THE WATERFRONT ROAD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20642, 14 August 1930, Page 14

THE WATERFRONT ROAD.

Sir. —Auckland lias been so richly endowed with beauty that her citizens seem to think they can afford to throw it away with both hands. Almost every year sees some attempt to pluck yet another jewel from her crown. And unfortunately too many of these attempts arc successful. Anyone who remembers what Ancleland was 20, 30, 40 years ago will agroo with mo that it was fr.r more beautiful in those bygone years than it can ever be again. The injury done by roads, by railways, by sewer drainage, by lopping off points in the harbour, or by filling up bavs, has been extensive and can never be' repaired. The beautiful contour of (he shore, which once curved so sweetly from one.white-shelled bayto another, has been lost. Where one blue water called to the other across the isthmus is now an aching solitude since Waiatarua is gone—replaced by a, footpad's track and a littlo puddle of water in the middle of the hollow. And this with the. distinct approval of the Mayor and Council of Auckland. We are. wounded in (he houso of our friends! Bn' the last attempt is oven worse. At Kohimarama we have a beautiful stretch of coach, the bcM. that remains unspoilt on the Auckland side. There is no need to interfere with this—a good road is laid out just above it. But it has suddenly occurred to the demon responsible for change—especially for changes for the worse—that the waterfront road should cross this at such a level as to entirely spoil the shelly beach —the ideal picnic and playground of hundreds of children. Is it any use asking that this should be spared—if not for our own sakes, then for the sake of the children? We who have seen so many sad failures of efforts made to safeguard Auckland's heritage, have not the heart to answer the question. But this we irm s.urely say:—lt should be worth the best efforts of oui public men, not to spoil nature nor degrade it, but to leave the place where they have wrought and striven better and more beautiful for their labours. A^ckla^dee,