NOETHCOTE AFFAIRS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17362, 8 January 1920, Page 9

NOETHCOTE AFFAIRS.

MAYOR'S REVIEW OF YEAR. WORK FOR THE FUTURE. Reviewing the work of the council at last night's meeting of the 'Northcote Borough Council, the Mayor. Mr. A E. Greenslade, said the important matter of the amalgamation of the North Shore boroughs had been considerably advanced by the council since taking office last May, and legislation had been secured, making it possible for any or the whole of boroughs oil the northern shores of the I Waitemata to effect union by means of a poll of the electors. The initial step towards a Greater North Shore had been taken by the Birkenhead and Northoote Borough Councils, to administer these areas under one local authority, and a. successful poll had been taken at Birkenhead. The electors of Northcote would be giver an opportunity of recording their wishes in connection with the proposed union when the adjustment had been ratified bv he Birkenhead Council, the terms of union recommended by the conference of the councils being an equal basis of rating. The Northcote Council considered that any adjustment that might be necessary in order to bring both boroughs to an equality of rating should be made by a municipal expert prior to the poll being authorised, so that the Northcote electors would know precisely the position as it affected them. The reconstruction of the seawall at the western side of the Northcote Wharf approach was in hand, and when completed the embankment at the cutting would Del levelled and the, sidewalk beautified, which would add to the attractiveness ot

he entrance to the district. A retaining wall was also necessary a .he foot of King Street, and this work . vould require immediate attention. A large amount of footpath tarring and | landing had been .accomplished, including ,hat on the eastern end of Queen Street Tom near the wharf to the Methodist, -lurch. , , . . , Though the council found the financial position unsatisfactory after assuming office, ways and means had to be found to finance."these necessary works, and also to adjust several other matters which demanded attention. Notwithstanding the drawbacks encountered, a gpat deal of useful work had been'accomplished by the council, and he was sure the work of the members was appreciated by the ratepayers. . There were problems peculiar to their district, which required to be faced in the near future, and when the amalgamation poll was disposed of he would aek the cooperation of the council and ratepayers, in order to advance the borough in these respects. There was an acute shortage of houses in the district, and yet two-thirds of the borough was unbuilt on, and practic allv locked up by an unsatisfactory tenure. Northcote by its close proximity to Auckland was essentially a residential suburb, yet about four hundred acres cf the land referred to could be occupied only for farming purposes, or gorse-grow-in? because of the tenure difficulty. There was ample room for homes for the people of Auckland in the Northcote borough, and if a satisfactory scheme were adopted for the erection of a large number of wettings on these areas, and a speedy transit system established, a good step towards the progress of the borough would have been accomplished.