MUNICIPAL PROGRESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18020, 20 February 1922, Page 10

MUNICIPAL PROGRESS.

ACTIVE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

SUBSTANTIAL BUILDINGS.

INSTITUTIONS AND SOCIETIES.

Tho borough of To Awamutu, which has an area of 1520 acres is administered by a council, of which Mr. L. O. Armstrong is Mayor. Mr. Armstrong is a man with a broad vision, and he is fortunate in having as members of tho council men who are always ready to assist in any progressive scheme brought forward. Consequently, the council is a very happy family, and many progressive schemes have reached a successful issue. In these tho council has had the able assistance of its most efficient town clerk, Mr. Dudley Bockett, and a capablo staff, Foremost in the progressive schemes initiated by the council is tho splendid gravitation wator supply from springs on Mount Pirongia, 14 miles away. The catchment area comprises 2000 acres of native bush, and the reservoir has a capacity of 250,000 gallons. Tho water is delightfully puro and dear, and there is a water pressure of 1251b., a great asset for firo-fighting purposes. Tho scheme was initiated before tho war, a loan of £22,000 being raised for the purpose A loan of £42,000 for a sewerage scheme was authorised by tho ratepayers, and practically the whole of the town is reticulated except ono smnJl area. 1 A combined gravitation aud pumping scheme has been adopted, tho outflow being treated by septic tanks. If money is available., the schemo is expected to be finished next year. WollFormed Streets. Loans totalling £15,000 have been expended on street formation, and a further £5000 is now being spent. The roads are particularly good, tho main road to the railway station, which is tar-sealed, being an exceptionally fine example. Lined with trees on both 6ides, it has a very pretty appearance, and gives tho j visitor arriving by mil a very good first impression of tho town. Tho present Town liall and municipal ' offices wero erected in tho early days by tho pioneer settlers. A site, however, has I been purchased at a cost of £2500 for a j new town hall, offices and library, and I a modern structure will bo erected when | finances permit. Tho buildings in the town are of a subI stantial character, notable examples being : the handsome post office, with its clock ' tewer, containing the clock presented by I Mr. W. Taylor, the two bank buildings, J and a number of up-to-date business prei miscs. The shops nave their goods dis-' i played in an attractive manner, and aro : started by thoroughly efficient and busiI ness-'.iko assistants. The streets aro well | lighted by electricity from Horahora, tho I same power being utilised by the majority of business premises and private resi- ! de::ces. A new school has just been completed, the building being quite up to date. There is also a new technical school, the grounds of which com- ', wiso 10 aires. A thoroughly efficient volunteer fire brigade docs good j work when necessity arises, and its i efforts were responsible for a very fine "save'' on the occasion of the recent fire in Alexandra Street. Substantial and pretty residences abound in the town and outskirts, and judging by the well-kept gardens every Te Awamutu resident takes a pride in his garden. Social Amenities. Althoncrh Te Awamutu is reached by rail, roads lead into the town from various directions. A lot of traffic comes in from Hamilton on the north, the drive being through a prosperous farming dis-

trict, while a number of small lakes en route add to tho attractiveness of the surroundings. Many visitors come from Cambridge in the north-east, from To Kuiti, Otoroha.nga and Kihikihi in the south, and from Kawhia and Pironjjia in the west. Te Awamutu is tho headquarters of tho Waipa County Council, the Te Awamutu Electric Power Board, and the Te Awamutu A. and P. Society. Tho Te Awamutu Municipal Band is always well to the front when occasion necessitates its presence, ar.d there is a social club and masonic lodge in the borough. First class hotels and boarding houses cater well for visitors, and thero is also a picture theatre.

The Te Awamutu Chamber of Commerce, of which Mr. A. 0. Warburton is the energetic secretary, has a membership of 56, and has been instrumental in advancing schemes for the welfare of the town to a marked degree. Arising out of its activities are the extension of the rural telephone service, direct communication with Kawhia and other exchanges, while the negotiations in connection with the erection of the town clock were also arranged by the chamber Tho postal servica was improved as a result of the chamber's representations, but perhaps its most successful exploit was the agitation which resulted in power from Horahora being brought into the town.

Local Railway Project.

The Te Awamutu-Putaruru Railway Board, elected two years ago, has completed all its engineering investigations for the building of a line to Putarurti and the plans are now in the hands of the Public Works Department for Government approval, This line will cross tho Waikato River at Arapuni, thus providing material required for the erection of tho dam there, and also open up a large area of excellent farming country, and tap cxtensivo timber forests and metal deposits.

The e.xtraordiwury growth of local stock sales due to the rapid development of the district is striking evidence of the progress the town is making, and the weeklv sale is now one of the largest in tho Waikato. Municipal saleyards, erected in 1909, cover 41, acres and have accommodation for 2000 head of cattle, in addition to which are 80 sheep and pig pens, and horso lines for 400 horses. Te Awamutu has a continuous, telephone service and during last year nearly 100 new connections were made, bringing the total to 510. There are also 70 applicants on the waiting list.