GREATER AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15864, 10 March 1915, Page 9

GREATER AUCKLAND.

.♦ , , POPULARITY OF MOVEMENT. EDEN TERRACE AND ELLERS'uIE. The movement in favour of Greater Auckland is growing and there is now a strong tendency on the part of various suburbs to seek information with the object of throw- . ing in their lot with the city. Yesterday deputations from Eden Terrace and Ellerslie waited upon the Mayor, Mr. C. J. Parr, to discuss the question of amalg'a- ; mation. i The representatives of Ec'.en Terrace ' stated that they chiefly desind to ascer- ' tain the local position. There was an ( idea that if a poll on the Greater Auck- ( land question was once defeated, two ' years must elapse before another poll ] could bo taken. Eighteen months ago the ] last poll on the question was taken in ' Eden Terrace and therefore the full period ' of two years had not yet expired. In ( [ view of the defeat of the recent loan ] proposals the deputation was of opinion ' that the majority of tho ratepayers were now in favour of union with the city, , and the Mayor's advice and assistance ( 1 were therefore sought. ; Mr. Parr, in reply, said he was under 1 1 the impression that the provision .regarding the expiry of two years before aj other 1 ' poll could be taken did not apply in the ( case of a road board district. Ho thought ( that if 25 per cent, of the ratepayers < 1 petitioned the Governor for union, the , Governor might by proclamation join the ] district to the city, or order a poll of the , , ratepayers to be taken. ] Questioned as to the terms on which 1 , the city would be prepared to receive I , Eden Terrace, the Mayor stated that this ( was a matter which ho would bring before '. the Finance Committee of the City Coun- < cil at its next meeting. The deputation i would be supplied with all infor- . ' mation as soon as possible. i The representatives of E'lwslie, consist- ; ing of members of the Ivilerolie Town ' Board, Bought information on the Greater • Auckland movement and discussed at ; '• length with tho Mayor the question of ' the rates in Ellerslio and'the city. The j 1 deputation intimated that there was a ' ' feeling that tho time was opportune for ' Ellerslie to join the city. » The Mayor expressed his sympathy with > the objects of the deputation and promised i to visit Ellerslie and report to the City , Council. He said the question arose as > to whether Ellerslie was no.- in the Manui kau watershed rather than the Waite- | mata. If 60 a problem regarding suitablo . . drainage would be raised. On this point J ho would obtain a report from the city , engineer. , ( EPSOM WANTS TO JOIN. i TERMS TO BE ASCERTAINED. The possibility of Epsom joining Greater Auckland was discussed at last night's meeting of the Epsom Road Board. In introducing tho subject the chairman of the board, Mr. F. H. Wood, said that when the idea was last mooted he and some others were opposed to it, partly on ' the'ground that amalgamation with the I city would entail jumping over Newmarket and Remuera. But circumstances had now • altered, Remuera having joined the city and Newmarket was thinking about doing so. The chairman went on to point out a few advantages to be gained by amalgamation. A better water supply than the present one was needed in the district, and there was need for a progressive roadin? scheme. A fire station in the district, " with up-to-date appliances was also' re- > ouired, as was shown by several recent I* disastrous fires. Without further discussion tho following motion was carried unanimously':—ri> ! a subcommittee, consisting of Messrs. ¥. 1 H. Wood, R. G. Clark, and E. Clay, be i appointed to interview tho Auckland City ; Council and ascertain the best terms on $ which the Epsom Road District can join , Greater Auckland, and report the -result to the next meeting of the board, with a > view to placing the matter before the > ratepayers and the taking of a poll on I the question if deemed advisable. '