THE EXHIBITION DRIVE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19255, 18 February 1926, Page 8

THE EXHIBITION DRIVE.

TRAMWAY OB METAL ItOAD. WATERWORKS ALTERNATIVES \ DOUBLE PURPOSE PRESENTED. OPENING A SCENIC ROUTE, When proceeding to Huia yesterday, the members of the City Council were taken by car along Exhibition Drive as far as the slip that has obliterated the roadway and thence walked as far as Mackie's Best, the point where the new pipe-line from Huia will junction with that in existence. It was explained by Mr. A- Thompson, chairman of the Works Committee, that for the transport of pipes one of two alternatives was essential—either the provision of a tramway along the drive to the tunnel, which would cost £3300, or the reconstruction and metalling of the road to Mackie's Rest, at a cost of £3700. Allowing for the extra distance of the roading project the costs may be considered to be equal, and although no formal discussion took place the "opinion was expressed by several members, including the Mayor, Mr. Cr. Baildon, that the clearing and metalling of the road should be the choice, seeing that it would open up so exquisite a piece of bush scenery. A Wonderful Picture. Those who had not been along this socalled drive were greatly surprised at finding so beautiful a scene so near the city. Magnificent pungas border the road, and from. the riot of growth fine kauris rear their lofty head 3. The cascade of greenerj' rushes down to the Manukau, the wide expanse of which, with its winding shore and woody headlands, completes a wonderful picture. The scene always exceeds the dreams of the stranger, and yet it has not been opened up for the people. Between Mackie's Rest and Cochrane's Saddle, where the road system of the Waitemata County Council leading up from the Glen Eden Valley terminates, the distance is about three-quarters of a mile, and 'it, is possible that if the obviously wise alternative is chosen objection might be raised against the completion of the circuit, on the ground that this short stretch will be through the catchment area for the proposed Lower Nihotupu reservoir, a work that will not be necessary for many years. Practice in Australia, But, as was remarked yesterday, Auckland is almost alone among the cities of the world in setting its face against admitting th-3 people to water catchment areas. In Australia some of the great reservoirs are fishing resorts, and the authorities actually hire boats for use upon them. As it is, the efforts of the Auckland City Council to keep the catchment areas free from the danger of human contamination, are practically nullified by the existence of the West Coast Road through the Nihotupu watershed. Thus, no objection of the kind ought to be sustained in regard to a small portion of the Exhibition Drive route. Should the objection cause the authority to waver, however, there is no reason why Mackie's Rest should not be made a terminal point for the time being, provided a reasonable number of passingplaces are provided. There is another possibility; the Waitemata County Council proposes to construct a road of 22 chains, along a line already dedicated, from Mackie's Rest down to the Huia Road that runs down from Titirangi to the Manukau shore, and along it as far as Kuia. This link would complete a circuit, and quite a satisfactory one, seeing that the portion of the Huia Road involyed is metalled. An aspect of the matter which was mentioned as a serious difficulty is that the Exhibition Drive is through city property and is not a legally-dedicated public road. In view of the importance of giving public access to this bush and scenery it may be assumed that if the City Council is in earnest it will find ways of overcoming this and any other difficulty that might appear in respect to maintenance.