THE ANDERSON'S BAY ROAD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11402, 20 April 1899, Page 5

THE ANDERSON'S BAY ROAD.

THE PROPOSED IMPEOVEMENTS,

As is generally known, for some thr;« past the improvement of Anderson's Bay road has ■ been contemplated as one of the more important works to be undertaken by the Amenities Society, and it is perfectly safe to predict , that the. changes to be effected will be in keeping with all that im^ been done • in other parts of the cjty and suburbs by that unostentatious • but very useful organisation. There was, we are .informed, at first a strong feeling on the part of residents on the Peninsula and at Anderson's Bay against any planting of trees upon", the Anderson's Bay roud, but this opposi-, tion will doubtless be entirely removed when the exact nature-of the work that" is contemplated becomes known. The objections that have been made quite ' clearly arose from the fact that the objectors did not know what is. proposed to be done. The principal—indeed, the onlyobjections have been (1) that the planting / of trees would keep the road damp, especially in winter, and (2) that the improvements would be likely to interfere with' the facilities for traffic," the traffic being, at s times very considerable on the Andersons' Bay road. : ■ . ""'■.' -*/i ■

With regard to: the first objection," it would almost be sufficiently met by the statement of the fact that the roa'd'-ih winter is at the present time a barelynavigable sea of mud, and nothing that could be done could well add to its dampness. From this; point of view alone ;the objection is somewhat extraordinary,'I;and it is. to some extent tenable if based Upon, the idea, as is no doubt the' case, that the intention is to plant forest Wees ;that would overshadow^ the road. There; is, however, no such intention on the, part of the executive committee of the Amenities Society, which, possessing as it does a. considerable amount of common :'.sense, and being guided by 'experience and. assisted by the. best professional advice; is not likely to attempt to-make "improvements " which, will not improve the existing condition of things. ; Such Las not been ■ its wont. The ■ object" of the committee is to beautify the road, and at the same time to provide some shelter from the winds from the N.E.1 and .S.W., which so frequently sweep across this exposed road with considerable violence. The first, suggestion that was made was to plant a belt of trees fllong the outer edge of the road, next the bay, but that Svas abandoned when it was realised; that all that ground would some day. be built upon. It was pointed out that there are already a number of kerosene bonds on this land, and that as business increases there be additional demands upon land so easily accessible from the central^business portion of the city: This being apparent, it was decided that it would be a mistake to go to any large expense in planting . trees that might have to be cut away when they were just beginning to reach their full beauty. Then the unusual width' of the road —portions of it being consider^ 'ably over two chains .wide—suggested.-the idea of planting iii the middle, and when this came to be considered it was iound to have many advantages. One vas that it would afford shelter to traffic whichever way the. wind -was blowing, as there would always be one side sheltered from thi prer vailing winds. • Another, - and highly important one,, was that it would tender the maintenance of the road' more easy, and much' less expensive. AndersonV'Bay road is of such a width that it' is' well nigh impassible to keep a crown' upon it, but "by dividing it there will ' be'1 two roads, each of which can have an-effective fall to the water tables, and be wide enough for passing traffic. The intention,, tfiere-.' fore, is to plant with shrubs enclosures about 15ft in width, and having a.length, of six or seven chains each,- the length being regulated according to the points . at which othsr roads join the Anderson's Bay road. Opposite each road from th 4 Plat a break is, to be left so 'as to allow; vehicles to pass from one side (^ the road to the other when that is desired. Accord- ' ing to the specifications, which'have been very kindly prepared for the society by Mr R, Hay. M.1.C.E., the metal, or,pitching, will be taken up to a depth of: 6iri in the middle and of Bin at the sides.1 This excavation will be filled in with;i!Oili and will be'raised to a height of 2ft 6in above the present level of the road. ' Drain pipes will be put in" along each edge o{ the enclosure, which wil! be connected with drains running to the, bay at convenient intervals. The material from the excava^ tion will be spread along the road; on either side, next the enclosure, and will have the effect of raising the road . there) and allowing the water to drain off intothe side channels, and the drains already mentioned will also help to removethe surface water, so that'instead of the work making the rond damper, it will make; it a, great'deal drier, and better drained. '', ■;• ' The following is a plan (not drawn." to; scale) showing a section of the road with the improvements thereon:— "".""