PUMPING A BAY DRY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 589, 15 February 1929, Page 11

PUMPING A BAY DRY

HARBOUR BRIDGE IDEA DYKES ACROSS SHOAL BAY -V suggestion that the roads across JShoal Bay and between Bayswater and Stanley Bay be used as dams and the areas be kept dry by pumping was received from a Me. Robert A. Laidlaw at a meeting of the Auckland Harbour Bridge Association last evening. Mr. G. O’Halloran presided. The letter from Mr. Laidlaw stated that in looking over the plan of tie proposed bridge and approaches and after reading recently that Holland was proceeding with another pumping and excavation scheme, which would add enormous acreage to the country, he was impressed by the use that could be made of Shoal Bay. “Shoal Bay is large enough for . great motor-racing art-. . an airdronu and football and cri«- fields. and would no doubt retu. - r untals far in excess of the cost .• operating a pumping station,” said Air. Laidlaw. W hile we have not been educated to living on levels below sea-level, in Holland the land would sell readily as residential sites, and that country has proved conclusively from centuries of experience that it is quite safe to live on such areas. Of course, this idea may be quite ridiculous, owing to the amount of water which may drain int** Shoal Bay. but my recollection is that only very small creeks run ir. here ami there, so that the pumping of a canal running round the side or through the centre to take the drainage would be a simple matter.” the letter concluded. The suggestions were filed for future consideration. All candidates at the forthcoming local body elections in and around Auckland are to be questioned regard ing their attitude to the hat bouibridge proposal. Messrs. G. O’Halloran and O. Moller were deputed to endeavour when in Wellington next week, to expedite arrangements for holding the investiga - tions preliminary to testing the harbour bed by borings. Mr. Freeman, designer of the Sydney Bridge, is to be invited to attend a special meeting of the association in Auckland. The total membership now numbers ! over 800, 110 ribw members being, eni rolled last evening