Developing Suva.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 January 1922, Page 4

Developing Suva.

“AN OBJECT LESSON IN UNSELFISH WORK.” IXTERESTINO DETAIDS. WELLINGTON, Jan. 10. Suva during the last six years Inis given a wonderful lesson in municipali; in In all the cities of the Empire, says a Fiji correspondent. Mr 11. M. Scott-, K.C., went into the council six years ago as one of a Reform party, when the city’s income was £3OOO or so a year, when the streets were mud puddles, and also impassable, when footpaths were almost unknown, when the city boasted an old decrepit wood wharf as the sole convenience for shipping, and "hen a few straggling oil lamps were tee only ef-' fort at street lighting. To-day the. citr lias tar macadamised thorough- , fares equal to any in the Dominions, | concrete or asphalt paths for tom passengers, wharfage accommodation ! which would he a credit to any ' iar “ j hour, a splendidly bright electric street lighting system, an ideal sewerage service, and" a water supply more pure than that of Loch Katrine to Glasgow, which is world-famous. “M UNICIPAL Al ILLEXNIUM.”

The municipal estimates have just keen passed, and they will read as a fairy tale to the people in the Dominions who think of the iHjis as savage coral islands lying forlorn under

tropic skies. Six vea-rs ago Suva’s revenue yvLis £3900, to-day it is over £30,000, with u roll of ratepayers numbering some 1109, only 500 of whom are Europeans, imagine 1100 people raising an annual revenue of £30,000 , and a rate book which shows practically no arrears of rates. On the face of such a statement, it would appear as ii the municipal millennium Las just about veaqhcd the capital of the AVcstern Pacific. WHAT A HANDFUL OF BRITONS DID.

A glance at a few of the figures is not only pleasant reading, but will no doubt raise much wondering inquiry among readers. Under the new valuation just completed, the rateable value of property within the municipal area (which does mil include Government House and many of the larger residences) is Coti 1,522, of which Government-owned p-opert v’ £122,153. is exempt, leaving !m amount of £112,0(59, on which rate, he levied. To cover estimated

cxpcndilure a total rate of Old in the l; has been decided on and approved. This will provide an income 'asJolla a sGeneral rate of 2d yields £37-30 [■•■'veilin' from services, £8303: educational rate of lid yields £270?; sewerage rate of 3',d yields £7023; fire brigade rate of fd yields £1405; hum rate of U-;d yields £3201. Besides these the electric' lighting and power income is estimated'at £11,650; giving a total income for 1922 of £3S,bO2. It a sounds like an epic of mumcipa achievement, and one of which the citizens may well be proud. The figures should give the people of Australia and New Zealand a greater respect for the handful of Britons m Fiji who are offering to the Empire an object-lesson in unselfish progress.