LINKING UP THE SUBURBS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 144361, 27 March 1914, Page 6

LINKING UP THE SUBURBS.

OPENING OF DORALTO ROAD BRIDGE. There was a large attendance on Thursday alternoon at the picnic which had been ananged by the residents ot rrankletgh Rant and dogcitown to celebrate the opening of the Doralto Uoad bridge and tho completion of the road formation which manes vehicular traffic between the two districts possible. Among those present wore; tvir. HUkov, M.P., and Airs. Okey, the Mayor and* Mayoress (Mrs. G. VV. Browne), Councillor and Airs. Wilson, Councillor and Mrs. Sykes, and Councillors iiibby and Jackson. Mr. J. Gibson, in a few introductory remarks, explained at the outset the objects of t.iic Crankier Road dot tiers’ Association, of which he is chairman. It was their business to look alter and watch over the interests ol the district, and in this respect ho thought all would agree that they had been instrumental in doing some good work at any rate, and whilst they" were persistently writing to the Borough Council on different matters, the latter recognised that they did not ask for anything that was unnecessary, and therefore acceded to their requests. In return they had tried to help tho Borough Council along. When the loan proposals were submitted to the ratepayers, if those present bad noticed the results of the voting they would have seen that the residents of Frankloigh Park, who wore influenced to a great extent by the .Settlors’ Association, had voted fairly solidly in favour of those proposals, and whilst by so doing they were to some extent benefiting themselves in making it possible to get the electric light and water mains extended to their district, they were also helping; tho Greater New Plymouth scheme and doing their share towards making the introduction of a tramway system possible, though the latter would not he of very much service to them. In addition to the electric light ami borough water service, in voting for the loan proposal they were also voting for oilier facilities which would he of great convenience, one of which was the opening up of the Doralto Road. Tills would bo of great benefit to them, they considered. Continuing. Mr. Gibson went on to say that when the loan proposals were before the people they were advised by the local papers to vote for tho loan, but he did not know- what had happened lately to the poor Doralto Rond. It had been having a had time of it. They had been told it might not to have been opened tip for traffic, as there were oilier more necessary works. It was ridiculous to talk like that. The work was included in the loan profwsals. and the Borough Council could not divert the money which had been raised for that work to any other purpose. He expressed tho hope that ere long the road would be continued right through to Westown, explaining that Air. Dueker was willing to give to the council tho necessary land for the road provided the council would find the metal. Referring more particularly to the new road which has just been formed, Air. Gibson expressed hie, pleasure that vehicular communication between Frankloigh Park and Vogcltmvn had been made possible, and the hope that the friendly feeling which at present existed between tho two suburbs would long continue. In conclusion, ho referred in appreciative terms to the excellent work of Mr. Skitrop, the borough engineer, in laying out the road, and also to the faithful work of the. contractor. Air. Cameron, in the erection of the bridge. Air, H. Okey, M.P., briefly addressed those present! and congratulated tho two districts upon the completion of the work, which was part ol the Greater New Plymouth .scheme. He was a great belie-, or m that, scheme, and considered tho suiiUi’hs had done a wise thing in supporting it. Ho hoped, however, that the residents iu the merged areas would nut expect too much from the Borough Council, ior after all the' money .spent by the loeal authority first had to bo extracted from the ratepayers, either byway of rates or raised by loan, and if at time's the council did refuse requests it would no doubt be' duo to the fact that they were considering the pockets of tile ratepayers. Air. Okey went on to re-tor to the many natural beau tics of Fnenklcigh Park and to tho progress that had been made by the district. It was only a little over 50 years ago that Captain W. C. King, when on Ins way to town, was shot by tho Alaoris not far from tho site of the bridge they were opening that day. In conclusion ho expressed the opinion that the province of Taranaki as a whole had a particular]}- bright outlook before it, more so than any olhe'r part of the Dominion.

His Worship the Mayor (Mr. G. W. Jirowne) expressed bis pleasure and that of the council in accepting an invitation which in itself so fully expressed appreciation of the efforts of the council to as early as possible fulfil tho pledge given to suburban residents when the Creator New Plymouth scheme was laid before them. Ten years ago the Doralto Road was formed and metalled by -Mr, Saxton on the Vogeltown side of the lluatoki River, from the. Smith Road to the site of the bridge which lie was about to declare open. The completion of the work by the council now linked up tho Ernnkley Road. Woodleigb, and Vogeltown, and brought them into communication with the fifty acres of native bush adjoining Woodlcigh (which ihe town should make every effort to secure) and tho beautiful views of the surrounding country, which were available from so many points alorfg the now road. U needed no prophet to predict that the Doralto Road would one day become one of New Plymouth's most popular drives, and it could bo made one of tho. most attractive resorts if the drive could be continued along the banks of the lluatoki River to the Mill Road. Ho hoped some Logan Campbell or Myers would bo found in their midst. Apart from its scenic surroundings, tho completion of the Doralto Road was provided for in the loan as part of tho scheme for reaching Woodloigb with tho water supply. It might bo pleasing to them to know that the water mains wore expected to arrive in New Plymouth in about four weeks’ time, and in a fow months tho fear of a water famine, which had in the past often haunted suburban residents would bo removed. Within tho past twelve months tho council had extended the eleeirie lighting to the outlying portions of the now borough, and had provided a mrge number of street lamps on nil the main roads in each district. They hud now within their reach the same facilities as had residents in the centre of the borough. ft gave him great pleasure to acknowledge the loyalty with which those merged portions of the Imrongh had supported the tramway proposals, although they knew- fhat a fow years must elapse before they could expect to reap any benefit by extensions in their districts. They would ho pleased In know that tho date fixed for accenting tenders was July 27, and within twelve months from that date trams should he running in New Plyt mouth. Within two or three years of

the running of those cars, the balance sheet iv ’ild, ho thought, show that the time luc, arrived for extensions, and ho was sure that some of those present at that gathering would live, to see the trams travelling around the Doralto Hoad, which would form a particularly pleasing trip for visitors to the town. Mr. Gibson then presented the Mayoress with a pair of silver scissors witn which she cut tho ribbon and then declared the bridge open. Mrs. Browne then drove across tho bridge in Mr. J, 11. Frethey’s phaeton, accompanied by Mrs. H. Okey and the Mayor. Mr. Cameron, the contractor for the erection of the hiiclge, was called upon for a speech. Ho said he considered the bridge would last for the next forty years, and that it would carry all the traffic required of it. It was a substantial wooden structure 60ft. long, containing two 15ft. fiin. simple spans and a 128 ft. truss span. An adjournment was then made to a pretty little piece of hush on Mr. Saxton’s ’property, where afternoon tea was served hv the ladies of Frankloigh Park and Vogeliown.