BUSES TO ORAKEI

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 973, 16 May 1930, Page 8

BUSES TO ORAKEI

HINDRANCE OF TEMPORAL BRIDGES CITY COUNCIL IS WARY The Commissioner of C r, w „ Lands is anxious to facilitate a bus service to St. Heliers Bay and Kohimarama by way of the Wataa* front Road, but the City Council is unwilling to take risks with the wooden bridges. TX a communication to the covn c 1 last evening: the Commlssim*, stated that lie had received advice from the Transport Board that the council objected to buses running V w between the City and Orakei. The Commissioner pointed out tha* the temporary bridges had carried 20ton locomotives. He suggested that if the wheelguards were strengthened and if the hand rails were canted back on an angle and splayed approaches of # heavy posts and railway irons constructed it would be impossible for an omnibus to go over the side. The Public AVorks Department would offer no objections. The Commissioner therefore asked if the council would withdraw its objections. Mr. R. E. Fawcett wrote stressing the loss to ratepayers of the districts mentioned in extra faxes now being paid and asked that something be done to make the temporary bridges suitable for bus traffic. If that were impossible. then could something be done to expedite the opening of the road even as far as Orakei.

Reporting, the City Engineer, Mr. J. Tyler, agreed that the roadway was now capable of carrying any weight of traffic. The difficulty in the way of the opening of the road to bus traffic was that the bridges were one-wav only and hoardings and structures round them somewhat blocked the view. As the council had not yet accepted dedication of the road lie was of opinion that the Public Works Department and the licensing authority should deal with the matter. OBJECTION TO BRIDGES “The Works Committee has previously brought down a report that the road as far as tlie bridges were concerned was not yet ready for heavy traffic.’* said the Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon. in moving that the committee adhere to its decision. There had already been one accident and if a bus load of people went over the side of & bridge the council would come in for the blame.

In support Cr. G. W. Hutchison said the danger lay not in the strength of the bridges, but in their bad ap--proaches. At present the vision was poor and there was no suitable stopping place near the bridges lor vehicles to pass. Stressing another point. Mr. Baildoii commented that if the council agreed to allow the use of temporary bridges the Public Works Department would be found in no hurry to complete the permanent structure. As it was no’hing had been done for some time on one bridge. "We have no authority or responsibility in connection with the road, because we have not accepted dedication.” said Cr. J. Dempsey, chairman of the Works Committee. Cr. A. J. Entrican suggested as an airiendment that the Works Committee should inspect the road in company with the Commissioner of Crown Lands, with a view to overcoming the difficulties. The amendment was lost. Cr. G. Grey Campbell said the St. Heliers and Kohimarama people had the idea that the council was blocking use of the road by the buses. That was not so, because the council had no say in a road of which it had not accepted dedication. The Public Works Department might be induced to take responsibility, which properly belonged to that department. The committee’s decision was adhered to.