PROGRESS OF KARORI

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 89, 8 January 1918, Page 9

PROGRESS OF KARORI

SLOW, BUT SURE A FINE RESIDENTIAL SUBURB

Karori is one of those places that is not go-ahea<l by leaps and bounds, but that progress slowly upon very satisfactory lines. It is first and foremost a residential borough, where no great industrial concerns are likely to take root. Its elevation of some 600 feet above the sea level, and tho incidental difficulties of haulage, seem to afford sufficient guarantee that Karori will never be transformed by "captains of industry" into a smoke-begrimed, noisy congregation of' factories and workers' dwellings. It will continue to stand out of the hurly-burly, just the clean, pleasant suburb that it is at present. A good indication that the progress of /the borough is substantial, though not speedy, is afforded by tho fact that ill the last seven years there has been no speculative building in it. Most of the houses erected have been built for their owners—substantial, ■ comfortable homes, witli their plot of land before and behind giving evidence of careful tending. The buildings erected during 1917 included six dwellings, three motor garages, and an office, and totalled in value £5741. In 1916 nine dwellings wore erected, and the total value of buildings put up in tho borough was £7147. Probably the fact that less construction was carried out .in 1917 than in 1916 was chiefly due to increase in the cost of materials.

That the borough is situated in a very salubrious locality is clear from the infectious diseases statistics fcr the past year. There wero only two cases of infectious disease in twelve months, and those cases were mild. That gives the 2000 odd inhabitants of Karori a- very clean bill of hc&lth indeed. The absence of a municipal water supply arid drainage system makes the record tho more remarkable; but :the explanation probably lies ill l the elevation of the borough and its climatic conditions.

The war has, of course, prevented or postponed the making of many changes in the borough. A good borough water supply and drainage system is - recognised, of course, as something very dc sirable—an(l something that; but for the war, might soon bo an accomplished fact. As matters stand, the Borough Council do nothing but pave the way, by the taking of levels and the making of general surveys, for the execution of a project very dear to its heart. • • • .

Karori's big attraction to city dwellers is the Recreation Reserve, which grows more and more popular.as a ■ site for the holding of picnics. There is a good water supply'from the reservoir in- the park, and the buildings now number six. They comprise a large tearoom and several dressing-rooms, with showers and other lavatory conveniences. -A running track a quarter of a mile in length is marked out, and swings and -see-saws have beon provided for the amusement of chpdren. Bounding the reserve on the side contiguous to tho main road is a handsome concreto wall, seven feet high, and beautified -with- flourishing ivy.

. - The present tram service to Karori is being run- at a profit, though not a very largo-profit. During the past year, ,£3J-75 was expended upon.it,. and the revenue obtained was £3679. Tho Karori borough owns the-line from -the Botanical.Gardens to tho terminus at Karori'Park, and pays 13J-d. i)er car mile for the city service. The charge was formerly 13d., and tho extra J-cl. was imposed last year. Of courso, it reduced tho profits to. the Karori borough. An amount had for some timo been sot aside by Karori as a tramways replacement fund, but owing to a . decision of tho Supreme Court tho funcr had to be applied to tho reduction of the rates. The result was a reduction in rates of 6s. in tho £100 of unimproved value. . .. The public library now displays about 2500 volumes on its-shelves, aiid is patronised by about 50 subscribers. 'Tlieixj has recently been much talk of amalgamating Karori with the c%, but it is quite unlikely that any action will be taken''until the war is over. Up. to tho present, the Borough' Council has received no intimation from the ratepayers that amalgamation is desired, although, it is genorally recognised that amalgamation is corlain to come —some day.

'A,few observations for the guidance of the casual visitor to Karori might not be out of place in this column. Many people, conveyed by tram from the centre or the city to Karori Park, think, that, by gazing at.either side of the main road they ran see Karoil. They cannot. Karori is 100 modest to expose its beauties on the main road; and only by a walk-up Friend St rent, Hatton Street, Beaychamp Street, or Homowood Avenue does the intrepid explorer gain any real knowledge what Karori looks like. To those who are not awaro that Karori possesses fine dwellings and pleasant gardens, the walk is recommended.