School Ground to Go for New Railway

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 373, 6 June 1928, Page 15

School Ground to Go for New Railway

IMPROVEMENTS AT NEWTON NORTHERN LINE OUTLET When the Railway Department is extending the northern railway outlet and erecting the second station from Auckland, a portion of the Newton Central School ground will be required for the station site. The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, promised the school committee yesterday that he shortly would indicate the department’s intentions respecting the commencement of the new line. A deputation which approached Mr. Coates on the question comprised Mr. A. Burns, chairman of the Auckland Education Board; Mr. F. W. H. Brinsden, chairman of the Parks Committee of the Auckland City Council; the Rev. J. Halliday, chairman of the school committee; Mr. H. H. Watkins, engineer and secretary to the Auckland and Suburban Drainage Board; and Mr. F. N. Bartram, M.P.

It was explained that the centre line of the proposed double track had been marked by a series of rods driven into the ground. This line emerged from the site of a future tunnel under Newton Road, and lay along the north side of the creek which occupies the bottom of the Archhill Gully. The second station on the new line will be in the bottom of the Archhill Gully, on the school property, between Newton Road and Bright Street.

Mr. J. K. Lowe, district engineer for the Railway Department, mentioned that the bottom of the school property would be needed, not the line, but also for a station site, accommodating a third track. The deputation explained that the parents had raised £250 at much sacrifice and spent it on improving the school grounds. Later, on account of the closing-down of th« Newton East School, more building had been erected, nullifying the improvement scheme. However, the committee had been compensated, and now had £SOO in hand for future work. An arrangement had been made whereby the Education Department, the City Council and the Drainage Board were to contribute each approximately £ 800 toward the cost of forming a level sports ground at the bottom of the school property. Thus nearly £ 3,000 would be available. The scheme would include a culvert over the creek. The Education Department refused to pay its share until it knew exactly what effect the new railway would have on the scheme. Mr. Coates remarked that the construction of the new line depended on finance. The line was a most urgent work. He promised to give the committee an indication as to when the Government intended to go on with the line. TO CHECK SPECULATORS When the survey under the city has been completed in some months time a centre-line proclamation will be issued by the Government. This means that for a specified distance on either side of the track property values will remain the same as at the time the centre-line proclamation is issued.

Such action prevents the speculator from buying up property in the vicinity of the line and then selling it to the Government at an enhanced price. This has been done in the past on more than one accasion.