PROGRESS OF PAEROA.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5071, 5 January 1927, Page 2

PROGRESS OF PAEROA.

THE YEAR’S RETROSPECTION. WORKS AND IMPROVEMENTS. In stepping out into a new year it is interesting to look back °n the past 12 months and compare, it with the progress made during previous years. For the Borough of Paeroa the year 1926 has been an unusually full one, and one that should give rise to optimism in regard to the 'future of the town. Steady progress has been made throughout the year, and there is every indication that that progress and development will be maintained. BOROUGH MATTERS. The past year has been a particularly arduous one for the. Borough Council, and much good work has been accomplished. We repeat that the sincere thanks o'f the ratepayers is due to His Worship the. Mayor (Mr W. Marshall), who so ably guided the destinies of the borough. Although there 'have been differences of opinion among the councillors, as is only natural where progressive works are undertaken and the raising and spending of loan money is entailed, it is a matter for congratulation the. way the City Fathers have, in the main, sunk their individual views and feelings in their endeavour to (1; t,he greatest good for .the greatest number. The interests o'f ratepayers have beeji the first consideration of the council, and it can be stated with confidence that an honest endeavour has been made to push matters along on sound, progressive lines consistent with the limited finances available.

The erection of new municipal offices in Normanby Road was commenced towards the end of 1925, and the offices were officially opened by Mr A. M. Samuel, M.P., on April 36 of last year. The new premises, which stand on municipal property, were erected wit,hin the, amount of the loan (£2000) authorised for the purpose by the ratepayers, and have filled a long-’felt want, and is a. building which is in keeping with the pr<>'grtess of the town.

Negotiation® instituted by the Mayor for the acquisition of the Rawhitiroa reserve as a municipal park and playing area were finalised during the This area, which is centrally situated, is a desirable one for the purpose for which it was obtained, and the Mayor is to be congratulated on the foresight displayed in securing it 'for posterity. Early in January’ further roticulation of the water supply was completed, and in different localities existing water mains were enlarged. The borough has now a good distribution, and a supply of water, which for domestic purposes, is considered to be equal to any in the; Dominion.

Storm water drainage, which has for so long been a serious menace to the development o'f the borough, has be.en tackled rn no uncertain manner.. The main outfall drain extending from the Ohinemuri River, near the old junction, to the Thames Road, has been widened, cleared and deepened. The result of this • work has been evident already. It. is pleasing to report that so satisfactory has been the work that certain areas which were previously inundated for days at a time after .a heavy downpour of rain are now free o’f storm-r water within a few hours. The large drain passing through the croquet grens in the domain has been replaced with pipes. This work has made a big difference in disposing of the flooding which used to occur in the Arney Street-Normanby Road locality.

During t.his year it is Irtped to pipe and fill in many of the unsightly and dangerous drains which are in existance at present. Extensions to the sewerage system have bejen made, and householders have been given every assistance and encouragement to connect tjreir to the system. The council’s health committee has rendered good service in this direction.

Street lighting has also received attention during the year, and several extensions and improvements are. now in ' the, course of being carried into effect. STREET IMPROVEMENTS.

The policy o'f street maintenance and improvements has received vigilant care, and attention. Reference is particularly made to Taylor’s Avenue, which was taken over from the Railway Department and formerly opened to traffic in January last. Although constructed over difficult ground, and called upon to bear a large volume of heavy motor and general .traffic, this street, which is the main thoroughfare between the railway station and the town, is a fine wide, avenue.

Probably the greatest improvement has ben carried out in the vicinity <-'f the post office. The whole of the western side of this street has beeji kerbed and channelled, 'foot-paths made and the road formed for its full width. A proposal is, now in hand to create a special rating area for the pupose o’f raising sufficient money to lay down a bitumen surface from Belmont Road intersection to .the Bank of New Zealand. A remarkable change has taken place in front of tjhet post office where Normanby Road, Belmont Road, Princes, and Wharf Streets converge. The band rotunda has been removed at this point, and what was a swampy, grassy area, is now a good ine.tal triangle. When completed this locality will be one o'f the best in the borough, and destined to be the natural centre of the town. In common with other parts of t.he Dominion street maintenance is a difficult problem owing to the large increase in motor vehicular traffic. It is gratifying to find that t,he Mayor and his colleagues are equal to the occasion, and much is being done out of the limited finances available. Footpaths are a source o'f ccmplaint in many parts of t.he borough, but these, too, are being gradually improved to afford reasonable access to homes, THE POST OFFICE. The handsome new post office was completed early in the year, and the telephone exchange was transferred to its new quarters on May 15. A red-letter day in the history of the

town and district was May 17, on which date the post office was formally opened by the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, Prime Minister. This stately edifice, which is one of the first of its design in New Zealand, is indeed a building to be proud O'f, and one that would be a credit to a much larger town. RAILWAY IMPROVEMENTS. Extensive work has been carried out, by the Railway Department during the year. In February the last span of tlie double-track bridge over the Ohinemuri Rivej- was laid in positk n. On April 16 the bridge was officially tested and made ready for traffic. The change-over to the new line was made on Sunday, April 18, and the first, passenger train passed over early the. following morning. A loop-line for the reception of the Paeroa- Waihi train has been constructed at the station, and many improvements and alterations have been made. The electric automatic signalling and locking apparatus is to lie put into operation shortly. Since September 13 a Sentinel-Caramel steam car service has been running between Frankton Junction and Thames. This service., which connects, with the expresses from Auckland and Wellington at Frankton, has. proved very popular and a great convenience to people, in this district. RESTORATION OF LICENSES.

