SUBWAY TO HAITAITAI.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1418, 19 April 1912, Page 2

SUBWAY TO HAITAITAI.

ENGINEER'S HE POUT TO HE OBTAINED. The committee of the Halailai Municipal Electors' Association Ims drawn up a report on the question of obtaining better access to and from the city. The Voport, which will be submit I oil to tho association at its annual meeting to-morrow evening, slates:— Tunnel. —The means of belter access to and from the oily has long been recognised as (lie most vital question affecting this district and Kilbirnie. It will be remembered that after maay months' delay tho City Engineer presented a report to (he Cily Council on a proposed traflia tunnel via Queen Street and Kixon Grove, but it was" evident' tfitit ' thi. suggested scheme was of such a costly naturo ns to justify its iimne<liato rcjectiou. Your committee have sinco tho very commencement of this movement held that tho most suitable route is via Elizabeth Street, thence southward along tho Town Belt to a point just north of tho present tramway tunnel. This routo was most stroagly recommended by Jlr. AVripht, the former electrical engineer, but tho frequent efforts of your committee to obtain a report'on it lmvo not snceoeded. It may be mentioned that Jlr, Wright in his report, dated January 23, 1905, stated that an easy grade was thus obtainable, and that a tramway tunnel 1000 ft. in length (present funnel 12",Wt.) and with provision for footpath would cost .£20,000. it is, therefore, a fair assumption that the cost of a tunnel of ample width for vehicular and pedestrian trailic on' Ibis site, lo provide for fulufe requirements, would be less than .£.'10,0110. As the council failed to obtain a report on this route, notwithstanding the numerous requests, your committee, after approval of the members in general meeting, decided to obtain by private subscription suiiicient funds for thi* purpose of obtaining a report from a competent engineer. Your cominitleo havo pleasuro in reporting that a sum suiiicient for the purpose is now available, and negotiations 'have been entered into with an engineer cf undoublfd standing, and it is expected tlmt in a shorty timo his report on the whole question will bo available for your consideration. Each year makes the question of greater importance and the existing disabilities more severely felt, consequently it has been and is likely.lo be the ehiei work of your rommiltee i/> endeavour lo secure some meii'.is of rcliuf from the present unsatisfactory condition.