RAILWAY HOARDING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22618, 5 January 1937, Page 10

RAILWAY HOARDING

WORK IN DOMAIN DRIVE RESIDENTS INDIGNANT Tho erection of a large boarding at the corner of Domain Drive and Parnell Pond was commenced by the Bailway Department early in December, and although work has been discontinued for about three weeks, residents of the neighbourhood are apprehensive that the scheme will be completed unless an effective protest is made by the City Council and other bodies concerned in preserving the amenities of tho city. The site of the proposed hoarding is a strip of land owned by tho department and bordering the north side of the drive from Parncli Road to the Auckland stationmaster's house, which overlooks the head of the valley above the portal of the Parnell tunnel. The strip is too narrow for building purposes, and tho intention is to use it for outdoor advertising. A dozen long iron rails have been driven into tho ground, and presumably a wooden framework will be erected upon them in duo course. Although there aro two blocks of shops on tho other side of Parnell Boad and a petrol station occupies fche opposite corner of the drive, tho locality is definitely residential. Tho petrol station, moreover, has been artistically designed to harmonise with its surroundings and a myrtle tree in the centre of the site has been carefully preserved. Not far away, on tho corner of Ayr Street, is a line old stone house erected by Bishop Seluyn. The drive, which is one of the thrco prinicpal entrances to tho Domain, is planted with plane trees, and some of the iiouses fronting it on tho southern side stand in fairly large gardens. Next door to the hoarding structure is a large wooden house now subdivided into apartments. ]t is felt b\ r tho residents that the department's scheme is quite out of keeping with such n neighbourhood and that it will disfigure a street which at the present time is a fitting approach to the city's chief park.