TRAFFIC TUNNEL

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24749, 24 November 1943, Page 2

TRAFFIC TUNNEL

LOCAL BODY POSITION REMOVAL OF LIABILITY "The Otahuhu Borough Council is apparently not aware of the true position in regard to the City Council's proposal to convert the main air raid tunnel under Albert Park into a traffic tunnel and to- fill the side tunnels," said the Mayor, Mr. J. A. C. Allum, yesterday, when commenting on the decision of the Otahuhu Council not to h* associated with the expense of converting the tunnel. "The point is that the E.P.S. contributing local bodies are not being asked to accept any responsibility, financial or otherwise, in connection with the projected scheme," said Mr. Allum. "On the contrary, they are asked simply to say whether they will agree to abandon any interest they may have in®the assets of the air raid tunnels and their liability to share in the cost of back-filling all the tunnels, which cost has been estimated at not less than £62,000. If the traffic tunnel scheme, as projected, is carried out it will be a matter entirely between the Government and the City Council."

A decision to support the proposal of the City Council was made at a meeting of the New Lynn Borough Council. Agreement with the proposal to construct. a. traffic outlet tunnel under Albert Park, making use of the present tunnels as far as possible, was reached 1 at last night's meeting 'of the Mount Eden Borough Council-. .The" ' council decided to give its .assent conditional on its being released from any further maintenance or repair charges before the traffic scheme was begun. ~

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Outsize in Lemons. An outsize in lemons was found in one of two cases of lemons received recently by the Red Cross Society in Invercargill from a North, Island branch for distribution among hospital patients. It measured more than six inches in length, had a circumference of Ift. 2in. and when weighed turned the scales at lib. 9oz. Bayswater Wharf Shelter

A decision has been made by the Auckland Harbour Board to deter for a further three months the question of the provision of a covered approach from the bus terminal to the gangway on the Bayswater wharf. The question was first brought to the notice of the board by the Waitemata Labour Representation l Committee in May, when the board decided to reconsider the matter in six months. Collision in Harbour

The Auckland Harbour Board has decided to disclaim liability for damage suffered by the ferry steamer which was damaged recently in a collision with the board's dredge, Hapai. A formal demand has been made oil the board for payment of £1045, being the cost of repairs to the Ngoiro. The superintendent of the board recommended that liability should be disclaimed, and this was adopted.

Section lor Servicemen A section for returned servicemen has been offered to the Returned Services Association by Mr. Raymond Sheath. Mr. Sheath said" in a letter to the president of the association, Mr. A. P. Postlewaite, that, if any servicemen would like to have the section at 6 Gilletta Road, Mount Roskill, it was available as a gift. Returned servicemen who wished to take advantage of the offer could make application to the R.S.A., giving proof of service, and the section would be balloted for, said Mr. Postlewaite yesterday.

Mobilisation of Soldiers About 900 Territorials in the Northern Military District will be mobilised to-day and taken to camps, from which they will be sent daily to work on a large number of farms. The majority of the men are going to the Waikato and South Auckland districts. The men will be available for work from to-morrow morning until the evening of December 22. A further draft will be mobilised later. The tentative date previously announced had been December 28, but it is possible that this will be postponed until January 3 or 4. Patriotic Women Golfers

Members of the Auckland Ladies' Golf Club combined their annual closing of the winter season yesterday with a bring-and-buy day, which yielded over £BO in aid of the Merchant Seamen's Fund. The Rev. H. Iv. Vickerv attended, and delivered an interesting address on the work of the fund. The club had previously raised £26 10s for the same fund on its opening day. In addition to these efforts, it devoted the proceeds of six days—the sum of_ £IOO —to the Navy League Fund, white its day at the city Red Cross shop realised a total of £132. Carpenters' Travelling Time

Building workers engaged on defence and other essential works have been receiving under the Essential Building Works Labour Legislation Modification Order, 1943, extra allowances for travelling time, and fares amounting to from 10s to 22s a week for each man. The clause establishing this has been revoked by Gazette notice, taking effect as from November 12, and the conditions prevailing will now be those provided fo'r suburban work in the carpenters and joiners' award. This provides for travelling time, but on a smaller scale than was allowed under the order. Pohutukawa Blooms

A pohutukawa tree on the property of Mr. F. H. Wilkinson, of 35 Haydn Avenue, Epsom, is now in bloom. Pohutukawa trees usually bloom just before Christmas, but, probably because of the mild season, buds on many trees, particularly those near the sea, are already well-formed. A young pohutukawa near the clubhouse.of the old Maungakiekie golf links at One Tree Hill has been known to show isolated blooms throughout the year, and to be often in full bloom as early as September. This tree, however, is believed to be of a different strain from ordinary pohutukawa trees.