EASTERN SUBURBS LEAGUE

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12198, 24 July 1925, Page 6

EASTERN SUBURBS LEAGUE

DISCUSSING THE TUNNEL QUESTION In its annual report, the Eastern Suburbs Citizens’ League states that prior to the function of the league the eastern suburbs had no representatives on the City Council, but since then it had had two, who were both executive offioers of the league. A children’s playing area had, owing to its advocacy, been set aside by the council close to the beach at Lyall Bay, an area intended not solely for the children of that locality, but for the children of the city. The council has been asked to fence, level and top-dress these grounds, when citizens would be asked to provide the equipment. A site for a public library had been provided by the council at a spot centrally situated for most of the eastern suburbs. Hie widening of Queen’s Drive from Coutts street to Freyberg street was to be undertaken shortly. Tram fares to distant suburbs had been reduced and more frequent seryioe supplied. Improved access to Roseneath and to Melrose had been constantly advocated by the league. Notwithstanding vigorous opposition, the power house was stationed at Evans Bay and the prison at Mt. Crawford. The smoke nuisance from the former had justified the opposition opart from the questionable wisdom of placing plant there at all. Amongst important matters now engaging attention were: Better bathing facilities for the bays; duplication of tram track from .Coutts street to Lyall Bay; culverting open drains and Eroviding waiting sheds, and a fire rigade station at Miramar. There had been strong opposition from the league .to the proposals of the Wellington Harbour Board , to reclaim that part, of Evans Bay which' affords one of the best bathing places in the city. A conference should take place between the Harbour Board and the City Council with a view to preserving this bathing place to the city for all time. It was understood that this was being done. The important question of a lowlevel traffic tunnel through Mt. Victoria had been discussed long enough, and they now asked the council to show its hand and let ratepayers know just as much as they e.re entitled to know about a work which they endorsed four years ago. “There is a saving that when doctors differ the patient dies. The division of opinion amongst citizens p.nd expert advisers on the route this tunnel should take, and whether wo are to have a one-way or two-way traffic, seems to have resulted in an impasse. This league supported the most direct route to the water front and favoured Rixon Grove route provided the grade difficulty could be overcome. We understand that expert engineers hold the same view.”