WILL IT GO ON?

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12609, 20 November 1926, Page 5

WILL IT GO ON?

MAGISTERIAL INQUIRY INTO KENT TERRACE WORK OPENED

FUTURE TRAFFIC PROBLEMS PROPOSAL TO RUN TRAMS IN CAMBRIDGE TERRACE NOT FAVOURED The magisterial inquiry into the City Council’s Work in altering the Kent Terrace reserve —which is at present stopped by an interim injunction of the Supreme Court—was commenced before Mr E. Page, S.M., yesterday, when exhaustive evidence upon the merits of the locality as a traffic outlet to the eastern and southern suburbs was ad* duced. Much light was thrown upon the necessity for future development of thoroughfares in various portions of the city, and suggestions for the solution of the problem were advanced by expert witnesses. The assistant-city engineer declared that if the trams in Kent Terrace had to be shifted they would have to go down the centre of the reserve from Courtenay place. This would not be required for half a century, however, as the proposed widening of Kent and Cambridge Terraces would improve traffic facilities. Mr A. L. Hunt, for the objectors, suggested that the execution of the council’s scheme would increase traffic dangers,

Mr J. O’Shea, city solicitor, opened for the council. The suggestion had been made, he said, that the council was laying its despoiling hand upon the reserves but lie wished to advance the affirmative side of the case. The origihal area of the town belt was 1544 acres, of which 475 acres were taken before the land was secured for the city. Various reserves—orphanage, Wesleyan, hospital, and Synagogue—had been removed, but since the city had acquired the land the only portions of the belt that had been taken for public purposes were Victoria College site, tramshed site at Newtown, and the site of the tire brigaae station, as well as certain streets ne* cossary for access to outlying suburbs. Apart from roads, the land taken was just less than 11 acres, while the council had taken 1000 acres for parks and | play areas. None would be sufficiently churlish to suggest that the town belt should not have been used for the Victoria College site, while the trarasheds and other purposes of acquisition Were believed to be public necessities. “JUST CANT” The opponents of the City Council were making a tremendous fuss, Mr O’Shea went ou, about the destruction of a few cabbage trees, but to suggest that their removal would create ,an irreparable loss to the city was just cant. The council had planted trees at Karori reservoir, Xinakori hills, on Mount Victoria, and on the town belt behind Kiibirnie, as well as conserving the bush at Wnirtui and the Botanical Gardens, in addition to many other plnces in the city and suburbs. The chief question about which the inquiry would bo concerned, however, was whether the curtailment •of the Canal reserve (embracing Kent and Cambridge terraces) was essential in tlio requirements of traffic. Evidence to show that this was essential was overwhelming. Both Kent and Cambridge terraces were the only available channels of access to the eastern portions of the city, apart, of course, from the Queen’s Drive. It was well to recall the Queen’s Drive would not nlways be a level foreshore road, but would later be constructed on a grade of I in 15 behind the patent slip when it became necessary to construct a dock there. • Better access south of Vivian street would shortly become necessary, and one of the first proposals was the Mount Victoria tunnel, for the only other available routes were through the hospital grounds and through the grounds of the Governor-General’s residence. The resolutions which the council had passed had been passed without dissent, showing that, so far as file council was officially concerned, there was a unanimous desire to go on with the work. TRAFFIC PROBLEM The first witness for the council was Charles Evans Bennett, assistant secretary to the Public Works Department, who stated that the reports of his officers upon the application of the council to execute the work on Kent terrace were entirely favourable, and declared that the scheme should greatly improve the thoroughfare. In reply to Mr A. L. Hunt (for the objectors), witness said the department would treat the matter from the traffic aspect only so far as the clearance for trams was concerned. Police Sub-Inspector Harvey handed in reports from police officers upon the proposed work so far as traffic wns concerned. He was of opinion that the locality would derive immense benefit from the street-widening, lteports showed that since January of this year two fatal and 17 minor accidents had occurred in this area. To Mr Hunt: He was concerned only with the widening of the street so far as it affected traffic. Mr Hunt: You consider the street should be widened?—l think every street in Wellington should be widened as far as it possibly can.

QUESTION OF SAFETY Mr Hunt quoted Mr Morton, who had said that the trouble and cause of accident was through cars trying to pass each other on the road. Sub-Inspector Harvey: If the traffic is heavy, they will have to pull in behind each other. Mr Hunt: Should it be a one-way traffic area?—Yes. Mr O’Shea: That is the proposal of the City Council —to make it a oneway traffic area. Mr Hunt: What is your opinion ot the solution of the traffic problem?— The proposal of the City Council, t should say. You say that ail southward traffic should go along Kent terrace and all northward traffic along Cambridge terrace P—That would be safest. Is it safe to have a line of motorcars between the present tram-lines and the centre of the reserve?—l don’t think it would, but if it is one-way traffic it will be quite safe. But if people hod to cross from a waiting-shed across a motor-car route to get to the tram?—Well, that would be dangerous. Mr O'Shea: HMr Hunt wishes to go for ultra-safety, there is onl.v one way to solve the problem—that is. to tske the trams down the centre of the reserve, as is done in Melbourne. Mr Hunt: That is not admitted. Mr O’Shea: No, it is not admitted, but you know it as will as anyornJ does. MOTORISTS’ OPINION Frederick William Mantoil (chairman of the Automobile Association, said in evidence that the executive of his association favoured tho proposals of the City Council. Mr Hunt: Is this tho best way of dealing with the problem?—lt is the most «ane in the circumstances. Is U an improvement ou present

