ADVANCE MIRAMAR

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10687, 6 September 1920, Page 6

ADVANCE MIRAMAR

AMALGAMATION WITH CITY SMOKE CONCERT LAST SATURDAY. \ A smoko concert, held on Saturday evening at Seatoun to celebrate the linking up of the Miramar Borough with the city, was largely attended, and an enjoyable evening was spent. Mr H. P. Rawson occupied Iho chair, and there were also present the Mayor 'Wellington (Mr J. P. Luke, M.P.), Messrs R. A: Wright, M.P., S. M. Stone (Mayor of Miramar), and representatives of the united boroughs 1 . In his opening remarks, the chairman referred to the growth of the borough. He detailed how he had come in a yacht, 3o years ago, brought trees with him, and gradually w-a tolled them grow, while a city was being formed. He considered that the nine members who forjned the amalgamation committee were not amalgamationi&ts, but Salvationists. (Applause.) THE MAYOR OPTIMISTIC. In reply to a toast, proposed to “The Mayor of Wellington,” Mr Luke said ho remembered coming out in the early ’seventies, and being driven over to inspect some machinery. Even at that time he could not help but notice the possibilities that lay behind such a desirable piece of land. He referred to the tune when the only means of communication were by horse trams to Newtown, and then over the isthmus to Miramar. He touched on the drainage, lighting, water supply, and tramway systems, and in regard to the rates, said he bad always been a little sensitive on that point, and that the general rates (hospital) were 100 per cent, more than the city of Wellington. He advised them to con--1 eider the whole of greater Wellington in facing responsibilities, and to abolish any idea of separation in regard to the tramway system. He thought. Worser Bay, as a, pleasure resort, had possibilities that were equal to Lyall Bay. (Applause.) “TO PLAY THE GAME.” In reply to a similar toast, Mr S. M. Stone (Mayor of Miramar) supported Mr Luke in regard to the consolidation of rates. He said he. had applied himself wholeheartedly to the task of bettering the interests of the borough and its residents, and would continue in the same way as a member of the City Council. He likened the Miramar Borough Council and the city to football clubs, and said the “reps.” had been picked, and it now remained for them to get together and “play the game.” THE FUTURE. Mr R. A. -Wright, M.P., in proposing a toast, “The Future,” congratulated the ratepayers in- attaching themselves to Wellington. Ho remarked on the grand future that was ahead, and said who knew but what' the Mayor of Miramar, or any of the combined boroughs, would some day be Mayor of Greater Wellington. (Applause.) He went on to say that a cheap and efficient means of transit must be encouraged. He compared the -American -system, - where trams were run into the prairie, and encouraged the people to_ go oiit, build and advance. He said it was no use waiting for the population to grow in a suburb. The transit was a vital necessity,, 1 and must be encouraged. He contended that Miramar’s outlook, view, soil, and climate were unsurpassable. Ho hoped the Wellington City Council would visit Worser Bay in the summer time and view its possibilities. He urged that a good road round from Lyall Bay would b© an ksset, and felt sure that the CityCouncil would mete out fair and generous treatment as far as means would permit, and also spoke in glowing terms of the • Mayor (Mr «. P.. Luke). Tire apathy of the people, he said, would bo the most dangerous thing imaginable, fts there was now such a tremendous district to work, but he saw a happy and prosperous time ahead. . He extended congratulations for the very desirable move of amalgamation. (Applause.) The following also proposed toasts: Messrs Mabin, “The Borough” ; Bennett, “Past”; Fox, ‘'Present”; Parton, “United Boroughs”; replies, Messis McKenzie (Wellington), Dale (Onslow), Caughloy (Karori), and Wyatt (Miramar). Mr Leckio proposed ‘The Ladies,” and Mr Richmond leplied. Tli© musical items by Messrs Fuller, Latham and Young were higjily appreciated, and a very . enjoyable funo- ; tion concluded with the singing of “Auld Lang Syno.”