GREEN ISLAND BOROUGH

Otago Witness, Issue 3754, 23 February 1926, Page 5

GREEN ISLAND BOROUGH

JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS. A social gathering was held in the Green Island Town Hall on the Isth to celebrate the completion of 50 years of municipal progress. The borough came into existence in the early days of the history of and like other local bodies has had its ups and downs, but it has won through and today it “lands in a prominent position, though it is still faced with a big problem in the form of through motor traffic, standing, as it does, in the main highway between the cty and the south. The function attracted a large attend- „ ance. The Mayor (Mr W. T. Smellie) presided, and amongst those present were the lion. C. E. Statham, M.P., Mr T. K. Sidey, M.P., Mr 11. L. Tapley. M.P., Messrs H. E. Moller (Mayor of West Harbour), J. Loudon (chairman of the Harbour Board), S. B. MacDonald (president of the Otago * Expansion League), R W. Hall (Mayor of St. Kilda) J. P. Walls (Mayor of Mosgiel) C. Findlay (chairman of the Taieri County Council). S. Solomon, K.C., and Cr Tomkins (deputy Mayor). In the course of a few introductory remarks Mr Smellie mentioned that the borough was formed on November 26, 1875, but as it was inconvenient to hold the celebrations on the proper date they had been postponed till that night. He did not propose to make a long speech at that stage, so he would content himself with extending a hearty welcome to all and with depressing the hope that they would spend a pleasant evening The toast of “The Army, Navy, Mercantile Marine, and Air Force” was proposed by Mr Solomon. “Thank God,” said Mr Solomon, “that things are as they are at present.” In times gone by, said the speaker they had been dependent on the army and navy for their lives, and the same position might arise again. In responding to the toast, Mr H. G. Taylor congratulated the borough on the attainment of its jubilee. He emphasised the importance of the display in the British Court in the Exhibition as illustrating the importance of the army, navy, mercantile marine, and air force. Mr A. C. Laing, who also responded to the toast, said that while the Green Island Borough was celebrating its 50th anniversary, the Dunedin branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association had only about 10 years to its credit. It was, however, still flourishing, and it was about the healthiest association in the Dominion. The speaker added that the association had a good friend in the City Corporation, and he had no doubt that if it appealed to the Green Island Council it would get a sympathetic reception. The toas of “The New Zealand Parliament” was proposed by Mr P. 0. Smellie. who said that the district had been excellently represented in Parliament, and it had been well treated by Parliament in the past. He mentioned that Sir Thomas Mackenzie and Mr Statham, who were former representatives of the district in Parliament, had passed on to higher honours, and he hoped that Mr Sidey, their present member, would follow in their footsteps. They had always had a food friend in Mr Sidey, although they ad not always got what they wanted. There had been a tendency on the part of Parliament in recent years to usurp the powers of local bodies, and there was a danger that the local bodies would be deprived of power in regard to their own affairs that they should exercise. Local bodies were in touch with the pepole they represented, and knew better than Parliament what was required. They were answ r erable to the ratepayers, who thus had protection in their own hands. The names of the Hon. Mr Statham, Mr Tapley, and Mr Sidey were coupled with the toast. Mr Statham offered his hearty congratulations to the borough on reaching its jubilee. He recalled a few incidents of his boyhood days, and went on to speak of the days when he w r as a candidate for Parliament. He was satisfied that Green Island was well represented by Mr Sidey. There was no more honourable and no more conscientious member than Mr Sidey. All he could say about Mr Tapley was that he had no stair, on his political character. Mr Smellie had referred to the usurpation of the powers of local bodies by Parlaiment, and he couH assure them that those remarks had not fallen on deaf ears. Mr Statham went on to pay a tribute to the excellent work by the local bodies, which probably received more kicks than ha’pence. Since he had been Speaker lie had cast off party politics, and he did not know that he could take part in them again. Mr Tapley said he was present in the double capacity of Mayor of Dunedin and as an M.P. As Mayor of the City he was delighted to voice the feelings of the citizens of Dunedin on such an occasion as the jubilee of the borough. The speaker went on to give an idea of what the borough was probably like 50 years ago. and remarked that great progress had been made since then. Now they had beautiful roads through the borough—(laughter and applause)—or he supposed they would have when the Highways Board came to light. No dfiubt the City Council would have to assist. They had good roads before motor traffic came into vogue, and he thought they were entitled to assistance in putting their roads in order. He trusted that the time was not far distant when the trams from the City would be running over the hill to Green Island, or that they would at least have the omnibuses running. The City had its abattoirs in the district, ro that the City and Green Island were associated in many ways. Green Island was the first district in which he had had the honour of responding to the toast of Parliament. He agreed that the local bodies had not suffieeint power at present. He lid not think they should have to go to the'Government to get sanction for loans, and he did not think they should have to go to the Public Works Department as much as they did. He congratulated them on their jubilee, and wished them nil prosperity in the years to come. Mr Sidey extended his cordial thanks to Mr Smellie for his generous references to Mr Statham and himself. He referred to his boyhood days, in which lie was aa much a resident of Green Island as he was of the city, and stated that some of his earliest and most pleasant recollections were with Green

