PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4611, 8 October 1923, Page 2

PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

RAILWAY AND POST OFFICE. PROPOSALS OF DEPARTMENTS. The following statement has been handed to us for publication by the Mayor (Mr W. Marshall) : — For some time now the Borough Council has been endeavouring to get a. decision on the question of the site of the new station. The matter is of general importance to the town; but it was patricularly necessary to obtain a decision, because one proposal at least involved closing certain streets and affected areas in which the council intended to lay sewers and carry out street improvements during the summer months. I 1 wish to state in the first place that every courtesy and consideration has been shown towards the Council and the representations they have made by the Minister, Mr Coates, by the heads pf the Public Works Department, and the Railway Department; also by the several engineers of both departments who are engaged on the engineering side of the matter, and I am convinced that any reasonable requests made by this borough will receive fair consideration. LOCATION. The Railway Department requires an area at least 60 chains long by 5 chains wide, and plans for foun different sites have been prepared, No. 1 plan provides for 60 chains north of Hill Street, and takes in almost the whole width pf Moore Street and Coronation Street. No. 2 plan provides for 60 chains north .of approximately the present outfall drain, and involves closing 5 chains of Hill Street and putting back Coronation Street. * No. 3 plan shows a proposal to put the station on the west side of Puke Road. No. 4 plan is a proposal to place the site over on the other side of the river. The position now is that No. 3 and No. 4 sites have been definitely rejected by the engineers of the Railway Department for engineering reasons and No. 1 plan .has their approval. This would make the centre of the new station building about 11 or 12 chains beyond Bush Street: Moore Street would be moved back, and the passenger platform would be approximately opposite a low-lying portion of the paddock beyond MV I N. S. Cassrels’ house, and the centre of the goods yards would be about opposite Mr Underwood’s house in Coronation Street. It will be readily seen that this proposal would take the station biulding light out of the town, and involve the Council in an ever recurring increase in road maintenance of a costly nature. It is also undesirable in many ways.

Strpng representations have been made to the departments against this selection, and we understand that no objection (other than the question of compensation costs) is held by the departments to the No. 2 site, provided they receive the assistance an.l consideration of the Council and Paeroa people and that we agree to the closing of five chains of Hill Street.

If" No. 2 site is adopted the station will be as near to the town as it can possibly be placed, for the following reason : The railway bridge is to be raised, and this will increase the grade, which will run out at approximately the position of the present outfall drain. Obviously the yards cannot commence on the grade, and the best that can be done to suit the town is to start the 60 chains yard at this point. In this plan the station buildings .would be just beyond Hill Street, and access would have to be given by taking portion Of Mr G. Dean’s property and forming the road from Hill Street along the railway line to the town. This would improve the access of the residents in that area, and provision for residents who live on the Puke Road side of the railway would be made by an overhead footbridge giving them "access to the platforms. The goods yard entrance would be in lower Hill Street. It will, be apparent to all that this plan is in the bert general interest of the town, and will not involve any increase in reading except the formation of Anzac Avenue, which must be formed some day, and would doubtless be necessary even if No. 1 plan is proceeded with. The Minister has instructed an engineer of the Public Works Department and an engineer of the Railway Department to come to Paeroa and go into the matter on the spot, and negotiations will be continued. Every effort will be made to safeguard the interests of Paeroa, but no unreasonable requests will be made, and the Council earnestly asks for the cooperation of the people in the general interest of the whole town. The Mayor, and every councillor, is prepared to see anyone who is concerned in the proposal, and to give any information or assist in any way in connection with any elector’s interest which may be affected by the proposals. If a portion of Hill Street is to be closed a public meeting will be called and the question thoroughly discussed and a vote taken at such meeting. It is confidently anticipated that we aie near important developments which will mean the progress of Paeroa along sound and permanent lines, and the support of the people is asked for by the Council. POST OFFICE. The site behind the band* rotunda has been definitely arranged for, the -negotiations between the Department and the owner having been completed. The plans are being prepared, and should be ready in about a month’s time. We are definitely promised that the building will be proceeded with during the present financial year, and have every reason to believe that a good building will be erected. MANUAL TRAINING. A number of other smaller matters were taken up during the recent visit to Wellington, including the Manual Training School, concerning which a promise was given by the Minister,