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The next thing was that Mr. Guilford, who
was Chairman of this Council from 1887 to 1896,
was instrumental with the Council in acquiring
some 52 acres of land in Maiden Parish, along the
banks of the Maiden stream, with a view to ultimate
possibilities as to sewage works, a forcible
reason for this purchase being that Kingston had
just shortly before been putting forward at the
Incorporation Enquiry the argument that as they
treated our sewage it was a justification for seeking
to incorporate us with them. This was stoutly
repudiated, and in order to protect ourselves
against possible eventualities the then Council
thought it wise to acquire this ground.
Time went on, and as it drew nearer to the
expiration of the agreement with Kingston, steps
began to be taken to formulate some plan for the
treatment of the sewage of our now enlarged district
by ourselves and at our own cost. The land
in Maiden Parish was not now available, as building
operations had developed in its proximity, and
these have changed its character from that of agricultural
land, as it was when bought, to that of
building value, and it is now an asset of considerable
worth. It has proved a blessing in disguise,
and when realised will bring in a substantial profit
to the ratepayers, and bear convincing testimony
to the value of the foresight of the Chairman and
the then members of the Council of that time.
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