Our Suburbs.

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 1, 7 April 1894, Page 5

Our Suburbs.

NORTH INVERCARGILL. This borough is a striking’ example ■of the beneficent I’esults that follow the subdivision of comparatively large blocks of land into small holdings. It consisted at first of the three properties or townships of Clinton, Mi 'chelltown, and Charleston, but some Crown land to the northward was afterwards added, and the borough as now constituted has an area of about ,340 acres. For a long time the locality could boast of but few inhabitants, but when the blocks referred to found their way into the market, the sections, ■some of which were sold by their on the deferred payment system, were quickly taken up, and today North Invercargill, with its comfortable dwelling-houses and well-kept -o-ardens, is one of the most attractive of our suburban sisterhood, and an ■object lesson as to the transformation than can be wrought in a landscape by settlement and cultivation. I or be it known, the place has been i\on fiom the primeval forest. About thirtytwo years have elapsed since Mr John Garmson settled at North Invercargill. An old German, whose name bas escaped his memory, was building a dwelling there then, and afterwards sold out to the late Mr A. Fraser, but Air Garmson believes that to himself belongs the distinction of being the first person who actually lived there. It was dense bush all round, extending to Tay street on the south and to & the North Road on the west Ere loxm, however, sawpits, *he couriers of •our sawmills, were set going in all directions to meet the demand for timber for building purposes, but for some years roads and ditches were unknown luxuries, a labyrinth of bullock tracks serving the dwellers in the bush instead. Timber was selling then at 25s per 100 ft. The first sawmill at North Invercargill was established by the late Mr William Fraser, who supplied timber for a time at 21s per 100 ft. Gradually as the land was thrown open to settlement, a population gathered about Invercargill, and the cry for selfgovernment was raised. Meetings were held, and if we remember rightly the question of having Avenafi Gladstone, and North Invercargill formed Into one borough was discussed, but various difficulties arose, and each struck out for itself. _ From a geographical point of view, the name “ North Invercargill ” belongs to A venal, but the residents did not take kindly to North-east Invercargill, and selected that of North Invercargill, leaving the North Hoad folks to fall back on Sir Walter Scott nnd Britain’s G.O.M. for Avenal and Gladstone respectively. The borough ■came into official existence under the Otago Empowering Act, and was •duly established on the 10th October, 1876. Messrs Garmson and W. Walker had taken a prominent part in bringing matters to this stage, and ■they were closely identified with the •early history of the municipality, Mr Garmsorn being chosen as the first mayor, with Mr Walker as town clerk. In 1880 the borough extended its bounds to the northward, taking in some Government land, and was then proclaimed a borough under the Municipal Corporations Act, 1876. Mr Garmson held office for a number of years, and was also chairman of the first school committee elected for that district. The late Mr K. Rose and others afterwards filled the mayoral chair, and Mr Walker was succeeded by Mr W. Anderson as town clerk. * Space will not permit of a, recital of the names of all those who have done service for the borough at the Council table, and we must hasten on. The present Mayor is Mr Thos. Thomson, and the town clerk Mr W. G. McKay, who has now for a good many years discharged the •duties most satisfactorily. The borough is divided into three wards —-r South, Centre and North. It is bounded on the south by St. Amdrew’s street —which divides it from East Invercargill—on the west by Elies Road, on the east by County Council

territory,, and on the north by the properties of Mr W. Cruickshanks and the late Mr J.'T. Thomson. We are indebted to the town clerk for the following details regarding the borough as it stood last year : Estimated population, 750; number of dwellings, 200; number of ratepayers, 234 ; number of rateable properties, 319; rateable value of properties in the borough, £3682 10s; rate levied, 2s 6d in the £, producing £460 6s Id ; rents from municipal reserves, £lB ss; and dog tax (7s 6d per head) £2O; making a total revenue of £l9B 11s Id. The indebtedness of the borough is represented by two loans totalling £5,700. These were consolidated a lew years ago, and are now running at six per cent. A larp’e number of drains (many of them of portentous depth) with a considerable mileage of footpaths, are in evidence as to how the money has been spent. The place, like others, has bad its ups and downs, and a few years ago when the rush to the other side took place, empty houses were plentiful. A change for the better set in some time since, however, and now, we understand, there is not an unoccupied house in North Invercargill. Well drained and roaded, with a sunny aspect, and with capacious “ lungs ” in the vicinity in the shape of the Park Reserve, which faces the whole of its western frontage, the municipality is one of the healthiest and most pleasantly situated spots in the district. In the early stages of its career the “ city fathers ” foregathered iu the building known as the Meeting House, in Dublin street, but some years ago they “ flitted ” to a commodious town hall, which occupies a section in Ann street, and is sheltered from the westerly winds by a belt of shrubbery. A short distance to the eastward stands the “ village school,” wherein Mr G. Hardie has held efficient sway for a good many years, with Miss Hardie as mistre&s and Master R. Gibb as pujnl teacher. The borough once possessed an hotel, the Clinton Arms, but it was long ago converted, perverted, degraded or glorified —the reader can select whichever word he pleases —into a police station, and is now occupied by Constable McDonough. The words, “ Clinton Arms,” all but obliterated by wind and weather, are all that remain to remind the passer-by that alcoholic liquors were here once dispensed. The place is well supplied with business establishments. Foremost among these is the store of Messrs Reid Bros., who recently vacated their old premises on Elies Road to occupy a much larger one at the corner of Elies Road and Newcastle street, A number of new buildings have lately been erected, but this store and the large and handsome dwelling-house in the same section, occupied by Mr W. Reid, are the most noteworthy additions to local architecture. The land, which has all been brought under cultivation, formerly belonged to an absentee in Queensland, and was lying waste. The firm, who are also represented in Invercargill, have evidently plenty of enterprise. Their old premises have been taken by Mr L. Fraser, who has stocked it with drapery, etc. One of the oldest businesses in the borough is the bakery of Mr J. L. Cheyne, who has built up a very good connection. A number of other smaller stores are also in existence. The feature of North Invercargill, howevei, is its gardens. The residents, if so minded, could run a first-class horticultural show of their own. Several of them, Messrs Brandford, Fairbairn, and Blomfield, have been very successful exhibitors in the past, and Messrs Oraigie, Lepetit, G. Couling, and F. Weir have also good orchards —the last-named, who recently purchased the property owned by one of the early residents (the late Mr A. Fraser) having a tine variety of apples. Grapes, tomatoes, strawberries, apples, and rhubarb — in short, fruits, flowers, and vegetables of almost every kind —ire grown to perfection here. Before leaving North Invercargill on the occasion of a recent stroll we had the

