MIRAMAR

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8782, 11 July 1914, Page 9

MIRAMAR

ANOTHER PLEASANT SUBURB. Behind the south-eastern ridge of hills which encircle Wellington and just four and a half miles from the Chief Pest Office, lies the pretty little suburb of Miramar, which comprises Seatoun, Worsor Bay, and Karaka Bay. It possesses many attractions, both as a holiday resort and a place of residence. The electric cars run twenty-seven return trips daily to Seatoun and twenty-one to Miramar. The improvement of the service has been under the consideration cf the Bdrougli Council for some time, and it is anticipated that : a more frequent service will bo given. Access to Karaka and Worser Bays is by means of a ’bus service, which leaves Seatoun at suitable intervals.

The' up-to-dato sewerage and water supply which has recently been installed is by no moans the ipost important asset of this borough, for added to this, the Wellington Gas, Company has gas mains through all the settled parts of the district, and the council is now taking over the electric light from the City Council and installing a more up-to-date system, which will effect a considerable saving to consumers. Extensive plantation work is being carried out, both hy the council and private enterprise, and as the trees grow the surroundings will assume a different aspect which will impl'ovo the placp considerably. There is at present a mild boom in Seatoun land, sections selling readily to those who aro prepared to build on them, thus keeping the land free from the grasp of the speculator. The average price for level quarter-acre sections at Miramar is £l5O, while sections cf the same area on the slopes overlooking Miramar can bo obtained at about £IOO- At Seatoun £2OO is asked for good flat sections of onequarter of an acre, and about £l2O for an eighth. The land in this suburb is well adapted for building purposes, having a sandy subsoil which gives l a natural drainage for surface water. For the size of the district, the residents are well catered for in tho way of public reserves and recreation grounds. Of the various local sporting bodies the Seatoun howling and tennis club is tlie most important, possessing as it docs a bowling green and three tennis courts on its own property, while Worser Bay is tho home of one of the finest swimming and life-saving clubs in the Dominion, The fine dressing-room and club hall are complete with all the necessary conveniences, and there is a membership of three hundred subscribers, which rivals that of any similar club in Wellington. Then again, within a few minutes’ walk, though not controlled hy the Bcvough Council, are the Miramar golf links, which are regarded as among the .finest in the Dominion. This borough, considering tho number of young folk there, is well supplied with educational institutes, for centrally situated en the hill overlooking Worser Bay is a well-conducted State school, while on the Seatoun Heights, under the supervision of tho Sisters of Mercy, is an excellent preparatory school, known as St. Mary’s. REMARKABLE PROGRESS. Though Miramar is only a young borough, comparatively speaking, its progress is remarkable., The various engineering achievements, the establishment of an efficient fire brigade and a municipal brass band speak well! for the energy displayed by its councillors, who have provided Miramar with all the benefits enjoyed by a place like Wellington. The rates compare favourably with the city rates, but are capable of a very considerable reduction as the district becomes more settled. At present it is very sparsely populated, the estimated population being 2000, while the area of the district is 2250 acres. The existing municipal services provide for a population of ten times tho present number of inhabitants. Besides being sheltered by the surrounding hills, Miramar enjoys a do-

lightfully sunny aspect, and has a moderate climate all the year round. The rainfall has been ascertained to be only about 80 per cent; of that in the city of Wellington. The clear atmosphere is most invigorating, and is noted for its restorative and beneficial effects upon those who do not enjoy the flush of good health, while to tho more fortunate ones it tends to retain the dash of youth until late in life. This is verified by the fact that this district has always, had tho lowest death-rate. ATTRACTIVE BEACHES. ' In summer, Seatcun and Worsen Bay are both w T elI patronised by visitors, the attraction being the foreshore with its sheltered beaches and fine I bathing grounds, in consequence of the long stretch .of shallow water. Another great attraction arc the numerous pleasant walks which surround the whole locality. Among tho most favourite walks is that from Scatoun through Branda Pass to Breaker Bay, so-called on’ account of " the gigantic breakers which crash with terrific force on its sandy shores. Here a fine view is obtainable of Barrett’s Reef, on which many vessels have met their doom, while Pcncarrow lighthouse is plainly visible standing in its loneliness on the shore of the opposite side of the channel. From time to time large numbers of interesting Maori curios have been found at Seatoun, and others are continually being turned up during tbe progress of road formation and excavation work. , At Worsen Bay there is the famous “ Whanganui-a-tara ” spring, named after Tara, a great native ex-plor-er, an<l *cven now t-raoos of Xii© Kakariki Pa are still to be seen there. Both at Miramar and Karaka Bay numerous traces of the Maori exist, and articles of native workmanship and design, such as adzes, spears, and meres, etc., are still found on the hills. This is due to the fact that the last tribe of Maoris who inhabited tho peninsula lived at Karaka Bay. , ,

That the people of Wellington are fast coming to acknowledge the desirability of Miramar as. a place lor making a homo is quite evident by the fact that there is hardlyi an unoccupied house m the borough, which is mainly due to the recent installation of the water - and drainage works, hut several houses are in the"course of erection, the rents of which will compare favourably with thoso in other localities.