KENT TERRACE

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12611, 23 November 1926, Page 8

KENT TERRACE

FURTHER EVIDENCE AT MAGISTERIAL INQUIRY CASE FOR OBJECTORS “VOICED IN BEST INTERESTS OF CITr Objections to the Kent terrace proposals—which have occa* sioned a great deal of controversy ever since the plans were before the City Council—were heard at yesterday’s final session of the magisterial inquiry, conducted by Mr E. Page, S.M. The inquiry is for the purpose of determing whether a proclamation should be issued, either wholly or in part, allowing the council to proceed with its scheme.

Mr J. O’Shea appeared for the City Council, while Mr A. L. Hunt represented the objectors. In commencing his case, Mr Hunt said it was his purpose to convince the commissioner that instead of the protests being so much cant —as alleged by the city solicitor—they were voiced in the best interests of the city. No convincing reason had been advanced by the council to show that the widening of Cambridge and Kent terraces was essential, and care had been taken to avoid calling evidence from the Tramways Department, which must be one of the departments most vitally affected. BREACH OF TRUST ALLEGED The council had committed an unwarranted breach of trust in encroaching upon a city reserve. He submitted that the dangers of Kent terrace lay in the presence of the trams; although the accidents there were no more numerous than in other parts of the city. The work at Kent terrace was inevitably associated with other streets in the city, and it was the opinion of the objectors that the alteration should be delayed till the Town Planning Act was brought into force at the beginning of the year. This view was strengthened by the undoubted evidence that the council was spying out the land with a view to making Taranaki street a main arterial outlet from the centre of the city. If Kent and Cambridge terraces were' widened, Adelaide road also would have to be widened to cope with the traffic. The first witness called for the objectors was William J. Thompson, chairman of the reserves committee of the City Council, who was questioned as to whether or not the original plan in connection with the scheme was placed before his committee. Mr O’Shea objected to the question, and the disclosure of matters appertaining to ‘‘in committee” discussions. The magistrate: Matters taken in committee are private, but X don’t want to exclude evidence if you can fit it in. "Witness declared that the original plan was not put before the committee. Works of the description under review were usually submitted to it for alterations, but that had not been the procedure in the present case. The plan, however, was before the finance committee, and he, being ~a member, could have objected. Mr Hunt asked if the council was actually aware of what it was voting for when the Kent terrace matter was mentioned ? The Magistrate: I cannot go into that. There is a resolution on the council’s books which the council should have understood. The council had decided that the work was desirable and that is the end of the matter. Continuing, witness said he was anxious that the work should proceed, as in its present condition the reserve was in a bad state. PEOPLE’S SAFETY CONSIDERED * ‘I am concerned more with the safety of the people than with saving the'trees on the reserve, hut if my suggestion is carried out both objects can be achieved,” he added. “The present footpath is decidedly dangerous as the kerb is close to the tram rail. If the Government will grant the council a proclamation which would enablo them to place the kerb say five feet from the tram rail nearest the reserve, a wide footpath could be constructed on the reserve, leaving the outer row of cabbage trees in the footpath. This would provide a very fine promenade and would be perfectly safe for pedestrians. Having the kerb only five feet from the rail would keep motorists from running into danger as they certainly would if the kerb was some thirteen feet away. The trees could then be thinned out and interspersed with rockeries and grass plots which would be a much more suitable lay-out for an area of this description than the one at the north end, as the terrace is so windswept that flowers do not get a fair chance to look anything but bedraggled and unhappy. The present plantation is no doubt a very great breakwind for the Basin fleserve and should not be wiped out. The congestion of traffic in Kent terrace could bo diverted by surfacing Lloyd and Nelson streets from Pirie street to Ellico street. Drivers would certainly take that route when proceeding southwards as there would bo no hold-up behind tramcars. Vivian street should be widened through the reserve and also Buckle street, and the trees either removed or trimmed sufficiently for some distance from both streets to allow visibility of any approaching vehicle. Much of the present growth would have to be removed and perhaps more suitable trees planted where necessary.” When he referred to the widening of Buckle street he did not think of cutting off portion of the Basin Reserve. Tree planting, he admitted, was an asset to the city, providing the streets were wide enough. Wellington streets as a rule were not suitable for the planting of trees, flower beds l>oing more preferable. Were the safety «*f the public necessitated the cutting into reserves it should be done. Cross-examined, witness mentioned that the work on Kent terrace was primarily a street witlening proposition. His committee considered the widening of the north end was necessary’. “If the council had thought it necessary to refer the matter hack to the committee it would have done so?” u.dscd Mr O’Shea.—“Yes.” Mr O’Shea: With regard to the trams running against the traffic. The City Council rould pass a by-law to make cars stop before passing stationary trams?—Yes. . That would minimise any. supposed danger caused through the trams running between the reserve and the tramline ?—Yes. Has thero been a general complaint that the council ha# not attending'to its traffic problems?—Not that I am aware of. Has not the City Council provided

