Civic Improvements in Auckland.

Progress, Volume XIII, Issue 3, 1 November 1917, Page 55

Civic Improvements in Auckland.

There is a Civic League in Auckland which was started three years ago for the purpose of interesting women in all civic matters. The League is absolutely non-denominational and non-political, and is divided into different sub-committees, viz:—Health, Education, Entertainment, House and Town

published which shows a suggested right-of-way from Eden Street and Jermyn Street to Beach Road. Immediately facing the future railway station is a steep bank known as Eden Street, but now covered with rubbish. Having heard that it had been suggested to the City Council to cut up this bank for

Planning, and reading circles. Suitable premises have been lent by Messrs. Hallenstein Bros, for the use of the League during the war. A Sewing Committee has been set up for lied Cross work as well as a Mothers’ Committee, the object of the latter being to collect old clothes and teach poor mothers to cut out and make up children’s garments out of them. The interest this paper has in the League centres on the Town Planning branch, which seems to have laid itself out to improve Auckland city. A design by Messrs. Chilwell and Trevithick, A.R.1.8.A., is

building sites, the Civic League protested against it. Mr. Chilwell kindly drew for the League a scheme for terraced gardens and steps with a fountain at the bottom. This fountain could drain the water from the bank. We can imagine that if the station was built well back from the road with a big circular courtyard in front, as is done on the Continent, and terraced gardens immediately opposite, the first thing that would meet the traveller’s eyes on arrival in Auckland would be a beautiful “Place” worthy of any city.

At the top of the steps are the Law Courts, the finest buildings in Auckland, also Government House and the Metropolitan Grounds, which may become the site of the new University. It is therefore very important to provide a direct approach from Beach Road to the top hill. The suspension bridge promised by the Government, the League thinks, will be very unsightly, and the idea of a vast opening in front of the railway and that of a bridge over the street being incompa tible the Railway Place should be the most important feature of a modern town.

Mt. Albert Reserve (where the Government may sometime stop quarrying), the One Tree Hill Domain, the Racecourse, and the park round St. John, (the accomplishment of this scheme being probably delayed but not abandoned). The scheme is for a boulevard two chain wide with a double row of trees in the middle. Most of the land being still pastoral, it lends itself admirably to great civic design, star-shaped places offering vistas of mountain ranges, and volcanic hills. Like the other schemes, the League claims this to be a utilitarian as well as a beautifying plan.

Mr. Chilwell’s design was presented by the League to Mr. Gunson, Mayor of Auckland, who received it very sympathetically. Any one living in Auckland must be struck by the disconnection of its suburbs. The different tramway lines stretch out like the arms of an octopus, and no attempt is made to link up the suburbs. A scheme devised by Mrs. S. Y. Irwin for a circular boulevard on the continental principle is illustrated on this page. It utilises mostly roads already formed and City Council land. It touches the Western Springs, which could be transformed into a beautiful park with a natural lake and spring, and

The plans have been submitted to many influential men in Auckland, the Mayor of Auckland, the Mayors of different boroughs interested, and has received great encouragement from all sides.

Nottcr and Firth state that: —“A change equal to three times an hour is all that can be borne under the conditions of warming in England, or that is practically attainable with natural ventilation, and, if this be correct, from 1,000 to 1,200 cubic feet should be the minimum allowance for the initial airspace.”