ANOTHER ADDITION.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 76, 30 March 1928, Page 3

ANOTHER ADDITION.

TAMAKI JOINS CITY. AMALGAMATION ON SUNDAY. SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES RESULT. From Sunday next the Tamaki Road Board's district will be part of Auckland City. As a result of the merger the numerical strength of the City Council will be increased, the already considerable waterfront of the city will be enlarged, and there will be a substantial addition to the citv area.

Y\ hat representation will be granted Tamaki has not been decided. The matter is under discussion, and will be given full consideration on Monday night, when the Tamaki Road Board will wait on the Finance Committee o-f the City Council for the purpose of discussing questions arising from amalgamation. It appears that a road district amalgamating with a citv is entitled to not more than three members. It 4s customary for the number to be fixed by the GovernorGeneral in Council. Three members have been nominated by the road board. Mr. J. W. Carr (chairman) will take precedence, and if two representatives are required Mr. J. H. Hubbcr will act. Mr. S. Barton has been chosen in the event of a third member being wanted. The City Council is assuming the proportions of a young Parliament, its niunerical strength being three above the 21 members, exclusive of the Mayor, allowed by the Municipal Corporations Act, 1920. The next biennial election will take place in April, 1929. Even if only one Tamaki representative were allowed, the strength of the council would be 25—the largest in New Zealand. With Tamaki included in the city area the waterfront of tlie city will be almost doubled. The whole of the Tamaki waterfront, starting from Orakei and extending right along to a point up the Tamaki River, immediately opposite Buckland's Beach, will be added. Since the inclusion of Avondale'the city has a water j frontage on both harbours. On the Manukau there is a frontage of two miles, and on the Waitemata about 36 miles—no inconsiderable length for a city of 18,000 acres. Deep and frequent indentations on the foreshores make for so long a frontage to the sea. Liability for over 33 miles of streets and over 5000 acres of undeveloped land is being accepted by the City Council in taking over Tamaki. Avondale having amalgamated with the city, Auckland has now 229 miles of streets, and after Sunday next the council will be responsible for the maintenance of 262 miles. The area of Auckland will be increased to 18,764 acres.

Over 3000 Inhabitants Added. There are 3750 residents in the Tamaki Road Board's district, according to a recent return, so that the merge- will increase the population of Auckland City from 95,280 to 99,030. At that the city will be smaller in point of population than Wellingtoon, which has 101,400. The Capital City, however, has an urban population of only 126,750, as compared with Auckland's 202,400. The population of Christchurch is 85,575 (urban area 122,000), and of Dunedin 65,480 (urban area, 88,250).

That the City Council was adding the finest jewel to its crown in taking over the Tamaki district was the opinion expressed last night by the chairman of the Road Board (Mr. J. W. Carr). A valedictory gathering was held at the conclusion of the board's final meeting, when Mr. Carr said he was sorry that the merger would involve the breaking of old associations. He thanked members of the staff for their loyal assistance. He was sure the district had great possibilities, and he trusted that it would prosper under the new administration. Mr. J. H. Htibber replied on behalf of the members, saying t,hat the board had been a very happy band of workers. Complimentary references were made to the efficient service rendered by the clerk (Mr. H. F. Goodman).