for the extension of streets everywhere?—Yes! I think the council has had the matter well before it. Mr Hunt asked witness if the Taranaki street scheme would not come under the Town Planning Act? Mr O’Shea: You don’t suggest that that is anything but a myth, do you P Mr Hunt (producing a copy of the Town Planning Act): But here it is in black and white. Mr O’Shea: And that is as far as it is likely to go! Witness thought that if they improved Taranaki street it would not relieve the traffic on Kent terrace greatly. The widening of the north end of the terrace had been effected for the purpose of making a parking area for tramcars. NECESSARY TO PRESERVE OPEN SPACES The necessity for preserving open spaces in the central portion of the city for the use of children was stressed by Thomas Forsyth, member of Parliament and ex-city councillor. He pointed out that between Mount Victoria and Kelburn Park there was no playing area for children except on' Kent terrace. Since the beautification of the reserve was commenced children had been warned off it. He protested against the carrying out of the new work, and said it was essential for the city to retain its reserves in the city proper. The traffic on Kent terrace, he observed, certainly did not warrant the work at the present time, and it never would providing one way traffic was observed. Mr Hunt: Do you think this work should be gone on with before the Town Planning Act comes into force? —lt has been delayed so long that it might well have been left for experts to deal with. To Mr O’Shea: "I don’t object to the beautification of the reserve, but I do object to the reserve being converted into a roadway.” The congestion of traffic is really on Kent terrace is it not?—Except on Saturdays. Is it possible to use Tory street as an access to the south?—A large number use Tory street now. The traffic problem, I consider, is not acute if one way traffic is observed. Oswald Benge and Gerald Bell, assistant insurance agent, objeoted to the proposals on the ground that they would cause additional danger to pedestrians. THE TOWN-PLANNING ASPECT' Reginald Bedford Hammond, Director of Town-Planning, considered that it would be difficult to lay out one street without considering its relation to other streets. In regard to main arterial roads one would have to look ahead for from 50 to 100 years. Mr Hunt: Do you think it a good policy to make the proposed alterations when the Town Planning Act is coming into operation in a few weeks? —That, of course, is a matter of local authority. They must feel satisfied that the expenditure is on the right lines. To Mr O’Shea: We have started town-planning now. Mr Hunt: Do you consider it an excellent work to widen a street so that it. will be wider than a street into which it leads?—lt does not seem altogether sound, but you have to consider the volume of traffic on each thoroughfare. Mr O’Shea: How long do you think it would take to prepare a complete town-planning scheme for Wellington? —lt would depend on the local authority. You mean if it got a town-planner on the job?—He would want the most of twelve months. Do you think that.a scheme could be arrived at in that time to meet with the city’s finances? —Yes! What do you think it is going to cost for compensation ?—I was not considering that question. How long would it take for a definite town-planning scheme to take effect?—lt might take 100 or 500 years. The scheme is there for future policy. The policy is always likely to be changed according to circumstances. In reply to further questions, witness urged that reserves should not he interfered with. It seemed to him the proposed alterations had been fully considered by the council. If they agreed that the street was too narrow then the right policy was to form the street on proper lines. Ho agreed it would be feasible to run the trams down Cambridge terrace to relieve congestion. Mr O’Shea: Is there any value in the suggestion that all town planning should be held up until the town planning scheme is finished?—The council must know what is of urgent importance, and they should try to solve their problems to the best of their ability. Witness agreed that a town planning scheme in Wellington was necessary. CAR-PARKING AREA OR NOT? Walter E. Aked, City Council draughtsman, said he had drawn two plans of proposed alterations to Kent Terrace. The commissioner: I don’t see the bearing of the question. Mr Hunt: I want to find out whether the council proposed to make the alterations on the terrace for the purpose of providing parking space for reserves. Witness said that in one of his plans he showed space for cars, but the scheme was turned down. The commissioner said the questions were not relevant, as he had only to inquire into the scheme adopted by the council. Mr Cable, tramways manager, stated that he had not reported upon the Kent Terrace scheme in his official capacity. It was not customary tor tlio city engineer to carry out construction work affecting the tram service, without referring the matter to him. The present scheme did not actually effect tramway construction. The present space between the tramway rails and the kerbing on Kent Terrace was too narrow. ONE-WAY TRAM TRAFFIC Mr Hunt: Have you ever consider-

