AUCKLAND'S SKYLINE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 303, 22 December 1926, Page 10

AUCKLAND'S SKYLINE.

REVIEW OF YEAR'S BUILDING. OVER £1,000,000 IN CONTRACTS A PROSPEROUS INDUSTRY. It has been a remarkably prosperous year in Auckland-as far as building is concerned, and the results achieved speak well for the continued progress of the city and suburbs. It has been a noticeable fact that this year has seen a larger bmlding being erected, and several eight," nine, and ten storey structures will shortly-be .raising themselves above the other buildings. The design and general outline of the buildings, too, seems to be a decided imprdvement on those of other days. Another striking fact is the number of dwellings that have been erected this year, or which are now in the course of construction. The tendency has been to get out into the suburbs, with the result that many districts of Auckland, hitherto but sparsely populated, have become popular centres with a notable drawing attraction. Many of the suburbs directly connected with the trams have been the scene of the erection of shops, and notable among these is Dominion Road, Great North Road, Epsom, Mount Albert, Mount Eden, while the marine suburbs have also been the scene of much activity. There was a suggestion earlier in the year that there was to be a slump, but that was proved to be a fallacy and the conditions in-the building trade in Auckland, on the whole, could not have been better. Among the builders carrying on business on a small scale there may have been hardships, but the big contractors were well off for jobs, and had ample to keep them going. Up to December 10, the total value of the permits issued by the Auckland City Council was only £90,192 below the grand total for last year, and by the end of this year there is little doubt that the figures will be in exc«s of £1 613 255 the total for 1925. ' ' During the year, to the.date mentioned, 2799 permits were issued, as against 2552 for 1925, while -500 were for dwllings, as against C4l in 1925. With tlfe figures for 1926 it is, of ccmrse, to be remembered that they are incomplete. It is interesting to note the comparisons between this year and last year, and the following figures require no elucidation. The figures for 1925 are «iven in parentheses: January, 182 (208) Sennits; 50 (44) dwellings; total value, £71 947 (£101,106). February, 246 (217); fiS (47)- £148,503 (£122,699). March, So (260); 55 (49); (£186,154). ■ Anril 210 (252); 47 44); £128,541 tSoe Is?)' May, 229 (259); 43 (48); £57 0$ ! June, 244 (232); 46 (41). £155,624(£101,378). July, 246 t^fH's3 (64); f 139.080. (£101,58*), iSußt, 2*B (21»)i 47 (50; £89,028 t«§2.842>- - 277, ;(227), j _«,

(62); £230,043 (£145,810). October, 259 (279); 55 (77); £171,339 (£130,513). November, 224 (213); 45 (53); £109,399 (£131,432). December, 100 (226); 18 (62); £70,260 (£123,015). This year's total is not yet completed. . As compared with last year, the figures for January show a decrease of £29,159; for February, an increase of £25,804; for March, a decrease of £31,936; for April, an increase of £22,184; for May, a decrease of £63,282; for June, an increase of £54,24G; for July, an increase of £37,585; for August, a decrease of £143;814; for September, an increase of £84,233; for October, an increase of £40,826; and for November, a decrease of £22,033. The huge decrease of £143,----814 in August hist may be accounted for by the fact that the permits for the Dilworth Trust .building, valued at £113,717, and "one for a warehouse for £11,900 were/granted in the same month of 1925. It will be noticed also that there has been a fairly, general decrease this year as compared "with last year, but that does not mean tfiere has been an absence of activity. While there has been plenty doing, the contracts have not involved heavy expenditure, and that accounts in a marked degree for the various decreases. Despite this, there is little doubt that •the total figures at the end of the month will show an increase on those for 1925. The year just closing has seen commenced many large structures that will serve as an indication that Auckland is rapidly advancing, and it can be looked to. with'confidence that the coming year will be just as successful, if not more'so. Several large contracts arc-to be let shortly, and will be completed by the end of 1927, the general trend now seeming to be for ten-storey structures that are to turn Auckland into a city of minor skyscrapers.