DANNEVIRKE'S PROGRESS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1031, 21 January 1911, Page 23

DANNEVIRKE'S PROGRESS.

SOME INTERESTING FIGURES. Some interesting figures give an idea of the progress made ' by Dannevirke during the past fifteen years. In 18PG tho population was 1500, in 1906 it was j 3GOO (.Tn increase of IJO per cent.), and in 1910 the numbers.had reached 4000. The number of dwellings in 1896, was 311; in 190G, 816; .and in 1910, 950; whilo the ratepayers increased in tho same proportion.. The estimated annual valuo was £9271 in 1897, and £417,600 in 1910. The capital value in 1910 was £696,043, and tho unimproved value £386;000;. The public debt in 1910 was. £43,848, mado up as follows : —Drainage, .£16,500; drainage connection, £2000;' waterworks, £21,265: abattoirs, £4080. Preparations are being made'for a further loan of £6000 for the purpose of building a municipal theatre, and a loan "of £4000 for street' extension 'purposes. Thero are four banks .in the place, and amongst tho new buildings now well on the way towards completion are tho new two-storied brick and concrete business premises of the Bank of New South Wales, 1 which will cost about £3000. Street values run from £40 tho quarter-acre north of tho. borough, t.l £60, £80, £100, and £120 in. tho streots. Business sites range from £5 t-'j per foot. There arc about 20 miles of streets, and there is a FireDistrict under a Firo Board. It is worthy of noto that there has not been a big firo in Dannevirke for seven' years. Following are the past Mayor 3 of Dannevirke: —Messrs. .-Angus Mackay, N. M'Phee, J, Drummond, A. .-L. Gordon, H. -N.; Hies,; J. J. Patterson,? and A. Ransome. ; .. The.following comprise. .Itlie. present..B.orbtigh .Council:—. Councillors J. Carston, J. Cullinape, P. B." Fitzlierbert, W. Haines, F. A. Butler-Harrison,- W. .Tohnstone, W. T. Kilford, C. C. Neilsen, and G> Wratt, Mr. Ransome is Mayor, Mr. F. G. Magnusson, Town Clerk, and Mr. W. J. O'Donnell engineer. Tho Mayor is regarded as one of the most progressive men who have held the position. Dannevirke's Carnegie Library, which

was lmilt at, n cost of £2475, is a briclc biiiitliiig with plastered Walls and steel ceilings. ' It includes a reference and cnnimilcco room, reading, room, maga-. "zinc"100111 "for ladies',' aiiii small "apart-" mc-nts. Tho correspondence-with Mr. Carnegie -for the subsidy of £2000 was conducted- by Mr. Magnusson, Town Clerk, Danncvirke, and the money was granted conditionally that a penny library rato was struck, bringing in an annual incomo of £115. The library is in a_ very sound financial position.