HOBSON BAY LAKE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19511, 15 December 1926, Page 15

HOBSON BAY LAKE.

ADVOCACY OF PROPOSAL. CONSTRUCTION OF SPILLWAY. DEPUTATION TO THE MAYOR. The proposal to turn Hobson Bay into a permanent lake by constructing a spillway under the large bridge in tho railway embank ment near Orakei was yesterday brought under the notice of tho Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, by an influential deputation of Remuera residents, Mr. R. H. Packwood, Public Works engineer in charge of the eastern railway deviation works, accompanied tho deputation, and with the aid of plans fully explained the scheme, the main details of which were published in the Herald on Monday. The principal speakers for tho deputation were Messrs. D. Donaldson and G. Pitcaithly, and they were supported by Messrs. W. R. Holmes, G. L. Thorburn, T. Proctor, J. Milne, F. Carr and E. N. Ormiston. It was mentioned that the proposal had been submitted to the Auckland Harbour Board, but the deputation had been asked to submit its proposals through the local authority. If the water were retained in Hobson Bay at about half-tide level a lake with an area of about 150 acres would be created, while if three-quarter tida level were fixed tho area would be nearly 200 acres. An important feature of the scheme would be' the wall joining the railway embankment just beyond the bridge near Point Resolution and running parallel with the western shore of the bay to the flat fronting Shore Road. This would leave a tidal channel to tho west of the wall with an area of about 50 acres for the accommodation of pleasure launches. If the halftide level were fixed the cost would bo approximately £SOOO, but if it were docided to raise the wall and spillway to hold the water at the three-quarter tide level the cost would be nearer £4OOO. One point discussed was whether an endeavour should be made to get a portion of the sum of £6500 held by tho Auckland and Suburban Drainage Board for Hobson Bay improvements a* a contribution toward the cost of the Jake scheme. When tho main sewer was being built across Hobson Bay tho board was required to place £6500 on fixed deposit to be used for building a .retaining wall along the line of the sewer should it bo decided at any time to reclaim Hobson Bay. It was pointed out that developments subsequent to the building of the sewer had altered tho position, arid it was possible the retaining wall would never be required. The Mayor said he thought there, was much to be said for the scheme. If it were favoured by tiro City Council there would be tho matter of finance to be considered. He would have th« scheme brought before the Harbour Board.