AUCKLAND’S GARDEN SUBURB.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 606, 11 February 1921, Page 5

AUCKLAND’S GARDEN SUBURB.

GROWTH OF PAPATOETOE. True to its tradition as the garden suburb of Auckland, Papatoetoe continues to grow and attract the attention of retiring farmers. This is particularly the case in the last two years, when farmers selling out uieir land at high prices have moved towards the town. Mention was made in the “Times” abou,t 18 months ago of a boom in the building trade. Then the houses in course of erection numbered 11. Now, in spite of the difficulty and frequent delay that almost invariably face the prospective buyer, building goes on apace, the number of houses in the course of erection totalling 13, to say nothing of the many two and threeroomed temporary buildings. Further investigations show that since the first of April last 38 permits, aggregating £26,569, have been issued by the town clerk. Two years have not yet elapsed since the Papatoetoe Road Board was replaced by the Town Board, and it is anticipated that before very many months pass the Papatoetoe Town Board will be displaced by a Borough Council. Some idea of the growth in population is given by a comparison in the number of names on the school roll from 1915. At the beginning of that year there were 170 pupils attending. In 1918 the number increased to 250. To-day it reaches 400. The school building- has just been enlarged to about twice the size, and offers only sufficient accommodation. Consequently it is expected that at the end of the year a pinch will again be felt.