TAKAPUNA'S PROGRESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15997, 16 August 1915, Page 5

TAKAPUNA'S PROGRESS.

NEW COUNCIL CHAMBERS

FOUNDATION-STONE LAID.

The ceremony of laying the foundationstone of the new Borough Council chambers, which are to be erected at the corner of Lake Road and the Strand, Takanuna, at a est of £1772, was performed by the Mayor, Mr. W. Blomfield, on Saturday afternoon. Despite the windy and threatening weather a large gathering of people waa present, a number having journeyed from the city to take part in the function. Apologies for absence were received from the Prime Minister and the Minister for Munitions, the Hon. A. M. Myers. The Mayor, in introducing Mr. A. Harris. M.P. for Waitema f a, said the building of the new chambers marked another era in the progress of Takapuna. Mr. Harris said that when the Borough of Takaptina was first constituted many olid residents felt that it was not a wise step ; that Takapuna was not large enough to break away from the Waitemata County Council. The breaking away took place on September 13, 1913, and to-day not one of those who objected would say that a proper course was not then taken. Phenomenal progress had been made during the past two years. In 1913 the population of the borough was 1600; 118 months later, in January last, the I numbers had increased to 3023, and no! J doubt there would be a further substan- j tial increase to record when further official figures were available. During the year, which ended on March 31 last, 150 building permits had been issued. Since then a further 40 had been granted, making a total of 190 buildings, which represented a value of £46,153 which had been spent in the borough. The ratable values had increased since the forming of the borough from £535,753 to £1,021,646. There were, roughly, 800 houses in the borough, which was one of the healthiest in the Dominion the death-rate being only 3.89 per 1000. Improved postal, telegraphic, and telephone services were being installed, and it was hoped, ere long, that the tramway service would be electrified

Soldier Sons of Residents

Mr. W. A. Beddoe, Canadian Trade Commissioner, said there was no place within many miles which enjoyed such natural beauties as were to be "found at lakapuna.. The building about to be erected would be a memorial to the progress of the borough and the public spirit ot the people of Takapuna. But a greatly , more lasting memorial of the place would be I found where the sons of residents had laid down their lives for the Empire and for their relatives and friends who were still living peaceful lives here. Many young men from Takapuna were lving in graves on the distant hills of Gallipoli. Thev had given their lives nobly, sacrificed them for their country. He hoped that those graves would one dav be, in actual fact, watered by the mother's tears, when the war was over. The people of Takapuna would always keep green the memory of those brave soldiers. Loan for Improvement Works. The Mayor expressed pride in the borough and in the wonderful progress it had made. Some of the old residents might feel that they would like the old times back again, when thev could dress as they liked and bathe as thev liked But would they like the old "bus" service from Devonport back again? He had painful recollections of how it often stuck halfway. The present tram system was only secured after much, hard work. It j was true trrat it was a privately-owned '' concern, but most- of the shares were held in Takapuna. so that in a sense it was a public enterprise. Very soon the ratepayers would have before them loan proposals. Money was required for comprehensive schemes which would send the borough further along on the road of progress. A rate must be struck as security for the loan. But it would perhaps not be necessary to collect- these rates, for with up-to-date roads the values in the borough must go up. and the present income of £7000 from rates would be doubled, perhaps trebled, by the time all the loan monev was spent. Takapuna must become the ideal residential suburb. On behalf of the builders, Messrs W J. Grevatt and Son. Mr. C. Grevatt jun., presented the Mayor with an engraved silver trowel, and the ceremony concluded with the laying of the stone by the Mayor.