“THE BETTER 'OLE”

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11302, 30 August 1922, Page 6

“THE BETTER 'OLE”

AS FAR NORTH AS POSSIBLE ! EASTERN SUBURBS LEAGUE UN MT. VICTORIA TUNNEL. CONDITION AS TO GRADEL One of the most important mattere cussed at the annual meeting of the Eastern Suburbs League concerned the location of the proposed new tunnel . through Mount Victoria. After a deal of consideration the following motion, proposed by Mr E. A. Batt (Hataitai', and seconded by Mr R. F. Cox (Melrose), was carried unanimously:— "That this meeting of the Eastern Suburbs League urges upon the City Council the necessity of an early deci~ eion as to the location of the authorised traffic tunnel through Mount Victoria, and also requests that, in order to serve the beet interests of the majority of the citizens concerned, the tunnel should pierce the hill as far north as is conei stent with the purpose of having as easy a grade as possible." \ Those present at the meeting were:— | Messrs A. C. Blake, of Lyall Bay (president), A. D. Bayfield. E. A. Batt, F. D. Kean, D. C. Todd (Hataitai*, J. J. Clark. • A. G. Jorgensein (Kilbirnie), IL F. Ccx (Melrose), W. L. Palmer, W. H. Hewitt (Seatoun), F. G. Downes, C. M. Turnbull (Roseneath), J. M. Bertram, and R. Leslie Jones (Lyall Bay). ! Point was made by various speakers of the possibilities of tne growth, from both the industrial and residential point of view, of the eastern district beyond Hataitai and Kilbirnie. In regard to vehicular traffic, the view was expressed that a better grade could be secured by piercing the hill near to the college grounds and emerging at Moxham avenue close by Goa street. Such a tunnel would also serve to open up large areas of building land. I On behalf of Hataitai, it was urged that that district was not being paro> j chial. The population of approximately 1 6000 was at present isolated. | Seatoun delegates explained that they had an open mind on the subject of the tunnel site. I The meeting generally expressed the \ hope that whatever location was decided i upon would not lead to any regrets after- ( wards. The feeling was that the tunnel i should be south of Hataitai, but as near jto that as possible. In planning the I tunnel, consideration would have to be given to the probable population to be served in another twenty years. A delegate suggested that the City Engineer should be asked to decide on the location of the tunnel as quickly as Dossible, and that if the site was not deemed satisfactory, the league should enter a protest before the work was commenced. Attention was directed to the fact that in Lyall Bay the City Council had a wonderful seaside resort, which ahoald not be overlooked, and that Hataitai owed its rapid extension to the construc- : tion of the existing tunnel before tho completion of Crawford road at the southern end of Kilbimie district. Mr Blake hoped that something would soon be done. So far. as he was concerned he had an open mind as to which was the best site for the new tunnel.