THE TOWN BOARD

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 August 1928, Page 5

THE TOWN BOARD

|| PROGRESS OF COBDEN ll_„ _ li

Until 1920, Cobden was under the jurisdiction of the .Grey County Coun- ■ cil, Mr J. Ryall being member for ■ the Cobden Riding. A Ratepayers’ ■ Association was then-in existence, and from time to time urged attention to various requirements of the township. ' The County Council met all reasonable requests, and good work was carried out under the County Engineer (Mr J. Higgins). Eventually a desire was manifest that Cobden needed town improvements of a nature not usually conceded by a County Council. Three square miles was defined as the area of the Town District, and the usual quota of householders being in favour a Town Board was forthcoming. An election was held, the late Mr 11. Pavitt being returning officer. Ten candidates were nominated for seven seats, and the first Board elected .was a.s follows: —Crs Albert V. Billett, John Walker, Henry R. Barrett, Fletcher Tomlinson, Joseph Packer, Thomas Sotheran, and Excell. Mr Billett was chosen chairman, Cr Walker Chairman of Finance, and Cr Excell Chairman of -Works. Only Crs Barrett and Walker remain of the original Board. The present .Board is : Crs C. Uddstrom (chairman), J. Walker (Chairman of Finance), M. Minehan (Chairman of Works), Charles K. Millar, Silas Martin, Wm. S. Clark, and H. R. Barrett. In the last ten years the gas service at Cobden has been considerably extended, and, with a reduced price, still more use would be made of gas for heating and wasli-coppers. Some twenty-two months ago electrical energy for lighting and power was introduced, and all the streets now enjoy an efficient service. An extension has been made along the North Beach, enabling rural dwellers to enjoy electric power for driving milking machines or anything of a like nature. Candles and lamps have given way to

the pressing of the electric switch. Dairying, pig-raising and poultrykeeping have succeeded mining for gold at the North Beach. The climate, on the whole, is warmer than at Cobden, and some strains of fowls do well. A Greymouth grocer remarked : “It is surprising the number of eggs we get from the North Beach.’’ A drastic change in the rating system has been adopted, a proposal to rate on the unimproved value being carried by an overwhelming majority. It is hardly known yet what the effect will be, but it is believed that good will be the ultimate outcome. A convenient bus service is encouraging residents from other centres to live at Cobden, and the old condition of things, "‘Must be handy to town” is eliminated. House rents to-day are in line with those prevailing in Grreymouth, about 100 per cent higher than when the Town Board took over control from the Grey County. CHAIRMAN’ S OPTIMISM. “On the occasion of this important event in the history of Cobden —the School Jubilee —a few words from the Town Board’s point of view will not be out of place,” said ,the Chairman (Ci- C. Uddstrom). “I do not intend to traverse in detail the history of the Board, but only to mention a few of the things that are. being done. We are progressing slowly, but surely, and are making improvements as we go along. So far, this has been done out of revenue, but we must, as other similar bodies have done, raise a loan for improvements, including adequate water supply and drainage. We now have electric light in our homes and on our streets, and the same energy will do our cooking and'heating, and also drive our factories. Gas was a 4- I» I »-» .-w 1 4-r. 4-1 -»x-» z~\ 1-. • 4- 1•»ri n J- a«

great extent to give way to its rival, electricity. "With, these facilities we should, if ’ we put our shoulder to the wheel of industry, be able to make Cobden a ! much better place in the near future. , I am looking lor still bigger things, ! including a deep-sea.harbour at Point Elizabeth, which would ensure a great development at Cobden. With that, . am| with what, we can do ourselves, ■ individually and collectively, I venture to predict a bright future for the : township."