GATEWAY TO ORIENTAL BAY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 197, 15 May 1920, Page 8

GATEWAY TO ORIENTAL BAY

——{ IMPROVEMENTS NOW POSSIBLE

A NEW TRAMCAR BARN

Tho referenco at the last meeting of the Wellington Harbour Board to tho fact thnifc negotiations had 'been completed with tho City Council for tho acquisition tho latter body of somo four and a half acres of, land, being part of the newest roclnniation at To Ai'o, was discussed yesterday by ttite Mayor (Mr. J. P. Lulce).

Tho Mayor said that the happy consummation of the negotiations had made it possiblo for tho City Council to pursue a policy of improvements at tho old corporation yards in Clyde Quay, which had been contemplated for a number of years, but which could not bo commenced until they had more room to move in. The council had dccided long ago that it was highly necessary; owing to the rapid growth'of tho c'ty, that the Yards should 1)0 extended. The new area acquired would allow for such expansion and provide a centre for t.lio corporation work, as far as the older city area was concerned, for some years to come. There would, however, still bo depots in tho outlying parts of-ihe city, from which such _ districts would be worked. Tho acquisition of the area from tho Harbour Board

would mecn more than the mere extension of the yards. It was intended that the old iron fcnce and the steam-roller houses and workshops along the fence should be removed and an endeavour made to improve tho drab and Tather sordid appearance of the entrance to Oriental Bay. The intention was to erect a new panelled brick wall some distance back from the present fence lino, so as "to provide between, the footpath and the wall a sort of little rest park of lawns and flower plots, which, with creeping roses clustering along the wall, ■ would make tho gateway to Oriental Bay more picturesque .than nt present. Room was also required oil the new area for the storage of rails and tramway material, pipes for the drainage system, concrete slabs, kerb blocks, and the hundred and one tilings which hnd to be provided in connection with the maintenance of a large city. At the present time thero was a siding running into the block from Clyde Quay on wtlich tramway cars may be stalled whilst waiting to be called into service. Whilst tliat siding was not on City Council property at present, it was hoped that it would ultimately be utilised as the entrance to a new tram-car barn fibfed, to be erected on the southerly sido of the now block.