HARBOUR BRIDGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19859, 1 February 1928, Page 14

HARBOUR BRIDGE.

Sir, —Your correspondent "Shoreite" seems ready to say anything, so "long a's it will start an argument. Only two points in his latest effusion require answering. Tfc«s first is his confident assertion that there is no similarity between the Vancouver Bridge proposition and the Waitemata one. We have gone very carefully into the matter, both by examining .the whole, .of the documents relating to the Vancouver Bridge- {supplied to us by the authorities) and also by comparing the respective localities, statistics, motor registrations, etc., and we are confident that the factors thatwarranted a bridge in Vancouver arid caused it to be, when completed, a huge financial success, are also present m Auckland to an even greater degree. Apparently "Shoreite". thinks otherwise* and the opportunity is open for him to brings out facts to justify his assertion. As an investigating committee, we welcome any material evidence. If "Shoreite" had read Mr. Jones' letter more .carefully, he would have found that the estimated cost of £650,000 allows for the piers to be sunk an average of ICO/t. below high-water mark, which, when the harbour survey is made, we hope will prove more than actually required, in which case the cost will be reduced. Mr. Jones quite rightly points out that with the harbour bed an unknown quantity, engineers cannot give an exact estimate, but competent critics agree that an average of 100 ft. below high-water mark is ' not likely to be required. "Shoreite" 1 refers to expensive roads that the boroughs will have to con struct to join up with the bridge-head, but causeways to join up Northcote and Bayswater are provided for in- the scheme/. We hope : to construct a further one to Stanley Bay also. The suggestion thatwhen the bridge is completed residents of Birkenhead and Devonport will have to travel seven to <ten miles by bus is quite absurd. These good people will travel by ferry,- as in the past, and we do not look on the bridge as a competitor of the Ferry Company at .nil, as far as foot passengers are concerned. There is ample scope for hoth. If "Shoreite" could lift his nose a little from the ground and visualise the -stream of 1 motor traffic speeding without restraint across the bridge to every part of the Northern Peninsula, as well as to our own four boroughs, he would see how we expect to pay interest and sinking fund on the undertaking, while at the same time providing the improved communication that is one of the fundamentals of our modern civilisation. M. Blampiep. 12, Beresford Street, Bayswater, January 31. 1928. Sir, —Will Mr. Hopkins tell me where are these thousands of pepplo whom he fondly hopes are breaking their necks to get to the North Shore ? Despite the fact that transport charges to the shore are, less than half what they are, for similar distances on the south ; side of the harbour, and that there is room in the four marine boroughs for at least 25,000 people, they do not come. It is not transport, but lack of roads and footpaths, lack of drainage (Devonport excepted), lack of amusements, lack of parks, etc., and high pnee of land. To make a start toward getting the roads and drainage will run the shore into heavy ..expense without any bridge burdens being added. Shoreite. .. Sir, —"Shoreite" must realise thet the more residents there are in the North Shore boroughs the greater the revenue. Some people' like the northern side of the harbour, but object to having to tranship, to ferry trip in rough weather, to buses on account of the foul air through smoking, ar.d attendant risk of fire. "Shoreite" wonders how the bridge could be financed without burdening the ratepayers. Could a company not be formed, and the shares placed on the open market? I should be glad to invest all spare cash in such a good proposition. We need a bridge, and we need an electric service on rails Ridinci or Takapuna. ;