Island. He went on to emphasise the fact that the Dunedin members always pulled shoulder to shoulder in the interests of the district. Mr Sidey recalled the interesting fact that in the old days Greei: Island was in the Caversham electorate, ami that when the borough was formed the district was lepresented in Parliament by Sir Robert Stout. He believed that the general sentiment of the public bodies would be against the proposal to set up a board to isider the issue of 1 loans. He concluded by congratulating the borough on celebrating its jubilee, and wished it every success in the future. The toast of “Our Solicitor” was proposed by Cr Tomkins (deputy-Mayor), who said he ventured to express the opinion that none of the local solicitors had attained greater eminence in his profession than the borough solicitor lMr Solomon). He was sure they bad been exceptionally fortunate in getting the wisdom of Solomon. — (Laughter.) Mr Solomon had rendered excellent service to the borough and had also taken a personal interest in its affairs, for which reason they specially valued his services. “His troubles are not over,” said the speaker, “for there are many difficulties m connection with which we probably call on him to see us through/ In responding to the toast Mr Solomon said that many years had elapsed sufeo he started to adViso the council, and their relations had always been of the most satisfactory character. He had been brought into contact with four Mayors Mr Lindsay, sen.. Mr Lindsay, jun., Air Tomkins, and the present Major—who formed a capital quartet In proposing the toast of * t The Borough of Green Island” ""Mr T. K. Sidey read out the following list of Mayors:—Mr J. J. Eagerty '1875-1876), Mr Chas. Samson (1377-79). Mr James Runciman (1879-81) Mr A. N. Woollatt (January-December, 188-), Mr Janies Louden (1882-86), Mr James Miller (November 24, 1886-1892), Mr John Toomcy (December 22, 1892-94), Mr Jasi Miller (1894-99), Mr J. Ensor (1899 1902), Mr A. Kano (1902-03), Mr Jas Miller (1903-04). At a special meeting in 1904 to elect a Mayor (Air Miller having died), Cr Jenkins was selected. Air Wm. Geddes was elected Alayor in 1905. and ho held office till 1911. He was succeeded b.y Messrs John Lindsay. E. J. Reeves, Miller. Tomkins, and the present Mayor. The Town Clerks were as follows: —Messrs Kennedy, Walter Stott, Herbert Stott, T. Thomson, R. Crawshaw, and A. L. Burk. Mr Sidey went on to congratulate the borough ori the progress it had made, and wished it every success in the future. In responding to the toast, the Alayor said the last four days had been historical as far as Green Island was concerned. They had just finished celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Green Island Public School, and that night they were celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Green Island Borough, so they would see that Green Island was one of the oldest districts in Otago. Some strangers coming to the place had wondered where Green Island was; in fact, one or two had asked him what time the ferry boat left, as they thought they had to go across the water to get there. When one goes over the minutes of meetings held in the early days one could not help being struck with the struggles- the councillors had in those days, and it went without saying that they owed a great deal to those early pioneers when one compared the facilities we had to-day and what they had in those days. Green Island was noted as a manufacturing centre. They had flour mills, refrigerating works, City Abattoirs, fellmongery, preserving works, iron rolling works, and chemical works. They had also three stations in the borough. There were other items he could mention, but what he had said would suffice to show that this was quite an important little place. The other toasts honoured were:—“Ex’ Councillor J. L. Miller” (proposed by Cr T. M‘Ahan, and responded to by Air Miller) ; “Adjoining Local Bodies—Otago Expansion League, Otago Motor Club, etc.” “ Borough Officials,” and “Ex-mayors and ex-councillors.” During the evening songs were given by Messrs Scott, Angell, Reid, and the Idlers’ Quartet Party, and two very interesting readings were presented by Air C. H. Russell.