PROGRESS OF ALEXANDRA

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25282, 6 September 1947, Page 2

PROGRESS OF ALEXANDRA

—♦— PROSPERITY FROM FRUIT ACTIVITY IN HOME BUILDING ■* From Our Own Reporter ALEXANDRA, September 4. Although the Roxburgh district will have a big influx of population when the Coal Creek power scheme is in full development, most progress of Central Otago towns at present is being shown by Alexandra. The population has increased By between 170 and 200 in 18 months, sections in the borough are unobtainable, and more home building is going on than in any other town of comparable Size in the South .Island. The last census gave Alexandra a population of 1025, but the electoral roll shows a population of 860 adults. At present 20 homes are being built in the borough and the building both of homes and business premises is only limited by space and the shortages of manpower and materials. Housing is so acute a problem that 23 families are’Jiving in a transit camp at Fox’s motor camp outside the borough. They are occupying huts which were brought from the Glenorchy scheelite mining camp by Mr G. H. Fox. The tenants will move out at Christmas for two months The camp, which was built out of a stony bank by using modern earth-moving machinery, has permanent amenities, including showers. conveniences connected to a septic tank and a social hall, which make the transit housing conditions more pleasant. Last Christmas 1800 campers were in the camp and the expectation is that 2500 will be camping at one time in the coming season. Several State houses have been built and the Housing Department is negotiating for another block on which 25 homes may be built Alexandra is booming. The standard of the homes being built indicates confidence that the present prosperity will be permanent. The district has been built up on the fruit industry, and as plenty of land suitable for orchards is still available continued growth of Alexandra may be expected The highway from Roxburgh, which once wound snake-like round rocks, has been straightened, and is about- to be tar-sealed, and a new aerodrome on a plateau is being proposed.

The only industry apart from fruit in Alexandra is the rabbit canning factory of Thomas Borthwick and Sons (Australasia) Ltd. A skin drying store in concrete is nearing completion. • At present, trappers are paid 4s a pair for rabbits Lorries bring the rabbits from as far away as Queenstown. The fruit-drying factory has not operated for several years for want of supplies. The townspeople are confident that light industries will develop with the population increases.