PHILSON SQUARE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 129, 1 June 1901, Page 5

PHILSON SQUARE.

TO BE ACQUIRED BY THE CITY,

Citizens generally will no doubt feel gratified that the initial step has been Jaken to .enable the fine allotment opposite the Municipal Buildings to be secured for the city and thus doing away with the possibility of buildings being erected thereon that would detract from the fine appearanea* of the Municipal Buildings. The property measures 162 feet by 113 feet, and was owned by the late Dr. T .M . Philson. It was advertised to be ( sold by auction yesterday afternoon by Messrs Samuel Vaile and Sons, and in consequence of this a private meeting of the Council was held on Tuesday evening to decide what should be done in the matter. T?or obvious reasons it was requisite that the fact of the Council being a probable purchaser should be kept quiet. It wasydecided at the meeting that Messrs A. Kidd, .T. Stichbury add the city solicitor (Mr T. Cotter) should be empowered to secure the land iipon certain conditions; In the first place no actual purchase could be made without the ratepayers authorising a loan for that purpose, therefore arrangements were made whereby the Council could hid and if the property, was knocked down at the price decided. upon pay a deposit and have three months, in which to complete the purchase, tnus allowing time for the taking of a poll of the ratepayers. When the property was submitted at auction there was a large attendance. Mr S. Vaile intimated that the vendors were anxious the property should be offered in one lot, in order that it should be purchased as a whole and might be of some utility to the city. Mr Vaile also announoed he had a private offer of £8000 A bid of £8500 followed, and Mr Thomas Cotter then bid £9000. Three bids raised the price to £9850, at which figure the land was knocked down to the Council, and a deposit of- £200 paid. It will now remain for the ratepayers to decide at a poll to be taken shortly whether or not the purchase shall be completed.