BOROUGH JUBILEE

Hokitika Guardian, 9 July 1935, Page 3

BOROUGH JUBILEE

CELEBRATIONS AT GORE

FIFTY YEARS A MUNICIPALITY. (Per Press Association, Copyright). GORE, July 9. ; To-morrow the' borough of \ Gore qclebratos its jubilee. A progressive town, modern, well-built and expanding rapidly, now stands within the boundaries proclaimed as a muncipality on July 10, 1885. Further territory has been added to the town in the past 50 years, and to-day Gore, with a population of some 5,000 people, is the second centre of-Southland. "U The first sale of Gore sections took place in 1874, the highest price being £SO for the site where the Bank of Now Zealand now stands. The Gordon Town Board (Fast Gore) had been constituted in 1882 and existed till 1880, when it amalgamated with Gore proper. A Gore Town Board also existed from 1882 to 1885. The “Mataura Ensign,” Gore’s daily newspaper, was established in the year 1878, so that it was not until long after the. town had been well founded that Gore attained municipal status, Gere has had 15 Mayors in 50 years, as follows: Thomas Green, John MacGibbon, James Beattie, lan. S Simson, Alfred Dolamore, IV. Maeara, T. H. Brewer. 1). L, Poppelwell, James Copland, Duncan MacFarlane, John Bnl--1 intine, A. A. Mac Gibbon, D. McRougall, A. Martin, and A. T .Newman, the present Mayor. As evidence of the expansion in 50 years it may be stated that in 1885 the population of Gore was estimated at between 1000 and 1200. In' 1905 this had been raised to 3000. in 1918 the estimate was 3500, while in 1935, although no definite figure is available officially, the town’s population can be estimated at about 5000. The capital value of Gore in 1885 was given by one authority at £72,000 and another at £IIO,OOO. In 1905 the figure was £350.000, and in 1935 it was £1.178,071, the total unimproved- value being £315,070. The total borough revenue in 1835 was £ll2O. In 1904 it was £4632, in 1918 £12,828 and in 1934 it was £20,666. The occasion of the jubilee will be marked to-morrow by a municipal banquet, and various firms in the town have decoration suitable to the occasion.