RETROSPECTION.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4921, 4 January 1926, Page 2

RETROSPECTION.

PROGRESS OF PAEROA BOROUGH. WORKS AND IMPROVEMENTS. It is customary at Christmas, and New Year to look back on ths year’s work and compare it with the progress made in previous years. For Paeroa the year 1925 has been a momentous one, and one that should give rise to optimism in regard to the future of the borough. At the commencement of the year Paeroa, in common with the whole Dominion, was placed under the health restrictions owing- to the infantile paralysis epidemic that was raging, but it is very satisfactory to report that there was only one case—and that a mild one—of the dread disease recorded in the borough. Early in February the Ohinctauri Light and Power Co. ceased operations, ami the manufacture of gas for cooking and lighting purposes became a thing of the past.

Early in the year the extensive Improvements to the Paeroa racecourse were completed, and at the time of the annual race meeting in March the cours,e and its environs were looking their best, and the Ohinemuri Jockey Club members were the recipients of congratulations from all sides on. their enterprise. The course is now considered to be one of the best appointed of rhe provincial racing clubs. BOROUGH MATTERS.

The past year has, been a particularly arduous one for the Borough Council. It is indeed a matter -for congratulation that there is a person of the calibre of our worthy Mayor (Mr W. Marshall) to guide the destin ies_ of this borough along sound, progressive lines. Not only is Mr Marshall gifted wiht clarity and a farseeing vision, but he has unbounded faith in the future of Paeroa. To this end he, Loyally backed up by the councillors, has made an honest endeavour to push matters along on progressive lines consistent with the limited finances of the council.

Early in the year the Borough Council completed negotiations with the Public Works Department and the Northern Steam Ship Co., Ltd., for a lease of the Ngahina wharf. Although not quite up to expectations, tlie acquisition of the wharf by the council has proved to be a good source, of revenue, and has been the means of sustaining public interest in keeping the Waihou River in navigable condition for steamers.

The municipal elections were held in April. After receiving several deputations requesting him to accept office for a further term Mr W- Marshall was returned unopposed to the mayoral chair. The election of nine councillors provided a spirited contest, and four new members, were elected in addition to five former councillors. ‘ For the first time Paeroa last year was given representation on the Thames Harbour Board, and the deputy-Mayor, Cr. E. Edwards, was selected as the borough’s first representative. Crs, F. E. Fl.att and P. E. Brenan were again elected as representatives on the Thames Valley Electric Power* Board and Thames Hospital and Charitable Aid Board; respectively. In August the ratepayers authorised the council to borrow the sum of £2o'oo for the purpose of erecting municipal offices on the library s,ite in Normanby Road. The erection of the building has been commenced, and when completed will not only fill a long-felt want, but will be a building which will be in keeping, with the progress of the town. Negotiations were recently entered into for the purchase of the Rawhitiroa reserve, adjoining the lawn tennis courts, by the council. The town is r,ather indifferently situated in, regard ,to suitable reserves, and it was, with an eye to future needs and development that the Mayor took steps to secure this desirable site for the use of posterity. STREET IMPROVEMENTS.

The policy of street maintenance and improvements has. received vigilant care and attention. It is pleasing to record that several streets have been put down in permanent materials, and the work done is expected to easily outlive the period of the loan. Owing to the increasing motor traffic street maintenance has become a problem which has been tackled on sound lines, and creditable work has been done, not tnly out of the loans previously authorised, but every available penny of revenue has been diverted to street improvements. Obviously, there are many years of hard work ahead before the streets reach anything Like a standard' commensurate with the growth of the borough, but the council is, undoubtedly working on business-like lines, and the policy of doing a small portion at a time and doing it thoroughly has much to commend it. The footpaths are a source of complaint iu many parts of the borough, but these are gradually being improved, if only temporarily, to afford reasonable means, of access to homes. WATER RETICULATION. The enlargement of existing water mains and extensions do the service received attention during the year. Four-inch mains replacing smaller pipes have already been laid in Thames and Station roads, and in Hill and Moore streets, and further improvements, are to be carried out almost immediately. Paeroa is in the fortunate position of hatfing one of the purest w,ater supplies in the Dominion, and the annual water charges are very low in comparison with other boroughs. PUBLIC BUILDINGS. Considerable activity has taken place during the year as regards public buildings, Tlie manual training school has been completed. The new post office is nearing completion, and is a very handsome structure which adds materially to the appearance of the town. A new and up-to-date railway station has been erected in Moore Street and the old building partly,

demolished. Tenders have been accepted for the new maternity and casualty hospital, and, as previously mentioned, work is under way for the erection of municipiil chambers. Considerable painting and renovating of buildings has taken place, notably at the Courthouse, police station and residence, and. the installation of electric light at the present post officeEnterprise has also been shown by residents in the erection of private dwellings, and many fine, new, and up-to-date homes have been built during the year. RAILWAY MATTERS. Extensive work has* been carried out by the Railway Deaprtment during the year. This has been rendered necessary by the rearrangement of the station yard and buildings on a more roomy sjte at 'the Puke end of thetown. In addition to .the removal ot the station and a.tendant buildings and the rearrangement of the permanent track, a new double-line bridge over the Ohinemuri River is in the course of construction, as also is a sub-way at the William Street crossing. . Much stop-banking work, with ■the consequent raising of the railway lines, has also been carried out. The •construction of a concrete culvert for the main outfall drain in Taylor’s Avenue has been completed, but the forming and metalling of this thoroughfare is still in hand. "When completed Taylor’s avenue will be the direct route from the station to the, town. This work is, well underway, and it is hoped to have it finished in time to carry the race traffic in March. v THE GENERAL ELECTION.

The general election and licensing issues of 1925 will long be remembered in the history of the borough. After twenty years, of faithful service as representative of the Ohinemuri elec-, toratc in the House of Representatives Mr H. Poland was defeated by a newcomer, a Reformer, in the person of Mr A. M. Samuel. Alter being in a state of no-license for, seventeen years the electors gave their votes in favour of the restoration of licensed houses throughout the electorate, the issue being carried by a majority of 17 votes. Just what results, commercially. the sale of liquor in the borough will have remains to be,seen-. Suffice it to say at the present juncture that the step is a progressive one in that it will place the town on a more equal footing with adjacent towns. - FIRE BRIGADE. After nearly thirty years of battling along with inadequate flre-flghting. facilities the volunteer fire brigade. has recently received some encouragement from .the residents. An organised appeal for funds was. launched a few months ago, and it resulted in a sufficient sum of money being raised to purchase a much-needed motor fire reel. The Borough Council has also strained. its limited finances and voted a s.um sufficient .to provide some of the urgently needed extras. Before the year is far advanced it is confidently expected that the services rendered by the firemen will .in some measure receive tangible recognition by the- provision of more up-to-date facilities. DAIRYING INDUSTRY. The prosperity of the town is almost wholly dependent on the prosperity of the primary producers. The pay-out for butter-fat to the settlers during the 1924-25 season totalled many thousands of pounds sterling, and although a late spring and the generally adverse weather conditions up .to the present have combined to reduce the output for 1925-26 it is[ to be expected that when the season closes it will be found .that at least a corresponding sum lias been distributed. among the settlers. This is anticipated, because the milking herds have - been increased and butter-fat prices were higher during the first three or four months of the shortage than was the case last year. Looking at the position as a whole,, the prospects for 1926 are encouraging. An impprtant point is to have faith in the town and leave no stone unturned to .assist in its progress and development-