TOWN TAKES SNAPE.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 January 1925, Page 10

TOWN TAKES SNAPE.

BIRTH OF CIVIC CONTROL. MODERN FACILITIES APPEAR. GROWTH SINCE THE ’EIGHTIES. From the ’eighties till the present day Inglewood has rapidly grown into an important town, being the centre of a district which carries a large population of industrious settlers. In 1881 the Kaimata land was opened up, and in I'BB7 the Tarata block became the scene of settlement, both localities attracting settlers whose enthusiasm and energy quickly transformed the rough country into comfortable and profitable homesteads. The nineties witness the birth of civic control, the town having reached a size which necessitated administration by a town board. In 1903 Inglewood was constituted a borough, the first Mayor ibeing Mr. B. H. Nicholls. Outside the •borough the controlling body was the Moa Road Board, the first chairman of which wa© Mr. R. Kenny. The board had previously resolved itself out of the Taranaki County, but it was destined later to be succeeded by the Inglewood •County Council. IMPORTANT INDUSTRIES. Inglewood's population reached its highest point in 1908, when 1435 persons inhabited the town. In 1908 Brown’s mill, which had been in operation since I'B7B, closed down on. account of the fact that all the land between Inglewood and the mountain reserve was cut out. Prior to the time of closing, the mill had employed on an average up to 100 men altogether, ©o the event was the cause of a serious -reduction in the population of the town. Important industries associated with a dairying district are to be found in Inglewood. There is a large and successful co-operative dairy factory (the Moa Company) and a progressive bacon factory (the Inglewood Bacon Company). The Moa Dairy Company was not the pioneer, for in 1882 a private company was formed, but it was not a success. Another private company was then formed, but this also failed, and in 1895 the Moa Co-operative Dairy Company was estaiblished, to enter on a career which has witnessed sound development right up to the present time. It was in 1899 that the Inglewood bacon factory started operations. Inglewood has always been a good business town, and all branches of the retail tjjade were established early by the provision of well-equipped places of business. There have, of course, been many changes, but tbe shopkeepers have always kept abreast of the times, and Inglewood ha© served as an up-to-date shopping centre for the residents of the town and the settlers in the surround-

ing districts. The education requirements are met by a splendid primary school, the spiritual welfare of the people is cared for by the Anglicans, Presbyterians, Methodists, Roman Catholics, and Primitive Methodists, each faith being represented by its own church. There are excellent hotels to cater for the travelling public, while the railway and frequent ’bus services make communication with the town a simple matter. The administration of Inglewood has been characterised by enterprise, business ability, progressiveness ai(l foresight, with the result that few towns of a similar size possess such excellent public services. The new municipal buildings are a credit to the town, while the library is regarded as one of the best in Taranaki. The. town hall i.s commodious and up-to-date in every respect, and it fills an important place in the social life of the people. Inglewood possessed a modern electric light plant years before many bigger towns in Taranaki had developed beyond “the gas age,” and now this has given place td the coming of power from the •big scheme at New Plymouth. Thus not only are tbe requirements of the town in the matter of light and power amply met, but a wide area of agricultural settlements is also served. To-day the population of Inglewood is estimated to be about 1400, while in the Inglewood county there are 3'210 settlers. The unimproved value pf the borough is £72,000, and the capital value £183,000. The building activity iof the town is shown by the returns for last year, when twenty new buildings, costing £lO,BBO, were constructed.