CHAMBERS OPENED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 264, 6 November 1937, Page 10

CHAMBERS OPENED.

PROGRESS OF COUNTY. CEREMONY AT WHANGAREI. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WHAXGARET, this day. The new Whangarei County Council chambers, standing in Rose Street, at the entrance to the town, were officially opened to-day by the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry. The contract price for the erection of the building complete was £5967. Mr. R. B. Finch, of Whangarei. was the architect, and Mr. A. Walker, also of Whangarei, the builder. The whole block, which has frontages of 107 ft t<> Vine Street and 100 ft to Rose Street, with 197 ft between the streets, was purchased in 192 a for £3200. The old County Council Chambers and site in Bank Street, together with the council's reversionary interest in the adjoining right-of-way, has been disposed of to the Government for an extension of post office accommodation, "the selling -price being £7230. Figures showing the progress and prosperity of the county were quoted lay the chairman, Mr. J. A. S. Mackay, at today's ceremony, in 1891 receipts were £2200 and expenditure £2892, while last year the figures were £-57,675 and £62,587 respectively. Since 1901 the capital value of the county had increased from £554,900 to £4,658,000, and to-day there were 720 miles of metalled roads. Unfortunately, said' Mr. Mackay. many settlers were still awaiting metalled access, but with the assistance of the progressive roading programme promised by the Government the council was hopeful that all producers would shortly be provided with reasonable roading. Other speakers were the Mayor of Whangarei. Mr. W. Janes, Mr. J. G. Barclay, M.P. for Mar«#en, the chairman of the Harbour Board, Mr. J. A. Finlayson, and Mr. Parry, who was presented with the key and performed the opening ceremony.