SPORTS AREA IN QUARRY

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 942, 8 April 1930, Page 14

SPORTS AREA IN QUARRY

PLANS AT MT. ALBERT SCENIC ROAD FORMED A playing area of about 10 acres is to be formed in what was formerly a quarry in the side of Mount Albeit. This will be part of a scheme for developing this domain area, which has been named Owairaka Park, perpetuating the name given to the mount by the Maoris in honour of a chieftainess of the Ngatiawa tribe. A motor road, giving access to this new area, has just been completed. Both road and park will be opened officiallv on Saturday afternoon by the Pvt. Hon. J. G. Coates. Leader of the Opposition. This was arranged as a mark of appreciation of the action of the Reform Government in ordering the quarrying operations of the Railway Department here to cease, and in vesting the area in the Mount Albert Borough Council as a domain board. At that time the excavation had reached right to the edge of the old domain. The drive, which is about one-third of a mile in length, circles the top of the mount, giving views of the Manukau and Waitemata Harbours and of the outer suburban areas. It is reached from the south end of Domain Road, off Mount Albert Road, and was built from a loan of £1,500 carried by the ratepayers a year ago. The quarrying pit itself is fairly flat and should make an excellent playing area when laid down in grass. Xative trees and shrubs along the crater’s lip will make the sides safe. The surrounding domain has an area of 121 acres.