PROGRESSIVE HAMILTON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15456, 13 November 1913, Page 6 (Supplement)

PROGRESSIVE HAMILTON.

GROWTH OF THE BOROUGH.

DAIRYING THE MAINSTAY. Situated on the banks of a- pretty river, and stretching away in nearly every direc tion across country, the progressive town of Hamilton to-day bears but faint resemblance to the small military settlement it was in 1864, during the troublous Maori ware. Hamilton East was at one time the town proper; but with changes of railways, reading schemes, and the other incidental necessities to town building, Victoria Street— the main business ; thoroughfare on the west side of the river is called— to-day business premises | such as are not to be seen in any other | town in the province, outside Auckland. Year by year Has seen the demolition of old buildings at Hamilton, and new ones of the latest architectural style havo taken their places. Vacant spaces have gradually become occupied, so that to-day, in the business portion of the town itself, there is hardly a waste area to "be seen. With the extension going on in all directions, old landmarks are disappearing, and a resident of 20 years ago, suddenly coming back, would hardly recognise his old town. The old wooden bridge over tke'.Wai kato, which connects West and East Hamilton, and opens the road from the.wes' side, has been replaced with an iron singlespan structure, erected at the joint cost of the public bodies in and adjacent to the site. The iron railway bridge, further down the river, has been provided with a footbridge for the convenience o£ the residents of the newer suburb of Claudelands, and the other parts of Kirikiriroa. The Suburban Districts. i Suburban Hamilton has grown out of re-1 cognition. Claudelands. clamouring for inclusion in the borough, was taken in but recently—a pretty, quiet, sequestered corner by the river, on the east side, and adjacent to the show grounds. No. 1 (now no longer so known), has been rechristened Whitiora, and is being rapidly built upon with pretty villas of quaint desip. On the "east side itself, where progress was slow for a time, there has beer, a decided impetus. Along the Ohaupo Road, towards the Waikato Hospital.' and around the grounds surrounding the Hamilton Lake, the residential portions of the town has widely extended. Frankton, for long controlled by a town board, lately blossomed forth as a borough, but it is difficult to find where Hamilton ends and Frankton begins. The houses are in almost continuous lines, while on the main road there is no break whatever. The population of Franktcn is approximately 1166. ' Population and Other Statistics. Some idea, of the growth of the borough of Hamilton may be gained when it is remembered that in 1901 the population was 1246. At the present' time it is estimated to be between 5000 and 6000. The last census shows it as 3542. The borough of Hamilton now covers an area of 2100 acres, with an unimproved ratable value at the last valuation of £500,000, and a capital value of £825,000. It contains between 1300 and 1400 dwellings and buildings. The present Mayor is Sir. A. E. Manning, who succeeded Mr. J. A. Young, M.P. for Waikato. The Mayor of Frankton is Mr. F. B. Jolly. Reserves and Improvements. Hamilton is perhaps the most richly en-' dowed borough in the North Island in the way of reserves and domain land. Previously the latter were under the control of the Hamilton Borough Council, sitting as a Domain Board. As the result of frequent agitation a separate body has been constituted under Goveraor-in-Council, the first chairman being Mr. A. Swarbrick. Under this body's direction much work is being undertaken, such as the improvement of ( parks and sports and playing grounds.' Aho the beautiful foreshores of the lake are being laid out in an artistic manner.

The Hamilton Beautifying Society also has undertaken street tree-planting, the formation of a walk, along the west rifet bank, and the improvement of other sites. Schools, Hospital, and Churches. There are State schools at East and West Hamilton and at Frankton, whilo during the past few years a handsome and commodious high ■ school has been instituted. The old wooden buildings, which comprised the district hospital six year* ago, were swept away, and in their place stands a structure of brick and cement, designed on tho latest method, and ruplete with all the necessary appliances for th© treatment of patients. New churches have arisen, that of " Our Lady of the Rosary" (R.C.), which is built on a rise of the hill on the east side, facing the traffic bridgo being the most striking. Plans are also in preparation for a new Anglican church, while a new Presbyterian church is in process of erection. The edifices of other denominations have been, or are being, enlarged. Amongst the most notable public buildings erected in recent y years are the Public Library, the Courthouse, and law library, public swimming baths. Town Hall, and Municipal Chambers, and the Government buildings. An Important Centre. The town is the centre of a police dis trict, extending from Thames to Taumaruj nui, and is also a military centre. It is i the headauarters of tho No. 4 group, also ! the 4th '(Waikato) Mounted Rifles the G. Battery of the New Zealand Field Artillery, the 16th Waikato Regiment, and the No, 5 Mounted Field Ambulance. Agriculture and Commerce. Agricultural interests are catered for by the Waikato A. and P. Association, while the Waikato Winter Show Association is about to greatly extend its operations, which have already done much to further advance the district. The . Government farm of instruction 'is situated at Ruakura. adjacent, to Hamilton, and is recognised as having aided the district in many ways. Commercial circles have widened and extended. Industries, of which 10 years age there were hardly any, have sorung up on all sides, and are making headway beyond all previous expectation. Commercial houses have been established in every conceivable branch; banking lias extended to include branches of all the leading Ne;; Zealand and Australian financial institutions; co-operative and company concerns for farmers and those earning their living by the land are carrying out good ana necessary work, and each year sees bigger returns going from the railways to me ports. The completion of the Main Trunk line opened up trade avenues formerly undreamt of, and in some measure has helped in the later advancement of Hamilton. Thriving Dairy Industry. It is, of course, on the dairying industry chiefly that the advancement of Hamilton and the Waikato has depended, the rapid extension of dairying all through the district has made the town what it is, and its future lies in the advancement of that industry. Were it not for the Maori wars, the part Hamilton played in them, and the 'wonderful fertility of its lands in the pro- ! duction of butter-fat. the history of the town need never have been written. . Ii , is because of these two facts that the town has grown into importance. The swords .have truly been turned into ploughshares., and. the fierse battle cries of natives or 1 Europeans has changed to the low call* of "AWMfc-breßthed, fine."