ANDERSON'S BAY ROAD PLANTATION.

Otago Witness, 1 June 1910, Page 15

ANDERSON'S BAY ROAD PLANTATION.

The suggestion that the plantation on the Anderson's Bay road, or a portion of it, should be removed at an early date, in order to allow of the duplication of the Anderson's Bay tramway track between the Caledonian Ground and the Queen's drive, has created unfeigned disquietude among a large section of the public. The Public Works Department, it would appear, demands the removal of a large portion at least of this belt of trees before permitting the second lines to be laid' down.

It is interesting to know that the first move for planting a belt of trees along the Anderson's Bay road, in order to afford much-needed shelter to tho houses on the west side from prevailing wind and the clouds of dust which accompanied it, was made in 1894, when a great deal of time was devoted by the Reserves Conservation Society to the furtherance of the scheme. Conferences were held with several local bodies, without any definite decision being arrived at, and in 1897 another attempt was made to have the work carried out. In 1899 all difficulties were removed, and a canvass for subscriptions was instituted. The City Council contributed £IOO, although the area was not then within its boundary, and with private subscriptions and by the efforts of the society itself, the whole of the planting had been accomplished in 1902, at a cost of from £SOO to £6OO.

"It was with considerable surprise," said Mr A. Bathgate, honorary secretary of the Reserves Conservation Society; "that I re«.d the suggestion that the Anderson's Bay road plantation was to be done away with, as I understood that the proposal that was made some time ago to remove the plantation to make room for the second tramway line had been disposed of finally, and that the belt was not to be interfered with. Now I understand the question has been raised again owing to the objections raised by the engineer of the Public Works Department. The existing tramline has really been laid down In the wrong place. If it had been constructed on the bay side, in the middle of the road, there would have been plenty of room for a double line without any risk to the public. Of course, I admit that the safety of the public must be the paramount consideration, but I believe it would be possible to conserve the plantation without any additional risk to the public. What I object to is the hurried manner in which the council seems to have come to its decision in this matter. A question of this nature should, I consider, have been more fully ventilated and discussed, so as to give persons interested an opportunity of meeting any objections raised, or suggesting some other method of overcoming the difficulty. That the risks to the public are not considered very great is instanced by the fact, as I am informed, that, the resolution to do away with the plantation was only carried by a narrow majority, so that a large minority of the council is obviously of the opinion that some means might be found of preserving the plantation. I consider that in coming to a decision in this matter, many of the councillors have attached too little weight to the views and feelings of the public, who expended some hundreds of rounds (most of it voluntarily contributed) on the plantation when the movement was originated', and of those who have since derived benefit and pleasure from its shelter and beauty. I understand that some of the councillors are in favour of attempting to move portion of the plantation at the corner which is considered to be dangerous, but not 5 j>er cent, of the trees and shrubs would stand shifting. But if it is possible to encroach on- the other side of the road, and to form a new plantation, the loss would be eight or ten years of growth, &ud it is hoped that if it is to be interfered with at all some scheme may bo adopted whereby a plantation can be retained. Before it was planted the road in winter time was a sea of mud, while in summer clouds of dust were swept from its surface. The houses on the west side of the road have ior the fast eight years received incalculable benefit from this plantation, and its rojroval ■will be very seriously felt." Mr Bathgate added that he purposed interviewing the Mayor on the subject in. order to urge upon him the necessity of having the matter reconsidered.