DEVONPORT AFFAIRS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 83, 8 April 1925, Page 9

DEVONPORT AFFAIRS.

REVIEW BY THE MAYOR. 11 I i PROGRESS AND PROSPECTS. \ 1 The Devonport Masonic Hall was 1 crowded last evening when Mr. T. ' Lament, Mayor of the Borough, reviewed * the municipal events of his term of • office. Mr. A. Johnstone presided. ; Lmnont was given an attentive hearing ' and at the conclusion of his address, on ' the motion of Mr. W. Jaggs, was ' accorded an appreciative resolution of * thanks and confidence, coupled with a|' request that he would accept nomina- i' tion for a. further Mayoral term. \ Mr. Lamont briefly reviewed the out : ' . standing events of his term of office. He j claimed that a vigorous programme of ] public works had been carried out in , the face of unexpected difficulties. "The , council had not been permitted to sutler I from dry rot," he said, "but had to face • j trouble at every step. They had in j turn to arrange fresh loans for necessary j - drainage and electrical extension, to ; ( adjust their office administration, to find metal for necessary works, to deal . with the waterfront railway situation, ' and to settle the fire station question. ; i He claimed that the roading policy of I the council had been pressed forward as .expeditionary as possible. They had aimed j j "to improve the main roads and the ' ! worst roads." He was now able to point ,to the completion of Queen Street, Victoria Avenue, Rutland Road and Cautley and Alexander Streets as examples of the i I latter, while three main road sections I were now in full swing, and tho Vaux- i' hall-Albert Road-Church Street contract j was almost completed. When these were !.' done Devonport would have six miles | ! of concvete roadway out of a total road < mileage of twenty-three. ! ! 'Drainage and waterworks had received .. the special attention of the council. | ! Ninety-seven chains of new sewering had ' been laid during the past twelve months, j while a total of SO chains of extensions ,'' to existing reticulations had been made during the past two years. The borough's stormwater facilities had been increased by a total length of f>.'J2o feet in various parts. Permanent footpath formation bad been a feature of the council's programme, a total of over 7000 feet of new kerbing having been laid during its ' term of office. j J Mr. Lamont also reviewed the finance ' 'of this borough, so far as it concerned the present slate of current loans, and assured the ratepayers that no increase in rates was at present necessary. Comparison was made between rates of other Auckland suburbs which showed in Devonport'a favour. The Mayor explained the position of the big roads j loan, which would be exhausted by the completion of present contracts and ■ : Calliope Road. ' j Water supply and the question of the j borough's electricity plant were consid- j eretl at some length, Mr. Lamont-affirm- | j ing the necessity of considering amalga- j I mation with any hydro-electric scheme I which operated on the Northern Shore. ' Meantime their own plant was being i run as efficiently and economically as ! possible in the best interests of the i borough. i In conclusion Mr. Lamont defended his ' action in opposing the fire station pro- ,' posal as ratified by the council, and urged that it be made a test question ,at the forthcoming election. i After questions had been answeved, | three cheers for the speaker concluded the meeting.