been running long ere this to Edendale. As far back as 1898 an overbridge was mooted, but numerous difficulties stood in the way. After years of negotiations between the Railway Department and the Mount Albert Borough Council, the overbridga is now ah accomplished fact, having been completed last March, and very shortly the. cars will be running over it.

The new tramway extension will embrace four sections from town, the first ending at the top of Symonds Street, the second at Onslow Road, and the third at Parrish Road. Residents arc hopeful that this latter section, which is considered an anomaly as compared with similar sections on Mount Eden Road, Dominion Road and Mount Albert runs, will be adjusted, and the section end at Balmoral Road. It is said there is a likelihood of ■motor-buses observing this condition. The tram rails are now laid as far at Patterson Street, while the bitumen coating of the tramway track has been completed as far as Parrish Road, and a good deal of the overhead construction has been done.

During the past few years -building operations have been proceeding apace in the Edendale district. Two large estates, tho Euston and Taumata Estates, were cut up, and many holdings taken by returned soldiers. A keen demand for shop property has already set in, in anticipation of the early running of the cars. One resident in a prominent part of the main road, with a keen eye to business, has recently had his dwelling house moved bodily to the roar portion of the section, and is having two shops-erected with a main road frontage. Several new roads, connecting with Edendale Road, have recently been completed, the most important being an extension of Calgary Street, at the new Edendale tram terminus. This gives a through route to Dominion Road. Another outlet is Troonsville Avenue, which opens up a large residential portion, while a new road is now under formation connecting Covle Street with Kitchener Street. The installation of electric light in the district, tho prospect of a branch post office, and the running of trams, will thus add to the attractions of a district which is calculated to become a very popular suburb.. The only "fly in the ointment," as many residents point out, is the existence of 'Cabbage Tree swamp, many parts of which are still unsightly, and already tho _ breeding ground for myriads of mosquitos.