ORIENTAL BAY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2888, 28 September 1916, Page 9

ORIENTAL BAY

THE NEW WALL-SOME ANXIETY GOOD BEACH ASSURED Some Oriental Bay residents have axpressed themselvoß alarmed at the fancied prospect that tho new concrete wall, if continued as outlined by pegs, will cut out that very popular bit of beach at the foot of Grass Street, whore the ohildren of Wellington from tune immemorial have spent long, happy, summer days. Inquiry was at once made into this allogetl bit of vandalism, with tho result—that it was found there was nothing iu tbo sugges- j tion. As a matter of fact, that piece of roadway opposite Wilkinson's Gardens is none too wido for tho growing traffic of that neighbourhood, but in order to preserve the boaoh there tho City Engineers (Jlr. W. H. Morton) is actually taking ten feet less for roadwidening at that point than is laid down in tho Ordor-in-Couuoil, and that official states that if tho residents of tho Bay and anyone olso interested will only possess their souls -in patienco they will find that there will be more beach and a bettor beach when tho wall is comploted than ever there was before. As a. matter of fact, Mr. Morton advocated tho straight wall in proforenco to the sloping wall, so that thero would be more beach room, and from his personal observation ho knew that the beach was making all tho timo. The bandsfand reserve 'which projects symmetrically from the line of the main wall, is progressing satisfactorily. Mr. Morton has some idea of shifting the handsome, ithougb. sombre, bandstand that stands uselessly in front of tho Central Fire Brigade Station at tho junction of Jervois Quay and Lower Cuba Street, though ho is inclined to believe that it might cost as muoh to shift tho old one as to build a now one. If it were decided to utilise that stand in Oriontal Bay ho would have it painted white, and ticked off with, lighter tints, iu order that it would be a more cheerful bit of architecture than it is at present. DEPUTATION TO THE MAYOR.

A deputation of Oriental Day citizens, headed by Mr. T. Ward, chairman of thp Roseneath. Ratepayers' Association, waited upon the Mayor (Mr. J. V. I/uk,e) yesterday with reference to tho above matters. Mr. Ward said that his attention had been called to tlio intended lino of tbe wall immediately to the cast of tho band rotunda site. On seeing the pegs and the trench tho men wore digging (which he-presumed to be the line of tho wall) he was much surprised, as he noted that) tho wall was going out woll below high-water mark aoross tho • bit of beach whore the children play, cutting off fully 20ft. of % beach, and, furthermore, the wall was being built in a straight line, instead of following tho natural curve of tho beach. 5 the curve were followed, at least 6ft. or 71't. of tho beach .would be saved. Tho straight piece was not going to add to tho beauty of tho wall, whioh would be tho caso if tho contour of the the boach' was . followed. The beach was very popular, and if the Mayor could have seen tho number ofchildren playing on it last Monday he would agree that it was a sin to take it away from them. Mr. 'W. H. Morton (the City Engineer.) _ pointed out _ that the beach was making all 'the time. Further along people could sit down on the bedch at high wafer nt a spot where they could not do so before the wall was built. Under the Ordcr-in-Council a 100 ft. road was sanctioned. Ho had prevailed on tho council to curtail that width by 10ft., and had also fought against tho sloping wall in favour of a straight one, and so gained anotheFlOft. "I've saved 20ft. of tho beach on tho Order-in-Council, 10ft. for the whole distance. The whole tendency of the beach is to make. Further, the face of tho road at that point will not be subject to erosion, and tho beach will be made of better material in the future. It is in tho interests of citizens not to depart ono inch from tho plans as set out! Moreover, in time it would be necessary to lay a double track for tho and the second track would be laid seaward of the present one." Tho Mayor said that be was the servant of the public, and the matter would be reported to the council at its next meeting, but there would bo no slacking off in the work, and they would not abandon the design. On the other hand it was unthinkable to buy property at such a time. Mr. T. Ward thanked the ■ Mayor and said that now that ho had seen tho plans he thought the right thing was being done, particularly as it was made ,so suro that the beach would make up again.