Napier Works

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 120, 7 June 1937, Page 8

Napier Works

PROPOSALS BEFORE MINISTER Road Formation, PlayingArea for Port BLUFF HILL SAFETY Proposals embodying the further development of the Marine Parade and the Hardings road foreshore, the making safe of the Bluff Hill, the removal of the river bank of George's Drive, the formation of further roads, and the creation of a playing-area on the site of the South Pond, Port Ahuriri, were placed before the .acting-Minister oi' Labour, the Hon. P. C. Webb, by the Napier Borough Council on his visit to , Napier on Saturday. Proposals were also put forward in regard to the Napier Theatre. "For quite some fcime, the Napier Borough Council has given thought to further improvements on the Marine Parade. This matter, however, has been held over as one problem was considered non-essential, and, as you already know, it is the essentials that have been provided eurrounding the reconstruction work, ' ' explains a statement placed before the Minister. ' ' We are definitely of the opinion that the improvements already carried out have been the means of attracting thousands to this very popular part of New Zealand, and we consider that something further should be done in providing amenities which will not only be a joy to our own people but to all who come here. "Possibly an amount of £12,000 to £15,000 is required, 'which would dnvolve approximately half the labour, £6000 to £7000. "We have a suggestion to make to you that if consxderation could be given by tha Employment Board in conjunction with the Public Works Department undertaking this work, or on eimilar l'ines to the work carried out to the Napier aerodrome, the council would undertake to provide certain moneys in regard to engineering and towards cost of materials. "Practically the same argument can be presented in regard to Hardinge road. This road extends along the northern side of the borough and is very charmingly situated and really deserves some immediate attention. Interwoven with both schemes is the question of the Bluff Hill being made safe and the debris used for lilling and reclamation purposes. ' ' Immediately after the earthquake, the statement added, a bank was thrown up on the north sido of the Tutaekurd river on the side of George's Drive as a protective measure. Now that the river had been diverted under the Eivers Board diversion scheme, the old river-bed was left in an unsightly . condition and had recently becoiue the care of the Napier Borough Council on aceount of its taking over the Marewa Block, which bounded on the south side of George's Drive. Approximately 17,000 yards of bank can be levelled out and sloped, the whole to be brought into lawns, and definitely this job involved all labour.

South Pond was an unsightly rubbish dump about which the department was objecting. This requii'ed approximately 80,000 yards of filling. Pvovision could be made with the Harbour Board to obtain the necessary filling, and this job definitely involved a large amount of labour. When this work was completed, it would make a very necessary playing-area for sports, adjacent tO the Port. , "We have one or two roads in the borough that have not yet been formed — for instance, Domett and Lever streets at tfie Port," continued the statement. "From time to time we 'have had urgent requests to have this work carried out, but funds have not been available and the borough has not thought it necessary on account of the amount of traffic involved and the sparse settlement surrounding these roads. However, can we suggest that perhaps this work could be carried out under the Public Works Department in conjunction with your board? The amount of labour involved would be approximately £650."