QUEEN ST. PROPERTY.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 293, 11 December 1925, Page 5

QUEEN ST. PROPERTY.

AN IMPORTANT SALE. PRICE OF £44,000 OBTAINED. OVER £1000 PER FOOT. Property in Queen Street is for ever changing hands, and the latest deal to be completed is the sale of an old landmark in the city in the block occupied on one side by Messrs. Lewis R. Eady, music sellers, and the other by Mr. C. H. Kingsford, leather goods and sports specialist. The property, which is practically the last in the estate of the late Mr. T. Peacock, has a total frontage to Queen Street of 41ft 9in, by a depth of 100 ft. The former firm now occupy a frontage of 24ft 3in, and the latter 17ft 6in. Tha joint purchasers of the building are Mr. C. H. Kingsford and Mr. D. M. Foreman, principal of Sucklings, The Camera People, Ltd., and the price paid was £44,000, or £1053 17/3 per foot. According to the terms of the sale the • new owners willeaeh own one-half of the property. Owing to the fact that Messrs. Eady and Son have a lease of their shop they will not vacate the premises until 1929, when they intend moving into what will be one of the most handsome and up-to-date music shops in the Dominion. Their new premises will be on the site now occupied by the Hippodrome Theatre and Brierly's sweets shop adjoining. The intentions of the new owners as to what use they will put their separate parts of the building has not been disclosed. It is interesting to note that the structure that has just been sold has been standing in Queen Street for nearly 50 years, and that during that time it has seen many changes. Inquiries hav e only resulted in data being supplied as far back as 29 years ago when Iredale's drapery shop was in existence. A novel feature attaching to this is that in those days the firm ran a tea-room, but the waitresses were composed of young ladies of the best of families who gave "tone" to the establishment. The building at that time extended back into High Street, but at a later date the rear portion -was sold to the Commercial Travellers' Club. Tn 1901 the building -was taken over by Messrs. John Court and Son. which firm remained in possession tintil 1912, when Hutchinson Bros., Ltd., grocers, took; it over. The latter firm were in occupation until about 1917, and were followed by the present lesses, Messrs. Lewis E. Eady and Son. The sale was negotiated by MessTß. Rutherford, Robinson and Austin, auctioneers, in conjunction with Messrs. Hansen and Peel, estate agents. Attention is called by an advertisement to a moonlight excursion on Wednesday next in aid of the Auckland ; Artillery Band. ! Just received, another shipment of ; novelty crepe de chine, in the newest spot designs and- popular colourings. Early inspection advised. Smith and Caughey, Ltd.—(Ad.)