FUTURE OF DOMAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21117, 26 February 1932, Page 10

FUTURE OF DOMAIN.

improvements suggested. " ENTRANCES NOT WORTHY." WAR MEMORIAL APPROACH. "On taking an impartial view of the Domain as it is to-day, one is compelled to acknowledge that, while wc possess in it an invaluiblo asset, there is scarcely ft single feature that is wholly satisfactory and that is not capable of considerable improvement." 1 his statement was made by the city engineer, Mr. J. Tyler, last evening, when, after tracing the history and development of the Auckland Domain from the time it came under tho city's control 72 years ago, he sketched for the benefit of the City Council and a number of ratepayers lines on which improvements could be made. "The entrances and approaches are inadequate, paltry and not worthy of the Domain," Mr. Tyler said. "They could be made more fitting without great expense. The logical place for an entrance from tho city is at tho junction of StanIcy and Domain Streets. Tradition would havo us erect a lodge at each of the main entrances to ensure more effective control of the Domain. There were three lodges 20 years ago." The existing drives were nowhere suitable or adequate, and provision should be made in the lower drive for pedestrian traffic, Mr. Tyler said. In the bush area, exotic trees were growing in ground ideally situated for flora indigenous to New Zealand. The bush might also be opened up at one or two suitable points on the spurs to provide vistas to the harbour. The areas at tho back of the museum and below the hospital might be grassed and planted with large clusters of trees, for which tho slopes were particularly suited. Tho cricket ground was in need of correction and liberal top-dressing, and its area could bo increased by judicious cutting to take full advantage of the ground available. The pavilion should be replaced by ono of modern design and materials and capable of accommodating from 8000 to 10,000 persons. The fence separating the ground from the remainder of the Domain was most crude and in a shocking condition, and should be replaced by one which would be screened with foliage. Screening foliage was also wanted to hide the buildings of different designs forming the hospital. * Among other suggestions made by Mr. Tyler was the construction of a broad, straight approach to the front of the museum from tho Domain Drive to the Court of Honour. If a broad, dignified walk, consistent with scale, were constructed and flanked by avenues of suitable trees, this, with the Cenotaph so situated as to emphasise the axis of the approach, would give the memorial the importance that was its due. A TALLY OF TRAFFIC. STREAM PATH LITTLE USED. NEW ROUTE PROPOSAL. The use that is made of the Domain Drive, tho path following the stream and the straight path'-up the hill was tc.*-.d recently by tho city engineer, Mr. J. Tyler, with the object of obtaining authoritative data concerning the proposal to construct a new road through the Domain. The results were disclosed last evening, when Mr. Tyler addressed the City Council on the development of the Domain.

Tlie tally was for a -week at the beginning of February. Tlie total pedestrians using the Domain Drivo near the [jonds during the week was 5005, of whom 585 used the path following the stream and 1503 the straight track up the hill. The average week-day totals from Monday to Friday were:—Domain Drive, 525; stream path, 44; straight track, 218. Of the 750 pedestrians on Saturday, 70 used the stream path and 228 the straight track, and of Sunday's traffic of.. 1631 pedestrians, 293 used the stream path and 188 the other track.

An alternative to the scheme for cutting a new road near the stream was suggested by Mr. Tyler. From the junction of Stanley Street, and Domain Street, the road would enter the paddock to the left of the present straight track. A curve would bring it toward the track and then by further easy curves it would join the Domain Drive at the same point as in the previous proposal near the ponds. There would be a grade of 1 in 9.6 from Stanley Street to a point beyond the brow of the hill. Mr. Tyler's estimate of tho cost was £9430, but if undertaken as a relief work, the cost to the council would be about the same as tho former scheme.

Mr. Tyler considered that, in spite of its steeper grade, the alternative route would be acceptable to light motor traffic. • It would be a road for light traffic, but it was not proposed to take it past the main drive at the ponds. It would assist, the present roads to give access to tho sporty ground, but with tho existing outlets would enable light traffic to traverse the Domain, thus relieving the Grafton Bridge of some of its traffic.

The Mayor, Mr. O. W. Hutchison, said the joint commit)eo which was to take evidence on tlie proposals would be sitting slwrr-ily, and be invited alt tho c e who could make suggestions for tho future development of jho Domain to attend. v