PRETTY & PROSPEROUS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2787, 3 June 1916, Page 11

PRETTY & PROSPEROUS

OLD NEW PLYMOUTH

fIIRECT OCEAN SERVICE

COMING

i'IG DEVELOPMENTS AHEAD

. One flf the .oldest towns'in Now Zealand, al'id one of the prettiest, is New Plymouth, it is a town that has Had its sevejre.i trials, but to-day it is still going stiiadily ahead. . Colonised almost at the dawn of New Zealand's history, tho chicf town of Taranaki has many romantic associations. I<W places in -the Dominion,' ;for one. thing, have seen such stirring times as "were wiun'essed in and about old Nevr Plymouth. in tho days of the Maori war. All the ■early troubles, however, wero overcome, an<f to-day tliero stands in tiie vicinity o-jl the beaches oil which tho first colonists landed one of the largest towns in 'the island. With its moiui- ; tain,, the ocean at its front door, and us beautiful gardens, New Plymouth is an ideal holiday resort, ■ -and a charming place to .aside in. Of course, mention must be ina.de of tho '.Grounds; .tin) most' beautiful New Zealand possesses. ' , Apart from its beauties, which attract tho tourist, New Plymouth lias business attractions. It 'has, behind it great stretches of (dairying, country, and is the port which 'serves a very largo portion oi that prolific .'province, Taranaki. Just now tiie town, is considered to bo on the eve <id' greatly increased prosperity. For yiiars the people tliero havo been endeavouring to induce the shipping companies to bring .the big ocean traders direct'; .to the port of New Plymouth, Many';. of tho. earlier efforts could not bo regarded as successful, but . they paved tho way- To-day, New llymoutli has a promise i from one of the big snipping ■ concerns '"-that its wish will be acceded to, and r ±ho ocean liners arei expected ■ tneia ia. September or October. ■That ia good wiws.for New Plymouth, and some of the leading business men regard it as the .test news the town has had for years. 'I'he beginning ot the direct ocean service* is looked upon as the opening of an era. of fresh prosperity. ■ Also, everyone iji very hopeful that tho iron industry will': be established on a sound commercial. basis in the_ very near future, and nieanvrhilo there is no prospect of any of the other staple industries going back. . „ ' Ono of the latea; signs of progress in New Plymouth is 'the new electric tram system, which has .now been in operation some little time, first tram service commenced ojn March 10, and tho lull service was going'by April 21. .The; early service was from I'itzroy to the railway ! station, and the complete -run is irom 'Eitzroy to--tho'breakwater. The official opening .of' the -venture took place this week; , r; • . , . . ' .Ths undertaking runs into about .£60,500, but those concerned in the management of it .are convinced' that it is a payable proposition; and 6atisned that so far it is doing particularly well. Although this is winter time, and tho service is in its infancy;, tho receipts are oven now not far slioii of the outgoings. In tho summer months, when there is a. considerable tourist tijaJfic in tho town, 'tho winter deficit wilt be, to say the least, reduced. There are six cars, asnd they are probably the most comfortable and attractively designed in the IJominion. They are very wide, and are jbuilt. for comfort rather than with a view: to utilising the whole of the spaoe for svsnting accommodation. Ono .of- the reasons, why the cars are so roomy is'the'fact! that they run on a-Ift. 3|in. gauge,; wlitcli is particularly wide. - i , . The total length of IratS: is 390 chains, and there is a twMy isimites service, increasing to' a fifteen nrinutcs . service when necessary. The tramways manager, Mr. R. 11. Hartley, expresses himself as thoroughly satisfied that all is going -well, and that besides being of great couwanience to the public the service will prope a financial success. Tho installation of the teams marks a progressive step on the jiart of tho borough, "and " it -may bo oaf- to record the names of tho council in power in this important year. The Mayor is Mr. C. H. Burgess, and the councillors are Messrs. W. A. Collis, 11. Griffiths,. J. 'W. Hayden, 'F. J. Hill,' A. H. Johnstone, W. Ifaunfe, J. S. S. Medley, L. M. Monteatli, W. F. Short; S. Siiiith, A. E. Watkins, and T. E. Wilson. 1 ' - J .. Officers of the council are:—Town Clerk; Lieut.-Col. F. ' Bellringer, now Commandant at Rangiotu Camp; Acting-Town <J!ark,, Mr. A. Whcatley;. .borough engineer, Mr. 'E. 0. Clayton; ,tramways manager, Mr.; R. H; Bartley; electrical engineer, Mr. H. Black.