LYALL BAY'S WANTS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 12, 9 October 1919, Page 6

LYALL BAY'S WANTS

REMOVAL OF nUTS BLOCKING THE VIEW NEW SCHEME SUGGESTED No fewer than four deputations waited on tho City Council's Reserves Committee yesterday afternoon. Tho first to get tho ear of tho committee wag a delegation from the newly-formed Lyall Buy Municipal Electors' Association, which was' briefly introduced by Mr. F. J. llvans. Mr. T. M. Donovan drew tho committee's attention to the fact that tile councils building policy on tlio beach at Lyall Bay was gradually but surely obscuring tho view of tho beach from

those on tho parade. There were already 250 ft. of building frontage, comprised in 11 small huts and iivo large ones, without the pavilion, obscuring' the view of tho,beach from strollers aCong tho most frequented section of tho parade. Instead of being a model for Now Zealand, it was n. disgrace to the capital city, and tho huts should be blotted out. Mr. Donovan also mentioned tho proposal of tho council to build houses in tho reserve at Lyall Bay, the area that was , to have boon preserved as a recreation ground and playground for the children for all time, and vigorously protected against any dwellings such as proposed boing erected thereon. Sir. A. D. Howitt propounded an idea by which good bathing-sheds cou£d bo provided along the beach without obscuring th'o view from the parade. His idea was to erect bathing-houses, tho street wall of which would be tho present retaining wall of the parade raised to a height of not more than four feet. The outer wall would have a projecting too along the top, so that tho sand would not bo carried over the top and into the street, but woulld striko tho toe and fall bade again. The roof of such sheds, which could bo carried right along tho beach, coitd bo utilised as a promenade, whilst everyone other than small children would be able to get a view of beach and sea across the roof of tho sheds. The speaker also provided in his sketch for an ornamental sandbreaker, which would keep the entrance of the sheds fres from drift sand in windy weather. The sheds would have Bft.headroom. and couW be erected economically, as all the sand and gravel needed waa on tho spot. He urged the committee to do away with the multiplicity of unsightly huts, which might be converted into .outhouses for workors' homes. The chairman (Councillor G, Frost) reminded the deputation that the City Engineer (Mr. \v\. H. Morton) had prepared an extensive plan, which included a very large building with plenty of accommodation.. , Mr. Howitt said they would want that, too. They nvuet not merely proviso for present day needs, but must try to look ahead.

. CounciCF.or Frost said that Lyall Bay had been very fairly treated in tho past, especially in regard to the beach, but expenditure' had necessarily to be curtailed during tho war period. A big scheme liad been outlined by Mr. Morton . before tho war, but it was not' the scheme submitted by tho deputation. At the same time the council did intend to pursue a good progressive policy all round, and would shortly test the money market with that object in view. With regard to the matter of orecting dwellings: on the reserve, nothing of tho kind was intended to be done. It had been mentioned some weeks ago, but ho could assure the deputation that there was no danger of such a, thing occurring. Of a. r (l' the' Beaches in New Zealand, none liad had so much money spent on it as Lyall Bay, and it was impossible to do nfl that was ■ asked from time to time out of rates-it would bo unfair to the picsent generation. Regarding the suggestion for new bathing-houses doss tip to tine parade, ho must admit that the ide.i was new. • It might be practicable, and was certainly worth consideration. Ho was glad to hear that there was a prospect of the two life : saving clubs coming together. It would be much better to hivo one strong body than the two, and ho hoped tho association' would exert its influence to brins; about the union. After thanking Councillor Frost and Hip committee for their patient and symTinthetic hearin?, Mr. F. .T. Evans said: "Shift those ugl!y wooden shanties—if you don't, the wind will!"