ADVANCE FITZROY!

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81905, 18 December 1906, Page 2

ADVANCE FITZROY!

l-'OIJMATIO.V OF TOWN DINTttKT 'i'lii' latest, mow In Uii- progressive iilnirb <»l' l-itzrov Is for the formation ■>r a Town Dist'.ricl, a form of loca! :,ovorniih-iit independent of tin- County Council. A .similar movement \vu.iniliated twenty vears ago almost to lire ckiy, when Viurov enjoyed li.it n lithe of its present popularity us a residential suburb, hut owing to some I sliort-fii'i'ing dissentients the matter was hung up until the Municipal Corporations Ait of 18811 precluded the formation of new town districts, and the opportunity was lost. Sinee Unit date l-'itzroy has proceeded under the dual control system, the Taranaki County Council govcrniir.i the main road and the Jfrmii lloati Hoard the byroads. The count* has been drawing about ,t.7Uu per an until in rates from the suburb without, in the opinion of the majority el residents, all'ording compensating advantages in the way ot expendituic. whilst Koiul Hoard authority lias too many limitations to keep pace with the needs of a growing suburb. The Town Districts Act, 11)04, and Unamending Act of this year has af-£ lorded the desired opportunity for a more satisfactory form of local go veinnient, and engineered by the Honui Koad Board the movement, judging from the hearty reception accorded the proposal at Monday evening's meeting of householders, is likely to be carried to a successful issue.

A Town Board, it was explained at the meeting, is a sort of midway sta Lion between a lload Board and a Borough Council. Its borrowing powers are almost equal proportion ately to those of a Borough Council and it is placed in a position to un dertake a comprehensive policy ni roads and highways, lighting, lire pre vention, reserves, buildings, by-laws license, and, in short, all matters per taining to the municipal welfare oJ the community. A bridge rate h the only levy a County Council cat make on a Town TJistirct. Undei the Act, the maximum rate a 'i'owi Board call levy is l J / 3 d on the capita value or 2s on the annual value.

Twenty one householders attended Monday evening's meeting, Mr VV. UuUield presiding hi the absence of .Ur L. Steele, eluiirman of the Henui iioad Board.

The ehitirman having brielly opened the proceedings, Mr 0. ]?. h'oote, secretary of the iioad Board, gave a full exphination of the project, and the advantages that in his opinion would accrue.

it was explained that the Act lini iicd the area to two square miles, and some discussion ensued on the proposed boundaries. The following resolution, proposed by Mr (S. VV'eller, and seconded by Ail i'oole, was unanimously carried:— "That this meeting considers it advisable to form a Town .District out of such part of the Henui Koad District as may be found expedient, having regard to the limited area of two square miles." Mr it. C. Hughes dealt with the question of boundaries, illustrating uis remarks with the aid of a micro scopic plan.

Mr Veller moved that a committee consisting of Messrs (Steele, Cutlieid, and H. (jrilliths (iioad Board members), Kibby, and Barnett be appointed to go into the question of oouudaries and report to a future meeting. Mr Lee seconded.

Mr h'oote deprecated delay. He moved as an amendment that the boundaries be fixed by the -lioad Board, the area to exclude the abattoir site, native reserves, and a Hur hour Board reserve. Mr Fabian seconded the amendment, which was carried on a show of hands. A petition is to be prepared and plans drawn, for submittal to the Go vernor-in Council,