The Guardian AND EVENING STAR. THURSDAY, APRIL 5th, 1923.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 April 1923, Page 2

The Guardian AND EVENING STAR. THURSDAY, APRIL sth, 1923.

BOROUGH EXPANSION. With the town on the upward move, there is a duty devolving on the Municipal Council to meet the improving situation, and do everything in its power to encourage the progress ot the plnce. One direction in which useful help can he given is in regard to pro viding more land for building sections. There are few towns in the Dominion, wo should think, which lias ho many municipal endowments as Hokitika. There is hardly a block in the town without its reservation section. The pioneer surveyors looked well to the future and seemed to bo providing for such a period as is now arriving. But with all the endowments the town derives very little income from the land. This .suggests that the position is worth looking into, either By the present Council, or the one to succeed it shortly. Only some £IOO are derived in revenue front the town reserves which number over eighty sections. The Mayor recently indicated that the Hall Street drain was going to bring Whiteombe Square into profit for section building. That consummation might well ho hastened now. as there is the demand for section sites. There are numerous reserves alx>ut the town in good situations which would realise a substantial figure if the Council sought legislative authority to sell them, and with the cash proceeds could set about the drainage of such areas as tne Public Park of 125 acres,—which is a handy suburban area. This is a proposition worth conning over in respect also io other reserves of ten or twenty acres each in the town or on its outskirts. The Public Park area is so situated as to he drainable into the Hokitika river either by way of the lower portion of Livingstone Street drain, or by a di-

reet affluent to D-’e river along the eastern town boundary. J lit* alternative course would he of value to the County lands and roads in that neighborhood and some iinanciai assistance might ho forthcoming from that (piartor. The reserves on the outskirts are worth examining closely to note their adaptability to the purpose in mind, and the income to lx? derived would more than pay the cost oi bringing the areas into use. No"’ they are lying fallow, and are merely storing places for water which lias to be drained away in any ease. ]f the drainage were improved to ensure dry country, the reserves could he cut up, and sold or leased, and buildings would be erected, and the property return rates and other revenue, annually. With the expansion of the town in mind these matters are tf great importance and should form a foremost plank in the municipal policy of the immediate present. Really, the Council Inis an excellent opportunity to enter upon a remunerative enterprise which " ill add to the income of tile local body, and supply the residential intlux with good sections to build upon. Apropos ol the Borough expansion, also, it is to he hoped that the works policy sanctioned under the late loan proposals is not going to lie hung up indefinitely. It is high time some forward move was made in commencing the expend:! ui e. some of which is very urgent. Some weeks have elapsed now, unite sufficient time indeed, to dispose of the legal formalities, and it is for the Council now to commence its preliminaries in the wav of preparing plans, etc. At the time the loan proposals were before the public, a very good suggestion was ottered by Hoti. Michel to secure expert advice in regard to undertaking the works. This preliminary survey work might well he begun now so that as soon as funds are available there will be as little delay as possible in going on with the more urgent expenditure. The Council having taken the responsibility of formulating the proposals, and receiving the ratepayers' sanction is fully justified in taking the work in hand. No doubt tho members realise the opportunity coming this way for expansion, and it "ill he in the interests of the town in anticipate the busier tunes to the fullest, extent ef the resources. The municipality has pertain advantages "liieli should he utilised to the fullest, and an active policy oil the pint of the Council will *he conducive to the Borough expansion which is now foreshadowed.