By vote of the people in November, 1925, licenses were restored in Ohinemuri. Paeroa was selected as the headquarters of the electorate, and on March 9 the election of five members to form a licensing committee was held. A large number of persons contested the election, and in this, connection it is pleasing to record that Mr W. J. Towers, a former Mayor of Paeroa, and a highly esteemed resident of the town, topped the poll with 1464 votes. The committee, under the chairmanship of Mr J. H. Salmon, S.M., held its first, meeting in June. After being in a state of compulsory “drought” for just over 17 years licenses were granted in the district, and two hotels opened their bars, for the sale of spirituous liquors on July 8. A week later a third license was granted to Paeroa. Just what effect the restoration of licenses has had commercially it is difficult to state, but it, has at least been the means of placing Paeroa on an equal footing with adjacent towns. Before licenses were granted the houses to receive them were all thoroughly renovated and refurnished, as require, d under the Licensing Act and i,ts amendments. The result is that the town can now boast; of modern hotels, replete with every possible convenience, which are. the envy of much larger towns. BUILDING ACTIVITIES. That people have faith and confidence in the future prosperity of Paeroa has been exemplified by the number of buildings, public and private, that have been erected. The total value of building permits for 1926 was £49,328, which constitutes a recard 'for the. borough. In addition to the post office, municipal chambers, and hotels already referred to, private citizens have carried out much rebuilding and renovation of shop premises, chief of these operations. being to the order, of Mr J. P. Gamble, W. Fleming and Son, Ltd., Miss Cock, Mr W. J. Ellis, and others. In each instance great improvement has been made, showing not only considerable enterprise on the part of the respective owners, but that, they have faith in the town. Enterprise has also been shown by residents in the erection of private dwellings, and many fine, modern, and attractive homes have been built during the year, and there is at present no sign o'f the building trade slackening. Included in the new buildings in course of erection the new theatre and block of shops in Normanby Road, the Royal Mail Hotel, Belmont Road, and a block of .shops in Normanby Road opposite the Municipal Chambers. Also’, a movement is on foot, to erect a dental clinic .at the local district high school, and notice has be.en given at the; Borough Council table to consider ways and means to establish public swimming baths. The erection of a substantial traffic bridge to replace the present structure over the Ohinemuri River is also being undertaken by the Public Weiks Department. FIRE BRIGADE. Fortunately, the Paeroa Volunteer Fire Brigade, has received few calls on its services. It is pleasing to record that, by divers means, the brigade now possesses a modern motor reel and up-to-date flre-flghtitg appliances. THE DAIRYING INDUSTRY. With the steady growth and advancement of Paeroa it is to be much deplored that; the powers that be of the N.Z. Co-operative Dairy Co.,Ltd., decided that a branch office in the town was no longer necessary. With the closing of the year the Deal office ceased to function’ and the staff and records have been absorbed in the company’s head office at Hamilton. Thus, for the first time in nearly 30 years, a dairy company's office is m* longer in our midst. The prosperity o'f the town is almost wholly dependent on the prosperity df the primary producer. The pay-out for butter-fat to .the settlers during the 1925-26 season totalled many thousands of pounds sterling. The; late, wet spring, combined with the lower prices for produce., has had a serious effect, but it. is expected that when this season closes it will be found that at least a corresponding sum has been distributed among the farmers. This is anticipated because milking herds, have been increased, scientific herd-testing has been instituted, and the recent rise in prices has put heart into the farmers and placed them in a position to carry on cheerfully. VISIT OF GOVERNOR-GENERAL. On December 9 the Governor-Gen-eral, Sir Charles Fergusson, Lady Alice. Fergusson, and party paid .a brief visit to Paeroa, and were accorded a befitting and enthusiastic welcome from the citizens at the domain. The last Vice-Regal visitors to Paeroa were Lord and Lady Jellicoe, in April, 1921. CONCLUSION. The passing of 1926 has meant the

loss by death o'f several aged pioneers. The removal of these respected folk, although inevitable, severs the links with the early days, and their demise is always keenly felt. With one exception Paeroa. has been free o'f serious accidents during the year. Looking 'forward, the prospects for 1927 are encouraging. Progress can be stimulated if citizens will take an intelligent interest in their town. May they come forward willingly and cheerfully, and shoulder responsibilities as well as reap benefits, and by co-operation and mut.ua! goodwill never let slip an opportunity to assist in Paeroa’s progress and development-