ed the question of one-way tram traffic on Kent and Cambridge Terraces? “Yes; but the difficulty is that you would have the lines all converging to an open space at Courtenay Place.” He added that a one-way traffic system would be a very complicated one, involving a further system of traffic control. The cost of running the trams would be greater, and the handling of them very difficult.

Witness considered that the present reserve scheme on Kent Terrace should be carried right through. He understood the scheme involved the shifting of tramway poles over to Cambridge Terrace, and the erection of special standards on Kent Terrace for street lighting purposes. John D. McKenzie, director of reserves, disagreed with the suggestion that there was not a tree on the old portion of Kent Terrace reserve of botanical value. The cabbage tree was the most characteristic of New Zealand trees, -while the pohutakawa trees were also very fine.

AVould it be a sound policy to out down those trees and lay down grass instead ? —lt would be undoing the work of many years. Cross-examined, witness admitted that the expenditure on the old portion of the reserve had not been very great. A man was put to attend to the shrubbery occasionally. E. Philpott Crowtber, civil and electrical engineer, dealt with the scenic value of the old portion of the present reserve, and the attraction the cabbage trees, etc., proved to overseas visitors.

William Miller, clerk of the John, sonville Town Board, stated that he was formerly town clerk at Miramar, and that he objected to the work being continued. William S. Wilson, motor importer, said that in his opinion the present traffic system is better than that proposed. If the proposal is carried out Kent terrace will be far . more dangerous than it is at present.' The portion near the De Luxe Theatre is the most dangerous spot in AVellington. The traffic problem of the city is the greatest problem of the present day. Such an alteration as is being carried out in Kent terraoe should not be done hurriedly and without deep thinking. John Aston, a city councillor, said that he considered that a greater danger will exist if the Kent terrace scheme is carried ooL: He then gave several facts concerning motorists who were fools and motorists who were .not fools. In his opinion the council’s proposal is nothing but a death trap. Mr Aston then pointed out the difficulties connected with Lower Buckle street should the street be widened and used for traffic going east and west. The last witness was Councillor Huggins, who stated that after hearing the evidence he had come to the con. elusion that Kent terrace ought to be widened. Speaking for himself, he. considered one cross street would be sufficient. Regarding the cabbage trees, witness thought that though they were unique, the dropping leaves were' a nuisance, especially to drains. He had never thought of this area as a children’s playground. At this stage, the inquiry was closed. the magistrate stating that the matter would be dealt with almost at once.

At 9.30 a.m. to-day, half an hour will be allowed Mr Leigh Hunt and Mr O’Shea to sum up their cases.