pleasure of a chat with Mr Garmson, who, though in his seventy-eighth year, still takes a keen interest in local and colonial doings. He regrets his inability to take a more active part, but has solace in the fact that he and his old-time colleagues on the council and school committee have done good service in helping to bring what was once known as “ Garmson’s bush ” into its present state. A notice of North Invercargill that omitted reference to Ilosedale, the property of Mr W. Cruickshanks, would be incomplete indeed. It is outside the municipal bounds, while within the local school district, but a good deal of it has found its way into the borough in the shape of gravel, the pits on Mr Cruickshanks’ land having furnished most of the material used for street work. Mr Cruickshanks, who settled there with his family about nineteen years ago, owns an area of about 400 acres. It was all forest when he took it up, but he established a sawmill and fire-wood cutting business and speedily had a large clearing made. In this, with a background of native and other trees, stands a handsome two-storeyed dwelling house, in which General Booth was hospitably entertained during his visit to Invercargill a couple of years ago. A large and well-stocked orchard occupies the space between the house and the forest. Apples thrive here wonderfully, and the yield this season promised to be a couple of tons, but—unwelcome word —the blackbirds appeared on the scene and damaged a large quantity of the fruit. The waters of the Waihopai stream were brought into requisition to furnish part of the power required for working the sawmill, and they are still used in this way for the mill and in the manufacture of twine. Mr Cruickshanks embarked in the latter industry some years ago, working for a time with plant and machinery of his own make. He was the first man in Southland to turn out twine from flax, and persevered with the industry in spite of great obstacles. This part of his business gradually expanded, and recently he found it necessary to provide greater facilities for carrying on the work. It is now conducted in a substantially-built structure 60ft x 60ft, exclusive of the space occupied by a large water wheel, which is fed from the river by means of a race about a quarter of a mile long, the water, after being used, being returned to the Waihopai at a point below the works. The capacity of the mill has also been doubled «f late by the importation of new plant, embodying all the latest improvements. The additions include two new spinners and a drawing frame, the last-named, a massive piece of machinery weighing about ten tons, having only lately been set to work. Two of the hecklers, or breaking down machines, in use, were, however, made in the workshop on the ground, Mr D. A. Smith, with the assistance of Mr Cruickshanks and two of his sons —Messrs J. and P. Cruickshanks —turning out some very good woxk in this line. The fact that there is a duty of 25 per cent, on the imported article furnishes an incentive to activity in this direction. In addition to the flax obtained from the property, supplies are received from the scutching mills at Mataura, Wyndham, Nightcaps, Tapanui, and elsewhere, and it is gratifying to know that a local market is readily found for the output of the Ilosedale factory. Everything is kept in first-class order, and every possible precaution taken to protect the workers from accident. The industry gives employment, directly and indirectly, to a large number of

men and boys, and comparatively few people are aware that a factory of such dimensions, and so thoroughly well-equipped, is to be found in this; picturesque nook in the bush. Messrs W. and J. Cruickslianks look after the sawmill department for the most part, and Mr P. Cruickshanks has charge of the twine-making works. As already indicated, there is much of interest about the place from an. industrial point of view. It is also full of charm for the lover of the beautiful. The property is intersected by the Waihopai river, overwhich a bridge was sometime ago erected in connection with the tramway that used to run, down as far as the Invercrrgill water tower, and this river has yielded speckled beauties not a few in the shape of good-sized trout. The place is a favourite one with picnic parties, and one of its prettiest features is the natural avenue through which the old tramway passed. With its over-arching-trees and foliage, it forms one of the finest walks in or abotit the town, but we are sorry to hear that owing to the depredations committed by mischievious boys, it is possible that this delightful corridormay be obliterated. Let us hope that- the delinquments will take athought ancl mend their ways. We are certain that if Invercargill, like Dunedin, possessed an Amenities Society, a* protest would be made against the destruction of Rosedale’s leafy avenue.