THE GROWTH OF TOWNS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 24, 22 February 1909, Page 4

THE GROWTH OF TOWNS.

DR. FTNDLAY'S OBSERVATIONS. Some interesting observations on the growth of country towns were made by Dr. Findlay in a compensation case in •which he represented tlie Eltham Borough Council. A claim for damages had been 'based on the assumption that Eltham in a. few years would have a population of 4000 inhabitants. "But how lo*ng will it be before Eltham lias a population of 4000?" queried the At-torney-General. t; I know the Taranaki people suffer from excessive patriotism in regard to their own district, aud the assessors m,ay be imbued with that Idas, "but contrasr-the gro-wfch of towns of this kind with towns that have grown under similar circumstances." Counsel quoted Devonport, Masterton. and Dannevirke as examples. "I once lived ; in a. counftry town," continued Dr. Findlay. "We thought it was going to he a great town, but there ,are fewer people there now than on the day I went to practise .there. I only mention thi.s as an example of cause and effect. (Laughter.) Your Honor knows that a town grows up to the fair needs of its district, and when once it has reached a due proportion it stays there. That has been shown in a hundred instances in Now Zealand. Unless .there are exceptional features, unless a town is a seaport, for instance, there is no reason to assume that population will advance by leaps and bounds. 1 '