PROPOSED MOUNT EDEN BOROUGH.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 86, 10 April 1906, Page 5

PROPOSED MOUNT EDEN BOROUGH.

DEPUTATION TO THE ATTORNEYGENERAL.

The Hon. Colonel Pitt was-interviewed this morning at Government Buildings by a , deputation • consisting ofV Messrs. G. _7. Johnston, E. H. Potter, G., C* Creagb, S. H. Gordon, and D. MeEkle, representing the Mount Eden Ratepayers 5 Association. The object of the deputation was to ascertain what action! Ts being taken by the authorities in regard to the petition that Mount Eden Road. Board district be converted into a borough. Mr Johnston informed the Minister; that four or five months a petition in favour of the formation of a bOrough was forwarded to the Colonial Secretary, and they wished to ascertain tha present position. Mount Edeh was the largest road district in the colony and if' constituted a borough would be- the largest in the provincial district of Auckland excepting the city. It had a population of 7000. He added that a. counter petition had b*n prepared, but it contained fewer signatories than the original. Mr Potter stated that the rateable value of the district was. £7000 higher than any other road" district in the ■ colony. The Minister inquired the grounds of the counter petition, and remarked that supposing Mount Eden became a borough: there would be nothing to prevent its inclusion in Greater Aueklaifd; if the ratepayers cared to do so. Another objection specified was that some of the area was grazing land, but be supposed they wanted it covered with residences. Mr Potter: It is being rapidly built upon now. He added that there.were only 1200 ratepayers out of 7000 residents, so that the -greater portion of the district was disfranchised. The deputation was informed by tha Minister that if the counter petition did a larger proportion of the ratepayers than the original petition, then the Governor i would decide in favour of constituting a borough unless there were very : good reasons against it. He would acquaint himself • of the facts upon returning to -Wellino--ton. and ascertain the cause of the delay.