FIFTY YEARS PROGRESS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 249, 11 January 1928, Page 11

FIFTY YEARS PROGRESS

Whangarei County Jubilee CELEBRATIONS COMMENCE (THE SUN'S Special Jlepresentativc) WHANGAREI, To-day. FROM far and near old identities of Whangarei County gathered to-dav to celebrate its fiftieth year. Under sunny skies old pioneers are recalling Whangarei of fiftvyears ago, while the younger members of the community predict* a coming era of prosperity.

\ PIONEER from each of the eight ridings and two from Whangarei itself have been chosen as representatives at the official function. They are: —Messrs. H. Mason, Waikiekie; W. Chisholm, Whakapara; J. J. Fraser, Maungatapere; W. Lilley, Kamo; W. Crawford, Whangarei; Alfred Carter, Whangarei; Charles Hawken, Maunu; D. C. McDonald, Waipu; H. Hutchinson, Kiripaka; and N. McLeod, Whangarei Heads. Among the guests are the Prime Minister, the Hon. J. G. Coates, the Hon. A. D. McLeod, Minister of Lands, Mr. W. Jones, M.P., Mr. Allen Bell, M.P., the Hon. F. Mander, M.L.C., Tau Henare, M.P., L. J. Brake, Mayor of Whangarei and the chairmen of surrounding county councils and local bodies. Originally a Maori trading centre, Whangarei has advanced until it is now the finest town in North Auckland. When the first settlers arrived there in 1840 they found a huge area of bushclad country- running back until it met the distant blue ranges. As the bush was gradually cleared away, after providing the early residents and landowners with a very fine source of income, the land was found to be splendidly suitable for cattle and sheepfarming and for agricultural pursuits. A new era set in, and soon the fame of Whangarei as a farming district spread far and wide.

To-day, in the county of Whangarei, there are over 600,000 acres of good grazing country. A recent estimation gave the number of sheep at 90,000 and cattle 75,000 (of which 25.000 were dairycows).

Whangarei possesses a wonderful climate and well deserves its title of the “garden city of the North.” It is a land of almost perpetual spring, where exotic flowers bloom the year round, fruit grows in large quantities and blustering winter is practically unknown. Only a few hours’ run from the town are some of the most glorious scenes to be found in New Zealand. Miles of undulating green fields, dotted with clumps of trees, roll on and on like a sweeping emerald carpet that, is eventually lost in the vague blue-grey of distant high hills. “GO NORTH, YOUNG MAN” Until the railway line ran through from Auckland, Whangarei was cut off except by sea and very bad roads, but with the advent of the steel rail came a further era of prosperity for an already prosperous town. Trade increased with the better communication, and the town and county forged ahead until to-day visitors who are unacquainted with its charms are amazed at its size and prosperity-. “Go North, young man.” said the late Prime Minister, the Right Hon. W. F. Massey, some years ago, and a large percentage of the population of New Zealand has gone north ever since, either on holiday or to take up land. Whangarei has been the gatewaythrough w*hich many of those people have gone, and it has been such an attractive gateway, with its magnificent possibilities, that a large number of them have stay-ed there. From a tiny white trading centre Whangarei has grown into a bustling town which soon will claim itself a city. The first settlers who arrived there included Messrs. R. W. and J. Carruth, Mr. Runciman and his family, and Mr. Gilbert Mair and his family-. Really-, Whangarei is 51 y-ears old. The first inaugural meeting of the Town Council took place on January 9, 1877. The office-bearers on that occasion were Messrs William Seccombe (chairman). P. S. Brown, A. T. Crisp, West, H. Hill, H. T. S. Rowlands, T. Wakelin. J. I. Wilson, H. S. Wilson, Captain D. McKenzie, and Dr. R. Sissons. Mr. Brown is the only surviving member of that council, and now, old and infirm, he lives in the Waikato. Unfortunately, the records of the county from its inception in 1876 until 1891 were destroyed when the late Mr. Robert Mair's house was destroyed byfire. Mr. Mair was the first countyclerk. From a County Council Whangarei became a Town District and then a Borough. The first Mayor was Mr. J. M. Killen, who took office on October 27, 1896, and held it until 1899. The Mayors from that time have been: W. Corns, 1899-1901; J. M. Killen, 19011902; W. Corns, 1902-1904; J. M. Killen. 1904-1905; H. Weaver. 1905-1908: T. McClintock. 1908-1910; T. H. Steadman, 1910-1914; D. W. Jack, 1914-1917; J. S. Dent, 1917-1921: D. A. McLean, 1921-. 25; J. E. Holmes, 1925-27; L. J. Brake, present Mayor. SOUND GOVERNMENT Much depends on the government of

'sl town, and Whangarei has been fortunate in its choice of “city fathers.” They have watched over the town with regard for its future, and now the fruits of that watchfulness are being fulfilled. It possesses many parks and gardens and scenic reserves. Mair Park, Mander Park, Anzac Park and Kensington Park are four of the largest and most beautiful. There is an excellent golf course, set in charming country. There is a water supply- from reservoirs containing 800,000 gallons of crystal water, the envy of all visitors, and every other convenience which makes for the comfort and welfare of its citizens. And still the county of Whangarei continues in prosperity-. There is much country- to be opened up, and with the completion of her 50 years she should take another lease of life. That is what the principal residents thought to-day—and they- are right. During the last ten years the population of the county has grown considerably- and at the last census the population was 18,459, including Borough of Whangarei and Hikurangi.