A REVIEW OF THE TOWN BOARDS FROM THE COMMENCEMENT TO THE PRESENT TIME.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 11 September 1912, Page 3

A REVIEW OF THE TOWN BOARDS FROM THE COMMENCEMENT TO THE PRESENT TIME.

TO THE EDITOR,

Sir, —The first election of the Board was held on the 26th November, 1883. The gentlemen elected to office were Messrs I. McLeod (chairman), A. N. Lester ; H. Ballans, and A. Becroit, who held office until September, 1886. The third election returned Messrs H. Ballans (chairman), H. Stanaway.R, M. Cameron, I. McLeod, and A. Becroft; Mr I. McLeod had done good work on the Board and for the township by having the south of Helensville surveyed and formed into avenues—and in the early days the Board had to face the first formation of our roads, with very little revenue to meet all requirements. After this Board, Messrs W. Downer. D, Donovan, C. H. Spinley, John L. Stewart, James E, Lambert, and others did good services on the Boards. In the year 1886 the question of a water supply for the town came before the Board, Helensville then being in a progressive state, three saw-mills being in full working. An engineer, Mr Hubbard, was engaged by the Board to draw up plans and specifications of a water service from the Lake Wharepapa. The lake and creek' were offered to the Board for the sum of £200, the offer to hold good for twelve months. The engineer's estimate of cost was £6000 to bring the water in by gravitation to the level of Mr H. Stanaway's residence in the Eighth Avenue, and £10,000 to force the water by a ram into a reservoir just above the Cemetery, which would have given a pressure all over the town. In the engineer's report, he stated that there was sufficient water to supply 10.000 inhabitants with pure water. When this came before the Board for consideration the question of finance had to be faced, and the raising of a loan in those days was not so easy as kt the present time, money being readily taken at 10 per cent; and time went on, and our sawmills began to slow down, and at last stopped, and soon after the population decreased about 200, and house property was at a discount, —a house now standing in Eighth Avenue valued at about £200, was then sold for £27, house and land. The water question did not come forward agaiu until the year 1907, when Mr R. M. Cameron was Chairman. The Board then visited the prosent proposed water supply. A private estimate of cost, £6000, to supply Helensville with water, was made by a member, but it did not come before* the Board. The late Editor of the '* Kaipara Advertiser " taok the matter ud, trying to show the 'ratepayers that the Board was' about to saddle the town with a loan of £12.000 for water alone; he knew that would be the cost. The present estimate is £5000. At about, this time Mr Cameron's Board was replaced by Mr James McLeod coming into office, and the water question was kept in motion and was still in progress when, at the election in the year 1910, Mr James McLeod's party was re-placed by Mr James Stewart, our present Chairman in office, which the people have cause to regret: seeing that he is going to saddle the incoming Board with liabilities amounting to about £400, on the incoming rates of about £600. REVIEW OP THE HOT SriIIXGS DOMAIN; In the year 1883, Mr I. McLeod being Chairman of the Board, the Reserve was made over to the Board at their request. The estate was at that time covered with ti-ttee and the only spring then was a mud-hole, and the question of funds required to make a start was the problem. The first money raised, about £8, by the sale of ti-tree for road fascines. That amount covered the cost of burning ■ and puttingdown grass-seed ; that was ail that had been spent on the ground for some years. It was leased after this for fourteen years at £3 per year, certain improvement? to bo made to the grounds. This was during the dark ages of Helensville. The Board reentered and took possession, but was again troubled as to how to raise the funds,—Mr Gamer en being Chair ir an of the Board at this time. A. company was spoken of with a capital of .£lO,----000 to develope the Springs, but when refered to the Government for their consent, the reply came "No." The next move of the Board was a request that the late Premier, Hon. R. J. Seddon, should be asked to visit the Spiings, which he did in Nov. 1905,

and in an address promised that something should be done to assist the development of this domain. After this the Board got a straight grant of: £200, and this was the first money spent on improvements, In May, 1900 the first building was let by tender] costing £i 94 10s, to be conrpletecj. ready for six baths ; and not long afj ter the second grant of £200 was paid over to the Board and that covered the cost of the six enamel baths, waiter tanks, and piping, completing th^ six baths for public use. They wei^ formally opened on the 10th June} 1907, by the Hon. Geo. Fowlds who brought 132 guests from Auckland by special train. In December, 1907. the Board applied for a giant of £75C for a swimming bath and four private; baths. which was granted on the ap-> proval of plans and specifications sentj to Wellington. In April 1908, the: tender was accepted for £641 for above bath, and £100 was spent on main drain to Creek and other works. The above works were finished less supplying the large swimming bath with water in January 1908, The tender of Mr J. Simcock was accepted for the Caretakers' Cottage, and there being no funds, the members of the Board1 w"ent personally responsible for ah overdraft of £200 to help the progress of work in hand. At a Board meeting held on the 13th day of July, 1908, A. Becroft moved and Mr J. L. Stewart seconded, " That this Board apply for another grant of £2000 for improvements as follows :—To grounds, £700; Caretaker's Cottage, £200; Boring for Water, £300; Ladies swimming and private baths, £1000. In September of the year 1908 euded the Cameron Government, and the election returned Mr James McLeod to the Chair, and in the earb part of his term £1000 was granted on the application for the £2000, The first vote of £200 was mide on account of the £1000, During Mr McLeod's term the gardener was engaged, the swimming bath was supplied, and general progress was made to the buildings and grounds, and the election that took place in September 1910. return- : ed Mr James Stewart to the Chair. The writer wishes to bring this before the electors to show what has been done by the previous Boards. The Board at the present time is working ' on the balance of the £1000 that was placed on the Estimates in "the year i 1908. All members of the Board have had notice that the Government does not intend to make any more grants, as it, is of the opinion the department of Tourist and Health Resorts should take over the Springs for development, and this question has .yet lo come before the Board for consideration. I have nearly finished my 22nd year as a member of the Board and have had the honour of being Chairman, which is not at times the most pleasant of positions. But during my time of service I have not seen anything approaching what it has been for the past two years " A One Man Board." 1 lam again offering myself for election feeling that I am still able to work and assist in the progress of the town in general. I am. etc., j.. Alfred Becroit,