PAEROA’S YEAR.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4795, 5 January 1925, Page 2

PAEROA’S YEAR.

A PERIOD OF PROGRESS.

BUILDINGS AND PUBLIC WORKS. On looking over the year that has just expired it is seen that on the whole the period has been one of steady progress. It is usual at this season of the year to become retrospective and a resume of the doings of our own town during the past year will serve to show that our borough is making slow but sure advancement. The year has been a particularly eventful one. Early in the year the town and adjacent district received a severe setback by the visitation of three floods, each of which caused considerable damage to property and entailed heavy losses. Fortunately a line, mild spring compensated to a certain extent for the damage and loss of pasture occasioned hy the floods. Immediately following Easter a section of the Railway employees declared a strike, which, although of brief duration, caused considerable loss and inconvenience. However, it anything Paeroa boomed during the strike, as the tremendous value of our navigable Waihou River was brought home to us, and many tons of goods for districts as far distant as Tauranga and Hamilton passed over the Puke wharf.

The Borough Council, led by our energetic and capable Mayor, Mr W. Marshall, has not been idle. The major portion of the sewerage system has been satisfactorily completed. The policy of street improvements has been pursued as far as finances and machinery permitted, and now the borough is in possession of a road roller and scarifier, a bitumen sprayingmachine, horses, drays, and a scoop, further long anticipated street improvement work will be put in hand. The borough is now in possession of an up-to-date plant, but it is woefiully behind many much younger boroughs in the matter of adequate footpaths and streets. Let us hope that many of the long-suffering ratepayers will soon have at least decent footpaths to their homes.

Several up-to-date buildings have been erected during the year, notably the new block of shops near the present railway station, and Mr D. McWatters’ premises in Belmcnt Road.

That the Government has faith in the future development and prosperity of Paeroa and district is evidenced by the large amount of public works that ha? been taken in hand during 1924. Ths biggest of these undertakings is the new railway station and yards, the straightening of the line in the vicinity of the railway bridge over the Ohinemuri River, the formation or the railway settlement eff Thames Road, and the erection .of fifteen workers’ dwellings thereon. After nearly fifteen years of agitation ..the Government at last realised the necessity of establishing a manual training school in Paeroa, and that building is now in course of erection on the technical high school site (iff Miller Avenue. Tenders have been called for the new post office, and although the department has not yet announced who the successful tenderer is, it is confidently expected that the erection of this building will be well under way before this year is far advanced. Active work has been done in connection with the maternity hospifay, ami it is gratifying to know that at last negotiations have been completed, btr there is yet no definite indication as to when the actual erection of the institution will be undertaken.

A long-felt want has been fulfilled by the erection of a new and up-to-date fire station, and our volunteer fire brigade has little to complain of as regards accommodation, but the fire council must face the necessity for the provision of a motor reel and modei'ii fire-fighting appliances. In December a poll was taken for the purpose of raising money for further water reticulation in the borough and the enlarging of existing meins. The proposal was carried, and this necessary work is to be put in hand as soon as possible. During the year the trustees of the Ohinemuri Public Library, with the sanction of the subscribers, decided to municipalise the library, and the necessary legal steps to give effect to this change are being taken. During the year a commissions was set up to decide a question of boundaries between the Ohinemuri County and the Paeroa Borough Council. Borrough ratepayers petitioned for exclusion. and they gained the verdict, but the Borough Council was justified in opposing their exclusion from the borough. There were few changes ir the matter of sport during the year. The Acclimatisation Society comprises a small band of enthusiasts who have made every endeavour to keep the district to the fore by the provision of adequate angling and game. The Ohinemuri Jockey Club has expended a large sum on permanent improvements to the racing track and buildings, and the benefit will be derived during the coming meeting in March. The club’s enterprise will do much towards further popularising, racing in our town. An active branch >i the Yeung Citizens' League was formed during the year, and a large number of the local school pupils were enrolled as members. An energetic advisory council has been selected to control the branch, and an interestin'’ programme of work and social intercourse is being prepared for this year. The Beautifying Society as a whole lias shown little activity during the past year, but to Misses Dntton and Brownbill a large measure of praise is due for the manner in which they have maintained the plot near the Methodist Church. Regardless of the seasons these ladies have kept that area in a wealth of bloom aud a picture of beauty and tidiness.

The Grim Reaper has dealt with some of our eldest and most highly respected citizens during the year just passed, and to those who are left to mourn we extend condolences. Our town and district received a good share of market prices and prosperity, and the ensuing year promises to see all records of output by our primary producers exceeded. The

prospects are good for satisfactory . ? prices for the farmers whose land has no* been purchased at too hjgh’a jA "; price. Residents of this district are ; .J vevy fortunate in having such did surroundings, and if we only do our.part the progress of the future ■ must inevitably exceed that of the past. We look forward to this new year with every confidence, 'and wan trust that prosperity, joy, and happiy .\= ness will eventuate,