GARDEN SUBURB.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 39, 16 February 1928, Page 9

GARDEN SUBURB.

ORAKEI SECTIONS SOLD. bidding soars high. 1 - PRICES FROM 1595 TO £1400. "This is fhc first scction of the Orakei garden suburb to be submitted for sale. What am I offered?" The preliminaries having been gone through in the wellfilled conccrt chamber of the Town Hall lust evening, the gathering wa3 on the tip-toe of expectancy for the response to tho first call of the auctioneer. The wiclder of tho hammer was Mr. David Smith chief clcrk in the Lands Department. "Will anyone offer mo £900?" This was both a pointed lead and an indication that stiff upset prices had been placed on those sections which have the moat direct view of harbour and gulf. The lots on the tongue of tho headland nearest the city—ls of them—were not included in this sale. The first to be offered was No. 6 of those running from west to east, overlooking the harbour and facing Faritai Drive. It has a frontage of btift and a depth of 153 ft— 37 perches.

An opening bid of £800 was readily forthcoming, anil the offers increased at first by "fifties" and then by "twentyfives" until the hammer sounded A £112.}. The adjoining section, of similar area, wjy.it at £1250 to the same buyer, and thus history was made for the future garden suburb across the waters of Hobson Bay. It is part of tho conditions that no one buyer may take more than two sections, and such sections must adjoin each other. The property is intended for those who intend to become residents of Orakei and not for speculators. , Bidding for tWb sections on the harbour front was keen. The next in order, with an area of a quarter acre, realised £1375, the second highest price of the sale. The three next in line, each slightly more than a quarter acre, brought £1225, £1255 and £1240 respectively. Then came the record, a price of £1100 for a section with an area of 1 rood 27 perches. The three remaining front sections brought £1330, £075 (one with a rather pronounced dip) and £1130 respectively. A section of 2 roods. 2 perches, tho largest offered, sold at £1200. Jt is more or less surrounded by other sections. When the auctioneer came to the sections lacking on those which he had first grid, and fronting on Tuhaere Street, the bidding was not so keen. Of half a dozen, which ranged from 3*4 to 37 perches, three were passed in at £floo, and the others sold at £075, iflOO and £505 each. Five more were passed in, and further sales were effected at £736, £685, £7QO, and £685.. Eleven sections on the opposite side of Tuhaere Street, with northern frontages, brought spasmodic bids of from £400 to £575, put they wero passed in.

In all 18 section* were sold to 17 buyers, and the prices ranged from £595 to £1400. "The sections which were passed in to-night," said the auctioneer, "will be made available at th® office of the North Auckland Board to-morrow morning, and' there will be another sale by auction of Orakci sections in about six weeks time.", The auctioneer was beaming smiles of pleasure. Further Section* Sold. Tlie office of* the Land Board had many callers this morning, with the result that six of the sections facing south to Tuhaere Street which were passed in last night were taken at the upset values. This means that twenty' four sections have been sold for a total of £22,135. The sections sold last night realised £18,180. The value of the remaining thirteen sections is £7975. Purchasers of sections to date are as follow: Sections Nos. 6 and 7, Mr. G. Davis, £1125 and £1250; No. 8, Mr. J. Johnston, £137.")! No. 9, Mr. C. Bennett (agent), £1225; No. 10, Mr. W. H. Tucker, £1255; No. 11, Mr. L. A. Eady, £1240; No. 12, Mr. J. L. Webb, £1400; No. 15, Mr. C. H. Tilema.ii, £670; No. 10, Mr. If. Obcr, £625; No. 17, Mr. B. Hcwlle, £600; No. 18, Mr. C. W. Ravenfliull, £600; No. 19, Mr. R. A. Cornish, £USO; Nos. 20 and 21, Mr. F. M. Winstone, £650 and £725; No. 22, Mr. G. 0. (Jodlin, £1330; No. 23,• Mr. C. Hamblin, £975; No. 24, Mr. L. W. G. Letts, £1130; No. 34, Mr. P. W. Peate, £735; Noi 35, Misb M. V. Bishop, £685; No. 36, Mr. W. W. Meek, £700; No. 37, Mr. A. B. Bcvege, £685; No. 40, Mr. A. Commons, £1200; No. 47, Mr. J. Paykel, £800; No. 52, Mr. A. D. Maxwell, £500.