PROPOSAL FOR CITY IMPROVEMENT

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 20, 19 October 1943, Page 6

PROPOSAL FOR CITY IMPROVEMENT

New Site For Vice-Regal

Residence

PRESENT GROUNDS FOR HOUSING A scheme of city improvement which would at ouce provide 50 or 60 acres of land for houses, within a few minutes’ walk of the Basin Reserve, and a new residence for the Governor-Gen-eral has been propounded by Air. J. A«ton, of Glenmore Street, an ex-mem-ber of the Wellington City Council. His proposal is to make the grounds of the present vice-regal residence (which extend from Rugby Street almost as far south along the foothills as the Wellington Hospital reserve and are owned by the Government) available for a housing scheme of the Wellington City Corporation, which would, in exchange, make available to the Government for the purposes of a new vice-regal residence an area of land at the head of Bolton Street, part of the Botanical Gardens reserve, at present carrying only a few pine trees and a wilderness of scrub. This site, Mr. Yston maintains, is ideal, as it is almost in the centre of the city, provides magnificent panoramas all round, and is within a few minutes’ motor drive of Parliamentary Buildings and other State departments in the. vicinity, besides being only five minutes’ drive from the railway station and ferry wharf. The mavor, in a letter to Mr. Aston, says: ‘•The scheme is of great interest, and I am having it placed before the special committee of the council. Later, the town clerk wrote, “The committee has directed me to thank you for your suggestions, and to advise that They will be considered in connexion with the .proposed town-planning of the area.” Mr. Aston laid his scheme before the mavor in the following letter: “The schedule of post-war development work as recently considered by the city council covers a fairly wide field, but there are other proposals that demand consideration. _ You may recall that prior to the exhibition, when suggestions for suitable sites were solicited, X submitted that of Government house grounds, together with land on .which stood a number of outdated buddings fronting Adelaide Road. I was of opinion that this-area—with perhaps the use of portion of the adjoining college reserve —might have been adequate for the purpose, and taking the long view, much of the work in connexion with the exhibition could have incorporated a plan of permanent development and improvement, more particularly the Adelaide Rond block. This area represents one oT the oldest parts of the city—possibly a century old, some of it—and while it could not be classed as slum district, a very larse portion calls for a vigorous scheme of reconstruction. This applies with equal force to many other parts of Wellington, but to make town planning a success, there must be concentrated effort on one block, and then proceed with the next. It may well be that many property owners will desire to rebuild in modern typd of residence, but certainly will not be inclined to do so till the whole area is governed by a systematic town-plan-ning scheme. . . . , “The proposal as herein set out will be equally the concern of the Government as of the corporation. It is admitted that the'scheme is a very ambitious one, and bristles with difficulties. but should be possible of fulfilment. Plan No. 1 embraces that portion of the city known as Government House grounds, together with privately-owned property fronting Adelaide Road. The Government House block has frontage on the east to Wellington College Reserve, north to Dutferin Street, west to Adelaide Road, south to the hospital grounds, with entrance from Coromandel Street and Blucher Avenue. Government House grounds comprise some 54 acres, the Adelaide Road block from Dufferin Street to the hospital grounds 11 acres, a. total of some 65 acres. The proposal is one of exchange of Government property for corporation property as set out in plan iNo. “The Government House of today is not ideally situated, is very much out of the way, lacking in dignity, with drab environment and outlook. The new site as mow suggested is unsurpassed by any other in the whole of Wellington, and comprises some 13 acres, or if the observatory block —now owned by the Crown—of some 4-J acres, were included, would make a total of over 17 acres. Reference to plan No. 2 will show a long frontage*to Salamanca Road, also Wesley' Road at the top of Bolton Street. Part of the botanic gardens, it hes on the slopes between the observatory and Anderson Park, at present covered with pines, manuka, etc. A more commanding and imposing situation could not .be found, with a panoramic view over city. Hutt Valley and beyond, with also a delightful outlook east, west, and south. A modern residence would become a distinguished landmark in the Empire City, replacing what is now a somewhat unsuitable building, that will presently require considerable expenditure in upkeep. Not the least important feature of the new site, is ite nearness to Parliament Buildings. By way of Bolton Street the distance is about 30 chains, a matter of minutes when messages are conveyed between the Governor-General and Parliament. This is a very ambitious proposal, but we are now in our second centurv, and the times call for big things.”