conditions? —Unquestionably. Don’t you think that in view of the proximity of the Towu Planning Act. this should be delayed?—Noj I would go on with it right away. Vou know, of course, that the Act prevents any land syndicates- ? This is not a land syndicate. No, but it prevents anyone rushing in early. There is no rush job about this. It has been on the boards for some time. Has it come under your notice at the City Council that a scheme is contemplated to make Taranaki street a main arterial highway ?—The City Council has under consideration the widening of Taranaki street, not only as an outlet, but to cope with the general traffic problem. PROVISION FOR FUTURE Is it intended to widen it up to John street to relieve traffic in other streets?—When they do it they will make a job of it. James John Clark, a resident of Kiibirnie for over 40 years, spoke of the traffic access to Kiibirnie, nnd expressed the conviction that the proposal to alter Kent Terrace was in tho best interests of the city. Ivetineth Luke, assistant city engineer, said that after viewing streets in America, Great Britain, on the Continent and in South Africa, he was definitely of opinion that both Kent and Cambridge Terraces should be widened. When the proposal was curried through it was proposed to have one-way traffic in each street—except the trains. The leaves from the cabbage trees were a nuisance and blocked the stormwater sumps. This locality wns the chief outlet to the eastern suburbs and alteration was essential for convenient traffic. It would be quite impossible to take a tram down Cambridge Terrace, because, on account of the special tram servicts around Wakefield street, a crossing of this at Courtenay Place would incur serious dislocation. Mr Hunt asked several questions upon the boulevards of Paris, and witness replied that apart from the aesthetic point of view Paris would be better without the trees. However, he would not compare the layout of a Continental town to the position of Kent Terrace. TRAFFIC , TREBLED When Mr Morton’s report was shown to him, witness said: “Text books become out of date, and when it is considered that the traffic in 'Wellington has trebled in the past four years, conditions have to be dealt with in a new way.” The magistrate: I take it that the question I am to decide is whether a portion of this land should be taken? Mr Hunt: We feel sure that when the town planning board comes along the trams will go down Cambridge • terrace. | The magistrate: Would this preliudice the position if this reserve were touched ? I Mr Hunt: It would mean that we | would hnve spent thousands of pounds for nothing. ! The magistrate: Whv for nothing? 1 Mr Hunt: Because if the trams go down there the widening will not be necessary. The mrgistrato: Mr Luke dees not say so. Mr O’Shea : I understand Mr Luke has another view as to how the tram problem will be solved. Mr Luke: Yes; down the centre of tlm reserve. Mr Hunt: Well, there yon have two separate views. Does that not suggest that th« whole thing should he held over?—Tf the trams have to be shifted thev will have to go down the centro of the reserve. But this will he difficult because the whole of the water and sewerage services to that end of f*>c city are laid down the centre of the reserve: and the tramway manager would not he prepared to build tram tracks upon them. Tho only alternative is to run tho sewerage into the harbour. Tim huge expense involved in this proiect—even with the Town Planning Act in operation—will not he warranted for half a Century at least. I did not- intend to mention this information. hut some dnv the trams will have to 20 through tt>ero.

DARK SHADOWS Samuel Hurst Seager. consultant town planner, considered the Kent terrace proposals on the lines of general town planning improvement, and an unouestlonnblo benefit to the citv of Wellington. Dr J. S. Elliott, who has resided in the Kent terrace locality for many years, said the proximity of the trams to the footpath in Kent terrace constituted a menace to pedestrians. At tne south end of the reserve the trees threw a dark shadow across the road ot nights, and motorists found it difficult to proceed with comfort. The shadows cast upon the road frequently resembled a man, and this intensified Dm fear of the motorist that he would hit someone. He objected to the cabbage trees to which they had been accustomed, while he would see nothing beautiful in a number of flax bushes trailing like strawberry plants along The ground. To Mr Hunt, witness said he mfty have an exaggerated id th of the Accidents in that locality because he lived there, but he was convinced that there were too many. Mr Hunt: And of course the preservation of life and limb is of first importance?—Yes, of prime importance—even more so than cabbage trees. (Laughter.) j IRRITATED! Dr Elliott thought that a person who had clriak might tiwd the

path in Kent terrace dangerous through approaching tfamcars. Mr Hunt: Ah! That’s the trouble! Witness further suggested that trees had been favoured because they looked exotic and tropical. Mr Hunt: Exotic? But we like cabbage trees because they look like New Zealand. Dr Elliott (drily): Oh, I am not so patriotic. Mr Hunt: You have difficulty in getting your car out of your garage? —I have to Use care in getting into the street, as the traffic is thick. Mr Hunt: And this is irritating ns well?—Yes; nearly as irritating as tiie dust which we have had blown into our houses from the work that wns stopped in Kent terrace. Evidence was also given by William Harry Nash, of the Te Aro Improvement Society ; J. M. Samson, secretary of the Courtenay place Area Association; George Ardrey, nnd John Hutcheson, a resident of long stand-, ing, all of whom favoured the project. The city treasurer, C. . Collins, submitted a statement covering figures of reserves in the city, and the money expended upon them, Louis Smith Drake, chief traffic inspector or tile city, considered street widening esesntial. The inquiry will be resumed on Monday.