MIRAMAR BOROUGH

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8354, 14 February 1913, Page 4

MIRAMAR BOROUGH

RECENT PROGRESS. The Mayor of Miramar, Mr 11. N«. McLeod, and the councillors. of the borough invite citizens to attend the opening of tho Miramar avenue tramway to-day, at 3.30 p.m. Miramar has made steady progress during the last ’ few years. Its burgesses now number 1337. The valua. tion of the borough, covering 9156 acres, is £794,626, and the annual rates amount to £OBB4. There are three and a half miles of tramway in tha borough, which has a water frontage of ten miles. Its wharves can accommodate ocean-going vessels, and there is provision for ferry services. An electric power station, providing power for industries, is in course of erection, Miramar’s Government, borough, and other reserves total about 450 acres. The Wellington Gas Company’s new works at Miramar extend over a frontage of a quarter of a mile, and cost over £100,990. The building of a complete modern gas-producing works bj the company, upon thirteen acres ol land, to replace existing works in tho city, shows very clearly the value of the locality for enterprises. The Union S.S. Company’s works, at Evans Bay, which have a frontage of an eighth of a mile, cost £35,000. In a little illustrated brochure just issued under authority of tho council it is stated: “For the purpose of providing facilities for cheap handling of sea-borne goods the borough has laid down double lines of tram rails, in all respects equal to those of the city electrical system. They at present run over the wharf through Miramar avenue as far as the Wellington Gas Company’s works. Tho box'ough has legislative power to extend tho lines through adjacent streets as required for industries. Tho present line will be connected with the electric tramway systems of the borough and city. When so connected cheap freightages will be available to all points in the city and suburbs. It is estimated tuat 95,000 tons of coal alone will be carried over tho present portion of tha line yearly to supply tho needs of the Gas Company. Compared with cartage, the freightage over tho line is expected to be negligible. “By the Act of 1908 the Wellington Harbour Board is empowered to reclaim 156 acres at the head of Evans Bay. Authority for raising a Idan of £1,000,000 for this and other purposes is given by the Act. Towards the cost of the wharf, retaining wall, and reclamation already done, tho Miramar borough contributes £SOOO and hands over to the Harbour Board an area of six and a half acres. The district surrounding Evans Bay carries some 7006 population. It will in time hays 40 000. Railway communication will inevitably come. A study of the comparative level areas aud land values leads to the conclusion that industries must concentrate at the head of Evans Bay.”