SCENERY AND COMFORT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 762, 7 September 1929, Page 5

SCENERY AND COMFORT

WATERFRONT ROAD COSTS £350,000

MOTORISTS’ PARADISE

■Wonderful roads for motorists, proriding smooth running and glorious scenery, are an important factor in the popularity of Auckland’s first garden suburb, which will shortly thrust itJJclf up on the crest of Orakei. The construction of the waterfront road, costing over £350,000, is, next to the railway, the greatest work which wilt promote the rapid development of the new eastern suburbß, including the older seaside resorts of Kohiniarama and St. Heliers Bay. The hope of all Aucklanders that this shall be a great civic boulevard, skirting the most beautiful fringe of the harbour, is almost realised, and if buildings of a utilitarian and unaesthetic character are strictly excluded from the road frontage, there is uo reason why the road should not be a worthy addition to the city’s scenic assets. The construction of the road was commenced in October, 1926, and today the work has so far advanced that it is Dossible for motor-cars to leave King's Drive and traverse the new' road by means of temporary bridges to Hobson’s Point, where a turn-off takes traffic round the base of the cliffs in IVhakatakataka Bay by an easy slope on to the Orakei Garden Suburb. The road will be open for regular traffic next winter. In the meantime the continuation of the boulevard round Okahau Bay to the Drainage Board's storage tanks at Orakei is proceeding. The road will eventually run round Orakei Point and fort Bastion into Mission Bay. Even when the road is completed to this point the shortest route to Kohimarama, will be to turn off at Hobson's point and proceed up the Orakei block and over the hills by the estate roads already formed. Practically every house put up so far at Orakei boasts its own garage, and it is probable that no single suburb in New Zealand will boast so many garages to the square mile as will Orakei when it attains its maximum state of settlement.

The magnifleent sweep of Paritai Drive, wendiDg for a mile and aquarter round the shoulder of the hill, opens up a wonderful panorama of scenery. It is intended now to road the eastern end of the block along the ridge above Okahau Point, and another ; lot of sections will be offered for sale j by auction shortly. Steps have already been taken to j construct a new concrete bridge over the mouth of Purewa Creek, at the point known as Orakei Neck, replacing the old wooden bridge at present in use. Easy motor access to the block will then be obtained from Rernu era. in addition to the waterfront road from the city. So. facilities for the motorist are being provided that will bring the new suburbs in on the same footing as those closer at hand, and advantage is being taken of the natural beauties of the route to construct roads that will provide easy running for motorists and provide scenic delights at the same time. For the motorist, Orakei holds out greater promise than any other Auckland suburb. And progress, as far as road-building is concerned. will go on apace, with the increase in population in the area.