Municipal and Official Handbook of the City of Auckland, New Zealand

ARMORIAL BEARINGS OF THE CITY OF AUCKLAND.

Description—Arms: Argent, upon Waves ot the Sea a two-masted Ship in full Sail proper flagged Gules, on a chief per pale Azure and Gules to the dexter a Cornucopia Or, to the sinister a Shovel surmounted by a Pick, in saltire proper. Crest: Issuant out of a Mural Crown Or a representation of the Phormium Tenax flowered proper. Supporters: On either side An Apteryx (or Kiwi) proper.

MUNICIPAL AND OFFICIAL

HANDBOOK

OF THE

CITY OF AUCKLAND

NEW ZEALAND

Edited by

JOHN BARR

Chief Librarian.

Prepared by Direction of the
Auckland City Council.

AUCKLAND, N.Z.;

Wilson & Horton. Printers, Queen and Wyndham Streets

---

1922.

FOREWORD.

The civic administration of Auckland has now made 70 years of history. They have been years of wonderful expansion and progress. The facts and records call for wider and more effective publicity than any yet given to them. Resident citizens and visitors from abroad ask for information that has hitherto not been available in any convenient form. This Handbook, compiled by the Chief Librarian under the direction of the Council, is intended to meet the need so widely felt and expressed. The book will be found to cover nearly all the activities and interests of the Corporation and of other local bodies whose work is connected with the City.

The views of early Auckland placed in contrast with corresponding ones of recent date are especially impressive. They show at a glance how the pioneer town has become a modern city.

The compiler's work is ably done; and it is confidently predicted that the book will command wide interest and appreciation.

J. H. GUNSON,

Mayor.

Town Hall, Auckland, N.Z.
May, 1922.

CONTENTS.

	Page.
General Data	ix.
Auckland City Council	xi.
The City Council	xii.
Other Important Local Bodies	xiv.
Introductory: The City of Auckland	1
Town Hall	23
Town Hall: The Organ	36
Public Library, Art Gallery, and Old Colonists' Museum	41
Parks and Recreation Reserves	63
City Engineer's Department	87
Water Supply	121
Electricity	133
Tramways	139
Electoral Department	159
Valuer's Department	163
Traffic Department	170
Stores Purchasing Department	175
Sanitation and Public Health	177
Abattoir	187
Fish Market	193
Finance	196
Harbour Board	201
Drainage Board	211
Fire Board	223
Appendices:—
A.—Table of Population	229
B.—Imports and Exports	229
C.—Shipping of the Port	230
D.—Shipping Companies and Agents	230
E.—Consuls Resident in Auckland	233
F.—City Banks	234
G.—Chief Trades	234
H.—List of Religious Denominations	236
I.—Principal Benefactors of the City	238
Index	241

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

	Page.
Coat of Arms	Front.
The City Council	xiii.
Heads of Departments	xv.
Auckland, 1840	2
Auckland's Harbour Frontage, 1922	3
Queen Street in 1843	6
Queen Street in 1922	7
Mayors of the City	11
Photograph of Auckland from a Seaplane	14
Town Hall	22
The Council Chamber: Council in Session	26
Mayor's Room; Mayoress's Room	29
Town Hall: Reception of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, 1920	30
Public Library, 1880; Public Library, to-day	40
Central Library: The Reference Department	44
Central Library: The Grey and Shaw Collections	44
Central Library: Upper Landing	47
Central Library: Children's Room	47
The Leys Institute	49
Branch Libraries	52
The New Gallery	56
The Art Gallery: General View	56
Albert Park: General View	62
Albert Park	64
Albert Park: The Princes Street Border	64
Bowen Avenue	66
Domain: Cricket Ground	68
Domain: Main Drive	70
Domain: The Botanic Gardens	70
Victoria Park	74
Myers Park and Kindergarten	74
Point Erin Park	76
Parnell Park	78
City Reserves	81
Anzac Avenue: Before and After Completion of Improvements	89
Gillies Avenue	91
Customs Street West	91
O'Connell Street: before and After Widening	94
Grafton Bridge	96
Waitakere Reservoir	99
Nihotupu (Main) Dam	100
Nihotupu (Main) Dam	102
City Markets	104
Shelly Beach and Parnell Baths	106
Workers' Cottages, Grey Lynn	110
Municipal Depot	116
Auckland's First Water Supply	120
Western Springs Pumping Station	123
Ponsonby Reservoir	126
The Waterworks Shop	127
"Venturi" Meter and Valves	127
Service Reservoirs: Old and New Types	129
Pumping Stations: Western Springs and Khyber Pass	130
Electric Power Station: Generators	134
Electric Power Station: Switchboard and Boiler Room	136
Tramway Power Station: Boiler House and Engine Room	144
Tramway Workshops	146
Tramway Workshops: The Machine Shop and General Store	148
Epsom Tram Depot	152
Type of Tram	154
Abattoir: General View	186
Abattoir: Exterior and Interior	189
Fish Curing	194
A Catch on a Trawler	194
Plan of Auckland Waterfront	202
Auckland. Looking Eastward	204
Auckland, from the North Shore	204
Chairmen of the Auckland Harbour Board	206
Okahu Bay	212
Building containing Screening Plant	219
Mechanical Screens	221
City Fire Station	224
Map of the City of Auckland	At End of Book.