Our Suburbs.

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 24, 8 September 1894, Page 3

Our Suburbs.

AVENAL

The Borough of Avenal, otherwise known as the “ Happy ” Borough (the reason for the cognomen will be apparent as this article proceeds), is situated about three quarters of a mile in a northerly direction from the post office, and is the smallest borough in the colony. Its area is 80 acres. Of this less than half is built upon, the balance comprising low-lying land which, in the dim future, may be reclaimed by training walls and other harbor improvements, when a Mackintosh arises to tight a battle for the Invercargill Harbor on the same lines as those adopted to secure the prospective harbor at Riverton. But to return to our “ Happy ” borough. We find on searching the records that Avenal was constituted a borough under the Otago Municipal Empowering Act, 1865, in the year 1876, and that the first meeting of the Council took place on the 11th October, 1876, when Mr Andrew Dunlop presided as the first mayor of the borough, and held office till December, 1878, when he was succeeded by Mr A. Anderson. Mr Albert Weir was the first town clerk, and held office till August, 1877, when Mr C. W. Brown, the present town clerk, took charge. The following gentlemen have since held office as mayor in the order named — Messrs A, Weir, G. Challis, E. T. Kemp, T. S. Nichol. The present mayor (the Hon, H. Feldwick) took office in December, 1891, and has held the position up to the present time.

In May, 1878, it was considered advisable to have the borough incorporated under “ The Municipal Corporations Act, 1876. By this means the Council was increased from four to nine member's. Under this Act the borough became entitled to an endowment of 300 acres of land in Seaward Bush. This has proved a valuable asset to the Council, as no less than £720 has already been received for the sawmilling timber, and it is said that there is still an inexhaustible supply of firewood on the ground. As the road to the endowment is nearly completed, it is expected that it will aoon be let for agricultural and grazing purposes. In 1886 a Town Hall was erected on a convenient section on the ISTorth Road, and has afforded ample accommodation for all meetings of the Council. The financial position of the borough is very satisfactory. On the 31st March, 1894, the sum of £l6O Ss 6d stood to the credit of the Council —£150 on fixed deposit, and £lO 8s 6d on current account. The liabilities were set down as nil, and the public debt as nil. Happy borough ! The Council has no trouble in regard to sinking fund or conversion operations, and is actually in the position of lender to the bank. The rates struck for many years past have not exceeded Is in the £ for all purposes, and as far as can be seen at present the rates are not likely to be more than this amount. One year the rate was as low as 6d in the £. Possibly in the near future the land lying to the north of the Hospital may be incorporated in the borough; but at present the revenue derived from it is so small that it would be an unprofitable acquisition to the Council. During the coming summer it is proposed to fill in the Kelvin road ditch, and complete the formation of the road. In the early days Avenal boasted two hotels. One was the Plough Inn, kept for a time by Mr Harris. It was closed long before the advent of the Prohibition movement, and has been used as a store-house by Mr T. McEwan in connection with his oldestablished hakery and grocery business. The other hostelry, the Great Horthern, was occupied for a few years by Mr Davis, and had a chequered career, being twice burned down. During the latter part of its life the house was owned by a very old resident, Mr W. Stark, who changed the name to the Governor Grey, and

built a commodious structure in brick. It was closed in 1887, but was afterwards re-opened, to be once more closed through lack of business. It is now used as a dwelling - house. Another very old business in the borough is that of Mr A. Andersou, baker and confectioner, who succeeded the late Mr J. Hamilton. In the old waggoning days the late Mr J. Hare did an extensive trade as a merchant, but this and several other businesses disappeared'with the arrival of the £! iron horse.” Mr R. Cleave’s nursery is within the borough, and is a favourite resort for visitors from a distance. In addition to other features, Avenal, like its big sister, Invercargill, has its “ waterworks department ” in the shape of a town well and pump —worked by hand.