CITY VALUES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 43, 20 February 1940, Page 6

CITY VALUES.

PEAK NOW REACHED. AUCKLAND'S PROGRESS. MB. NOTLEY LOOKS BACK. » On the eve of his retirement, which will take place on March 1 next, the city valuer, Mr. P. F. Notley, who has held that position for the past 20 years, can look back on an Auckland which has made remarkable and steady progress, and a city area which has increased in size from 1848 acres in 1912, with a valuation of under £700,000, to a present area of 18,700 acres, with a valuation of £2,850,000. He has in the employ of the Auckland City Council for the past 3d years, and has been city valuer and returning officer since 1919. He succeeded, as city the late Mr. E. Hickling, who also held that office for 20 years.

The opinion that Auckland city values will hold, and are likely to increase, is held by Mr. Notley. He said to-day that the most valuable area from the business viewpoint was the eastern side of Queen Street, from Fort Street to Customs Street, where the values were approximately £1200 a foot. Values on the western side of Queen Street, in the same area, approximated £800 a foot. Yet in that area, on the western side, the record price of £1580 a foot was paid for a business site. High values also ruled for the area on the eastern side of Queen Street between Shortland Street and Wellesley Street, and in recent years there had been appreciation of values between Wellesley Street and Karangahape Road, en the eastern side of Queen Street, fit Karangahape Road the highest valuations, which had reached £1000 a foot, were in the business area on the southern side between Upper Queen Street and France Street. Sight and Wrong Side*. Mr. Notley mentioned that Queen Street, like the average street, definitely had what is known as a right and a wrong side, and that he attributed, as far as a right side was concerned, to continuous verandahs and long-estab-lished custom. Of late there had been remarkable development and appreciation of values in the Customs Street East area, towards Anzac Avenue, and that Mr. Notley considered was to some extent due to the establishment of the municipal transport station and the big flow of traffic to and from the Auckland railway station. There had been appreciation of Albert Street values, where the land was suitable for the sites for warehouses and headquarters of business firms, hut values in Hobson Street had remained practically stationary for

many yeajs, although it waa considered in the early days of Auckland that Hobeon Street would be a main artery and -the natural link between the waterfront and Karangahape Road.

Mr. Notley said that the big trend of suburban development in recent years had been in the direction of Orakei, Mission Bay, Koliimarama and St. Helier's, a contributing fact being the State housing plan at Orakei, and subdivision on lines which would have been unlikely by private enterprise. There had also been considerable suburban development at Point Chevalier and Avondale. Rentuera was. regarded as one of the most select residential localities in the city, as from the high levels there were splendid views of the harbour and gulf. There were many large residences there with fine ornamental grounds, and it was likely that Remuera would always be one of the most favoured suburbs. There were now over 23,000 dwellings in the city. He commented also upon a modern, tendency on the part of people to live in fiats, and added that they were proving very popular for people who required home facilities in a limited space. Served Under Nine Mayors. During his association with the City Council Mr. Notley has seen the city spread i# the inclusion of the Parnell, Arch Hill, Grey Lynn, Remuera, Eden Terrace, Epsom, Point Chevalier, Avondale, Orakei and Tainaki areas. He has served under nine Mayors. He has carried out the duties of returning officer in connection with a large number of loan polls and elections, and proudly points to the fact that not once in 20 years was a magisterial count asked for.

Mr. Xotley recalled that Auckland had a building boom iu 1922, but by 1930 there was a tendency for values to recede. There was a marked recovery In 1935, and a new peak had now been reached. A sign of prosperity was that this year there were less than 600 objections lodged to the valuation roll, whereas, in 1933, the number was 0000.

Mr. Notley is retiring with the view that city ratepayers are tolerant, and when things are going well thev do not grumble much. He intends *in the future to live a retired life, and for recreation will take up bowling.