GROWTH OF THE CITY

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21418, 9 March 1935, Page 14

GROWTH OF THE CITY

* Expansion in 20 If ears INCREASES IN AREA AND POPULATION Twenty years is a short span in the history of a big city, but in thai period Christchurch has expanded ' to an extent which, stated in bare figures, will probably surprise most of its residents. In those 20 years the population of the city has increased by 50,000, its area has been almost exactly doubled, its capital value more than doubled and its unimproved value very nearly trebled. During the same period the number of rateable buildings in the city has increased at an average rate of approximately 550 a year; the number of inhabited dwellings has increased by more than 500 a year, and the number of its storehouses has more than doubled. And, another important indicator of progress, the mileage of streets in the city has increased by nearly 100. These interesting details, secured from records published in the year book of the Christchurch City Council for the respective periods 1914-15 and 1934-35, show a general and healthy growth over a period which has not always been conducive to such a development. And from all the available records it appears that generally the development has been progressive in all the most important aspects. The following table summarises the figures for the 20year period: 1914-15. 1934-35. Area . 5,278 acres .10.580 acres Miles of streets 150J 247 Capital value £10,739,300 £29,198,257 Unimproved value £4,402,955 . £11,863,815 Rateable buildings 14,924 25,755 Inhabited dwellings 1.2,582 22,053 Stores and warehouses 1.930 3,102 Population fp.pprox.'i 87,756 < with suburbs) 131,100 Suburbs Absorbed The growth in the material wealth of the city, represented by the value of its buildings and land, has followed closely on the steady extension of area. For many years, until 1923, when the last absorption of a suburb was made, the city proper has been gradually taking outlying suburbs into its area. Originally Christchurch had an area of 1249 acres. That was when the city wa,? first laid out. In 1890 Richmond was added with an area of 562 acres. Linwood was added in 1903, giving the city an additional 659 acres, and in the same year, by the incorporation of St. Albans and Sydenham, an area of 2690 acres was added—a big new slice of city which was itself greater by more than 1000 acres than the whole area of Christchurch at its foundation. There were many subsequent additions of suburban areas, all probably anxious to have the city for a parent. They were Beckenham and Fisherton (200 acres, in 1907), North Linwood (210 acres in 1911), North Richmond (288 acres in 1914), Opawa (275 acres in 1916), Avonside (325 acres in 1917), St. Martins (139 acres in 1917), Spreydon (1295 acres in 1921), Woolston (1276 acres in 1921), Hagley Park (497 acres in 1922), Bromley (252 acres in 1923), and Papanui (613 acres in 1923). So in this way the boundaries of the city have gradually crept out in an ever-widening square; with the Riccarton Borough standing out from the fold in a bottle-neck of land between Waimairi and Addington; with Waimairi itself maintaining its county council status in the face of an ever-increasing urbanisation of its erstwhile rural lands; with the city creeping right up to the foot of Heathcote's hill suburb, and with New .Brighton and Sumner on the outer fringe, the rural gap between the city and the sea growing yearlynarrower. Okl Ward System The acquisition of these suburban areas, with their dwelling houses and shopping centres, has meant an important increase in the capital valuation of the city and in its population; and at the same time an increase in the importance of Christchurch as a city which is reflected noticeably in the size of these two city year books used for thu above comparison. In 1914-15 the city was administered on the ward system—Central Ward, Linwood, St. Albans, Sydenham. Each ward had its own general and special rating. But the general rate in practically every ward during that financial year was 3d in the £ on unimproved value—the general rate for 1934-35 was 3d in the £ on the same basis. Just as is the case now, there were many small rates and levies struck to pay for the improving amenities of the city. Only a mathematician could say to what exact figure they amounted in the aggregate, but 20 years ago there were rates to be paid for hospital and charitable aid, four special rates, water rates, levies by the Drainage Board differing for the sewage area and rural area, a special drainage rate, and others. Two of the special rates for general purposes applied only to the original area of the city. Receipts Compared The money handled by the various departments of the council in 1914 must seem a mere bagatelle to the officers of the present-day administration. Rates r' ed in 1914 totalled £ 120,640. In 1934-35 the total was £327.110." Receipts from electric lighting and power in 1914 were little more than £20,000. Last year they were £209.142 for the sale of current. From licenses in 1914 the city collected £6075: last year the figure was nearly £17,000. On the expenditure side there is the same indication of growth. Salaries in 1914 amounted to £6804. Last year they were £16,320. Street works accounted for an expenditure of £39,588 20 years ago; for 193435 it was £70,792. But in 1914 one item —relief 'of unemployment—did not appear on the city year book. In the list of expenditure for last year relief of unemployment stands at £ 74,708.