APPROACH TO ORIENTAL BAY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 139, 8 March 1920, Page 6

APPROACH TO ORIENTAL BAY

LAND FROM HARBOUR BOARD WANTED. Some five years ago, or perhaps a littlo longer, the City Council considered making extensive improvements to its somewhat shabbily-kept property at Clyde Quay, which includes the destructor, horse-stables, and corporation yard. It was then foreseen that the council would be able to do much more in the war of improving that block if more land could be obtained from the Harbour Board. At that time the board was pre-, pared to hand over land, approximately 6omo two acres, adjoining the- city property (and formerly the ill-fated dock nite) on a rental, say, for 21 years, but the City Council did not press home thb matter, which was allowed to remain in abeyance during .the war period. The whole subject is now being reopened, and negotiations with the board have been resumed, but the latter is only prepared now to oiler the city a 16-year tenure (instead of 25 years), reducing the term by the five years during which the matter has been allowed to.rest, and increasing considerably the rent. ' The City Council is reported to be in tho mood to go through with the transaction, as it is keen on effecting extensive improvements at Clyde Quay as the "front door" to the finest metropolitan marine parade in New Zealand. When the new area is secured from the board, the proposal is to enclose tho whole block with a presentable wall, of a design that will add an aesthetic touch to the and along the full extent of the Clyde Quay nnd Clyde Quay Wharf frontages to lay down a strip-of lawn, to be separated from the bmu sidewalks by a low stone or concrete kerb. With suitable climbers, in the form of Virginian creeper nnd Crimson Rambler roses, trailing over tho wall, it is thought the effect will be artistic, and a 6tep in the direction of eliminating the dusty drabness of tho neighbourhood.