In 1876, the Hutt County Council was formed as the principal local authority controlling much of greater Wellington beyond the Town Belt (including Miramar). Rapid population growth in the 1890s saw the Seatoun Road Board (a semi-independent local board within the Hutt County Council which stretched as far north as Te Marua and Waikanae) borrow heavily to build wharves around the Miramar peninsula to improve freight access. In addition to a special household rate imposed to cover this loan, residents also paid general rates to maintain roads and other infrastructure. In 1900 the Hutt County Council significantly increased general rates to help pay for road construction, much of which was occuring far away in Porirua and Kapiti and the Hutt Valley. These increases were objected to by residents and in 1902 the matter was taken to court. The discontent of residents reached such a level that in 1904, with the agreement of the Government, the Seatoun Road Board seperated from Hutt County and became the Miramar Borough Council with its own mayor, councillors and staff. Over the next 17 years the Council borrowed heavily to invest in public works such tramways, electricity, water reticulation and sewage disposal.  By 1920, these debts and new housing developments which were putting infrastructure under stress led to the Council deciding that their best option would be to join Wellington City. A referendum was held with a majority of local citizens agreeing to the proposal. The amalgamation took place in January 1921, shortly after the Onslow and Karori boroughs had joined Wellington in 1919 and 1920 respectively. These were to be the last amalgamations into Wellington City until Johnsonville, Newlands and Paparangi joined in 1954. This souvenir booklet was published to mark the amalgamation and distributed to residents of the Miramar area.