MORRINSVILLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 123, 25 May 1923, Page 3 (Supplement)

MORRINSVILLE.

A MODERN TOWN.

CENTRE OF RICH DISTRICT.

FIXE DAIRYING LAND

j Progress to a remarkable extent has i been made by Morrinsville within the j [course of the past few years. This ris- | ling town is situated 102 miles south of I Auckland, and is only 17 miles from I Hamilton. Not only is it a railway i junction, but its geographical position [makes it the natural centre for the rich , and fertile districts of Patetonga, Tahuna, Tauhei and Maungatepara, in the north; Kiwitahi, Walton and Kereone, in the south; Tatuanui, on the , east; and Motumaoho and Eureka, on : the west; while easy access is afforded I Ito the Hauraki Plains, Te Aroha, Waha!roa, and Rotorua. In fine weather travellers by road from Auckland to Rotorua can avoid the , dangerous Rangiriris by journeying via IPokeno, Waitakarurti, Tahuna and Morrinsville. There are great possibilities ,for this route, which is level, and when | | the road is properly conditioned it will | be possible to make this journey at any I I time of the year. Though quite a new borough, Morrinsville has launched several progresjsive schemes. The first important step j was to hasten on the water supply , scheme initiated by the old Town | Board. Loans totalling f 55.000 were I raised, and an excellent water supply Iby gravitation was obtained from the

Topuhakae Stream, at the foot of the j Maungakawa Hills, eleven miles out of the town. Tlie whole of the town was reticulated, ample provision being made | for fire hydrants, and resident are now enjoying "an abundant supply of water, j which has been analysed as exceptionally pure. Power from Horahora _is now being used, and a comprehensive roading policy is contemplated. The town is well laid out, and the streets are in good order. The shops are ,nicely distributed throughout the various "husiness street?, nnd not coneen- ■ trated in one street, as is so otter, the case in many country towns. A brick ; ' area has been set aside, and an excellent | class of building is being erected. ! The town possesses a volunteer fire brigade, which has done some excellent 'work -Tot only do the members of the 'brigade give their services, but they met ! the preliminary expenses when the brigade was formed. They possess a handy !___tor-.--l, and a small fire staUon was i erected some months ago. A nr»t-class public library contains an adm.rablo selection of books. The population of the town is, rou-hlv, 1600, and the area of the borough 1100 acres. During the past few years a large number of properties in the town ha-e nuiuoui v. i i sections been subdivided, and ine : _ easerlv bought up for building pur I Doles The residences in the borough I pose~. - and are sur . i%_nd d >:; U hedg-el through which [s seen well kept gardens and close-cut awns The shops in most cases are comI law ?. ' I „-i,;|_ _oods are displayed m an Tt.ac.fvemanfe" Many'large firms headquarters elsewhere have Sw the importance of MornnsI v n° by establishing branches in the I "'„ "There is an hotel which is equal !to the best hotel in a city, and there are a number of excellent board.ng- ; hou=e= Pictures are shown in the I Empire Hall, which is also used by many travelling companies.

Morrinsrille possesses excellent educational facilities. A new school of modern ; design was opened a little while ago, while parents seeking higher education | for their children take advantage of the near proximity of Hamilton and send the pupils there by train. i Dairying, which is the principal industry in the country around Morrinsville has made great strides of recent years. The country is nicely undulating, and tlie soil a medium loam somewhat heavier than most Waikato soils. It i responds readily to treatment and stands the dry weather well. The majority of farms in the district range in area from 100 to 200 acres. All have good homesteads and outbuildings, while modern farm implements are well in evidence. Due regard has been paid to the importance of shelter, and the belt of shelter trees, apart from their utilitarian aspect, greatly enhances the appearance of the district. Numerous i creeks flow in every direction, and consequently a shortage of water is rarely felt. Land is being brought into cultivation very quickly, this being particularly noticeable in the Kiwitahi district. So far as the quantity of milk produced is concerned, the present season has been a record one, the early and plentiful rains having resulted in ample feed. Though dairying is the principal mii dustry, grazing and fattening is carried out on some of the larger properties, I notably at Kiwitahi, where some exceptionally high prices have been realised. Cropping is also most successful, and some remarkable crops have been harvested in the district. The sporting and social side has not been neglected, tlie town possessing excellent cricket and football grounds, a bowling green and golf links. There are tennis and croquet clubs in the district, which play on their own grounds,

and have a very large membership. With respect to racing the town is in an un- | fortunate position, as it owns a race- i course, but cannot obtain a racing permit. Morrinsville possesses a live Chamber of Commerce, which has brought to a successful conclusion many important progressive schemes. j Five acres of land have been presented I as a soldier's memorial reserve, in which I j a handsome granite obelisk has been j erected to the memory of fallen soldiers.