MOUNT EDEN BOROUGH.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 110, 11 May 1926, Page 10

MOUNT EDEN BOROUGH.

STEADY PROGRESS MADE.

MAYOR REVIEWS YEAR.

MANY IMPROVEMENTS EFFECTED.

"During the current year there are many improvements which it is proposed to put in hand. Boundary Road is to be completed from Lovers Lane to Mount Eden Road, and will in future be known as Landscape Road throughout its full length," said Mr. E. H. Potter, Mayor of Mount Eden, last eventng, when reviewing the works proposed or being carried out. "I anticipate," he continued, ' a great amount of activity in building in this area, as it is one of the most attractive in tho district, and the road will carry a large amount of heavy traffic. The lull on Landscape Road will be graded and covered with bitumen, and improvements to the footpath will lie made- Throughout the borough building was carried on activclv during the past year, particularly on the many new roads in new subdivisions, while further new subdivisions are still being made. These roads will require a bitumen covering to maintain their present condition, and provision for this will be made in the loan which it is proposed to submit. The continued increase in the motor traffic makes it necessary to provide more durable roads than was considered necessary even two years ago, as roads constructed to the requirements which were then thought sufficient are now found to be incapable of carrying the continuous stream of motor traffic. Parks and Recreation Grounds. "Parks and recreation grounds have had attention. Potter's Park has been steadily improved, and is a great asset in its district. Nicholson Fark has likewise been improved. The croquet lawn is a very line one, and is greatly appreciated. The children's playground is in full swing, and well attended. A shelter shed is to be erected on the playground, which will prove a convenience, and during the year a further area of the rocky ground "will be cleared and levelled. Another area is in course of development on the east side of Mount Eden, between the mountain and the ridge which runs parallel to Mount Eden Road from the waiting shed to Normanby Road. There are about eight acres which will be available in the future for sports grounds. The ridge will be laid out in paths and terraces, and will form a natural amphitheatre. Kiosk on Mountain. ri The plans for a tea kiosk have been prepared, and this will be erected on the mountain at an early date. By the generosity of an old resident of the district, a Vcrv valuable section at the corner of Mount Eden Road and Balmoral Road has become the property of the borough, and this will be laid out in lawns and rockery, and will prove a great acquisition." The direction table which Mr. Ernest Davis has ordered for the mountain will be a source of great interest, and his generosity will meet with universal appreciation. A concrete platform and steps will be provided on which the table will be erected, and it will be a grea attraction for visitors, and be of educational value to children and even to adults.

" During the year sewerage has been carried out vigorously. Contracts for a length of 38,t)3Gft. of sewers have been let, the diameter varying from Gin. to 18in. The depth of these sewers varies from Bft. to 10ft., and the amount of the contracts was £55,142, while the amount actually paid last year was £45,000. At the present time seven different contracts are in progress, and all the work has been in rocky and difficult country. Some work still remains to be done, and will be put in hand from time to time. Roads and Traffic. " The steady increase in the volume of motor traffic creates new problems in roading, and conditions which were satisfactory a year or two since are nowfound inadequate. A surface dressing of tar or bitumen will not meet the requirements on Balmoral Road and on several other roads of the district, aud these will have to be laid in concrete. Fortunately for the borough, the foundations of the roads are good, and this will reduce the expense. Tho borough engineer and several of the councillors have made an inspection of methods pursued in Wellington, and are of opinion that these will suffice in many places, and enable all the roads to be surfaced with permanent material. It will be necessary to raise a loan of about £85,000 to carry out this roading. and a further £10,000 will be required for extensions of water mains, and £2500 for the provision of a fire alarm system. An amount of about £100,000 will suffice, and the expenditure of this sum must be spread over the next three or four years, during which time the growth of the borough will provide the extra rates required to meet the interest on the loan. Finances Satisfactory. " The finances of the past year were satisfactory. The increase in the rates is due to the extra amount levied by the Hospital Board aud the Drainage Board, which is brought about by the newvaluation carried out by the Government. As other local bodies are revalued, we may hope for some reduction in this amount. The increase in the hospital levy is £'2000. and in the Drainage Board levy £1250, and the increase in rates will barciy cover this greater demand. This district is only revalued once every three years, and the borough has no increased values with which to meet the extra requirements. " Mount Eden has shared in the general growth of Auckland, and further work has been made necessary by the increase of population. Every effort has been made to keep the borough up to date, and in a condition of which residents may be proud, and the council will endeavour to maintain this policy during the coming year."