THROUGH MOUNT VICTORIA

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2192, 3 July 1914, Page 8

THROUGH MOUNT VICTORIA

AGITATION FOIt TRAFFIC- TUNNEL. A meeting of residents of. east ..of Mount Victoria was held in the Kilbirnie Schoolroom last night v to complete arrangements for a deputation to wait on the City Council to urge that a traffic tunnel bo included in the present loan proposals. Mr.. J. J. Clark was in the .chair and there was a large number of residents of tho district present.' The chairman said that tho meeting had been, called at the instigation oi tho Hataitai Piatepayers' Association to arrange a deputation to the City Council and also to appoint speakers to tho deputation. The deputation Would discuss nothing else but the question of tho tunnel. Mr. A. A. George, in the course of his remarks, suggested that tho deputation should stress the proposal of a tunnel sufficient to accommodate vehicular as well as pedestrian traffic. It was mentioned that if the tunnel were constructed at tho top of a steep grade, similar to Pirio Street, it would be useless, for heavy vehicular traffic. It was also thought inadvisable to <lo moro at present than endeavour to havo a sum of money placed on the Estimates for the construction of a tunnel. Mr.. T. TV. Ward, in speaking on the matter, stated that during tho recent discussion in tho City Council on the loan, the proposals for tho new tunnel had been struck off the list in committee when only eight councilors wero present. Ho understood that the Mayor bad been opposed to tho sum being struck i off. They therefore had the Mayor with them.at anyrate. Mr. Leigh Hunt said that looking at the representative gathering Dresont, it would be seen that it gave the lie direct to tho statement that tho tunnel was merely wanted by tho Hataitai property owners. Ho added that they should not form themselves into a special rating district. After further discussion tho following resolution was moved by tho chairman:— ' "Tliat a deputation of residents living on the. eastern sido of Mount Victoria wait on tho City Council for tho purpose of asking that a sufficient sum of money bo placed on tho list of tho present loan proposals and submitted to tho citizens at the same time as the other proposals on tho list, for the purpose of constructing a tunnel that will serve the district to the eastern portion of Mount-Victoria for vehicular and pedestrian traffic." Mr. H. Nimmo'seconded the motion which was carried unanimously. Messrs. Olark, Peige. and Ward were selected as members of the deputation.