NGAIO

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8776, 4 July 1914, Page 9

NGAIO

Ngaio, which forms’part of the Borough of Onslow, lies nestled in tho hills at the back of Kaiwarra; and is only about three miles distant from the centre of the city. Its growth during the past few years has been almost phenomenal. Many of tho city’s business and professional magnates of to-day were educated in the private school that stood on the banks of the stream, surrounded by native bush, in the locality, when but a few sections of land : boasted of even the most primitive cultivation. The advent of tho Wellington-Manawatu railbrought tho district into greater prominence; blocks of land owned by Sir William Fox (who gave the township its original name of Orofton) and others were cut up into building allotments, and found ready buyers. More marked development has been noticeable during the'last four years. Ngaio contains upwards of 200 dwellings, over forty of which are of very recent construction. In 1890 (the year the borough of Onslow was constituted) | tho capital value amounted to £118,504, and the general rate of a -Jd in the £ produced £246 19s Bd. Wadestown, which became joined to the city in 1907, then formed part, of the borough. Last year the capital value had risen to £528,254, and the unimproved value was assessed at £274,021. Land is cheap and beautiful' building sites on the undulating slopes of the valley may be purchased at considerably less than £2 per foot. A well-formed road of an easy gradient is a means of access, and railway facilities have been greatly improved, a motor train service having just been inaugurated to work in conjunction witli the ordinary train service. Artisans and those employed in offices may obtain a weekly concession ticket at the cost of two shillings, and the ordinary return railway far© amounts to fivopence.