First Garden City.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue XXXXV, 10 December 1903, Page 4

First Garden City.

The Garden City Estate, recently purchased by the First Garden City (Limited) covers about 3800 acies between Kitchen amd Baldock (says a London paper). The coiupauy has been fonno-i to develop the estate on tilie lines suggested by Mr Lbenezer Hawaid, in his bwjk, "Garden Cities 01 10-morrow." The capital is £300,000, and the directors include Mr t-dwaid Cadbury, Bournvilie, Birmingham ; Jir Ebenezer Howaid, Mr W. 11. Lever, I'ort Sunligittt, and Mr Italph .Neville, K.C. Tne area includes all the houses in Norton and LvLOtmoilli villages, and tne greater part 01 the village of \\ iilian. Near tlie centre of tne estate, which has cowt about £130,000, and is situatt-d in the midst 01 very pretty scenery, it is proposud to build a town, the population 01 which is to be limited to 30,000 inhabitants, 'l'he greater portion of t'he estate will, however, be retained for agricultural purpose, oaie 01 tfte two great objects of the scheme being to cope with rural depopulation and the decline 111 agriculture, while the olher is to provide a remedy for overcrowding in towns. It is claimed that the site is peculiarly suitable lor manufacturers to carry on their business by giving healthy homes and surroundings to a number oi employees, while at the same time agriculturists would reap tlie benefit 01 having such a colony in their midst. 'lhe manufacturer will also be able to draw to some extent on the local Supply of labour, lor there is a population of 20,000 within three miles of the site. In order to attract manufacturers wi-tii whom negotiations are proceeding the inducement is held out of an abundance of water and cheap motive power, us tui installation of power gas ior the generation of electricity Jor power, as well as for lighting, will be provided. Employees will be houatd at a low cost. A belt of land will be preserved around the town, and ample open spaces for recreation, as well as for public buildings and places of amusement, will be permanently secured within the town itself. To prevent anything in the way of overcrowding, the number of dwellings will be restricted to about ten per acre. A part of the outward belt of estate will be devoted to residential purposes. The sit® is 35 miles from London, one mile irom Hitcbon Junction on the west, and immediately adjoining iiahlock on the east. The district is served by the Great Northern and Midland Hail ways, ami the Great Eastern Kailway comes to a point nine milts from the estate. The Hit chin to Cambridge branch of the Great Nortliern Railway Intersects the projierty at the pontic for two and a-half miles. It is estimated that goods can be taken to London cheaply by road. The Great Northem Railway has arranged to erect a temporary station at once.