MOUNT EDEN'S PROGRESS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 301, 17 December 1912, Page 2

MOUNT EDEN'S PROGRESS.

REMODELXXNG THE BOROUGH. OBJECT LESSONS IN" ROAD-MAKING. FIVE HUNDRED NEW HOUSES. Mount Eden folk have every Teason to feel gratified, not only at the progress the borough ha 3 made during the past year, but also with the outlook for the future. Mr. E. Gray, the Borough's - , town clerk, gave some interesting details of things accomplished and enterprises being formulated or actually on the way, to a reporter of this journal today. A MATTER OF HOUSING. " As illustrating the way we are going ahead," said Mr. Gray, '" I may say that no fewer than 350 building permits were issued during the post year. New houses to the number of 500, valued at £500 apiece, exclusive of the land value, -have been erected, which means that Mount Eden has added to her family accommodation practically one new home for every working day of the year. Last year 2SO houses were erected; indeed, the Council can claim a record for house erection for the year that is just expirI ing." ROADING AND RE-ROADING. Mr. Gray, proceeding, said: " We have been spending ioaned moneys on numerous road works, especially upon the arteries connecting Mount Eden Road and Dominion Road. At the same time we have been linking ivp the side roads, which have been channelled, kerbed metalled and provided with footpaths." AND THE COST? "Money has had to be spent, of course," said Mr. Gray. "On one loan of £31,000 £25,000 has been absorbed, but of the other loan of £-12,000 only £7,000 has been appropriated." " Are the water supply arrangements for these roads in progress yet?" "Certainly. Residents in the No. 3 i water area will be, glad to learn that ■ the pipes are due to be delivererd by • j March 31. The borough engineer in- ' tends to have the trenches ready to re- , ceive them when they arrive, and water t j «rhouid be on tap in April or May. This ' work is being paid for by a loan voted i specially for the purpose. In the new streets already referred -to many water mains have been laid during the past fewmonths." 1 BUILDING ALLOTMENTS; ■■*''' Mt. Gray gave some interesting in- _ formation with respect to probable build--7 ing operations in the future. I " There have been no fewer than 800 I property transfers during the last 12 . months, and in the period under review J the following properties have been , opened up and subdivided for building ( aUotmtfits: The Victoria estate in Domain Road, the Carmen Avenue, Had- , leigh, St. Alban's, Mount View, Tenter- , den, Mount Pleasant, Croydon, Charlton ' and Rautangi Estates." , INTERESTING FIGURES, i "There has been an enormous movei ment of population this wav," pursued • Mr. Gray. "In 1906 the population was i 6,SBS, while the next quinquennial census ! showed that 9.351 souls were domiciled 1 within the borough. Now there are well I over 10.000 living in Mcvnt Eden. As a fact, Mount Eden is the tenth borough i in the Dominion, inclusive of the " big " I boroughs such as Christch-ureh city." J DRAINAGE AND TARRING. On the question of drainage Mr. Gray 3 stated that the whole matter of the , borough drainage was occupying the atJ tention of the borough engineer, Mr. J. , Rogers, who would lay a re--3 port before the Council at an early date. r Asked his views on the success of road tarring, Mt. Gray said that the experiJ ments in Dominion Road and in the side _ roads, where it had been applied, were 7 satisfactory, and the area of application j would be extended in due course. In such side roads, where there is heavy traffic, "Tarvia" was to be applied on trial, and if the tests proved satisfactory s the area of its application would be con--3 siderably augmented, also. T Mr. Gray concluded by remarking that J he hoped that the new Council Chambers j —a handsome structure in brick, to be ■ erected in Valley Road, opposite the - school—would be taken as an index of j the general progress of the borough, and , of the laudable spirit animating the Tateratepayers.