THE HARBOUR BRIDGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20323, 2 August 1929, Page 16

THE HARBOUR BRIDGE.

_Sir, —Sir James Gunson should know his New Zealand better. Had he suggested archery clubs or a. cross-bow competition he would probably command a hearing. To suggest such a progressive thing as a harbour bridge is not in keeping with our present state of national lethargy. One can sympathise with Sir James and understand his feelings coming back to a land of stagnation after visiting enlightened and progressive countries. We can hope he will not slough his present spirit. A man of his ability and vision might shake a bit of life into our public affairs. Let us hope the public will listen to him. Birkenhead. J. Littlejohn.

Sir, —Once more Sir James Gunson has shown his acumen and insight. His remarks about the harbour bridge are apropos, except that it does not, require any enterprise on the part of the City Council, or any other public body. Private enterprise will build the bridge and recoup itself in about 20 years by a concession of the tolls, which would be a half or a third of the present vehicular ferry fares. P. Lewis.

Sir, —It is of the utmost importance, for the sake of Greater Auckland, that the site for the bridge be given the fullest consideration, not' in regard to foundations only, but with a view to preserving the beauty of the harbour and making for general usefulness to the whole country, north and south. We should also study not to lesser, in any way the value of the harbour for shipping or to destroy existing useful and pleasure-giving enterprises. .All thinking people wlio will carefully take this matter up must see that the bridge should- be much further away from the general shipping than the suggested site at the Western Wharf reclamation. I would point out that for general usefulness, for appearance, and also from a financial point of view, the one place for the bridge is across the upper harbour, west of Chelsea. On the Auckland side the approach could be constructed for nearly the whole length upon the scoria reef which runs from the shore slightly beyond Garnet Road to the beaixm opposite Shark Bay, leaving only that portion from the end of the reef to the northern side of the harbour to be bridged, and an embankment to be formed from the end of Garnet Road to the reef. The bridge would require to be only high enough to- admit of thfl passage of such craft" as use the upper reaches of the river. On the northern sido of the harbour a short distance of new road would be required to connect the bridge with the prosent main roads. It may be asked of what use would a bridge at that distance be to Devonport, and Takapuna, but it must be taken into account that the whole of the north —of which Devonport and Takapuna are only a portion—is to bo served by the bridge, and for all ordinary passenger traffic the ferries would still servo from the city to the north side of the harbour. With the bridge in the position suggested, general traffic north and south would not be forced through the centre of the city. At the same time, Queen Street could be reached in less than 15 minutes by motorcar, the distance being miles to the C.P.O. From the approach to the Newton post office would he threo miles, and to the Great North Road miles. No matter at what point east of this the bridge might bo erected, it would be a detriment to shipping, and, if constructed from the western reclamation to Shoal Bay, it would absolutely destroy the beauty of the harbour, cutting out entirely the view of the upper reaches and dwarfing its whole appearance. One of the finest sights to be seen in Auckland, especially during the yachting season, is the uninterrupted view of our splendid harbour from North Head to the upper reaches. Greater Auckland.