CLIFFS AT ORAKEI

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21727, 16 February 1934, Page 10

CLIFFS AT ORAKEI

WATERFRONT ROAD DANGER

CITY COUNCIL'S MOTION

MATTER CONSIDERED URGENT APPEAL TO THE MINISTER Further urgent representations are to he made hv the City Council to the Minister of Public Works regarding the dangerous state of the Orakei cliffs boidering on the waterfront road. The Tamaki and Ratepayers' Association, in a letter received by the council last evening, said that apprehension was leit lor the safety of residents using the road. It asked that, quite apart from any negotiations regarding responsibility for the road, the council should see that the public were not exposed to unnecessary danger. If the road was unsafe for traffic it should not be used. However, the fact that a bus service was licensed to run upon it implied that the road was .safe for through traffic. The city engineer, -Mr. J. Tyler, reported that in view of the city solicitor's opinion regarding the council s responsibility in case of accident, he did not consider it desirable that the council should take any steps to prevent further falls of rock on to the road until the question of dedication had been settled. Statement by Mayor The Mayor, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, moved that further urgent representations be made to the Minister of Public Works -regarding the matter. The Mayor said he had taken the present Minister, the Hon. J. Bitehoner, to the locality soon after his appointment some months ago. On a later visit to Wellington he interviewed the chief engineer, Mr. C. J. McKenzie, who promised to instruct the Auckland district engineer, Mr. F. S. Dyson, to confer with the city engineer, Mr. J. Tyler, on the question of safeguarding traffic. However, so far as 'was known, Mr. Dyson had not since received any such instructions. Mr. Tyler was now in Wellington, and expected to confer with Mr. McKenzie further upon the matter. "Discreditable Attitude" "I feel, and I am sure councillors will agree with me, that the attitude of the Public Works Department is extremely discreditable," continued the Mayor. "Part of the department's agreement with the council was to complete the road. I think that beyond question a road cannot be I'egarded as 'complete' so long as it is menaced by a dangerous overhanging cliff. If further representations are made to the Minister in regard to the increasing danger, he may possibly see his way to do something."

Mr. J. B. Paterson said that there had been larger falls of rock following rain in recent weeks. Some of the pohutukawa trees were very insecure. In reply to a question, the Mayor said the council had been advised that it was not legally liable for damage or injury caused by falls of material. The £2OO or so that the council had spent on clearing debris did not affect its liability because the council had undertaken to maintain the roadway and the work came under the description of "maintenance." The Mayor's motion was carried.