NOTES.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19154, 10 November 1927, Page 4

NOTES.

Mes-rs Pin mer and Hamilton are the contractors lor a new ball tor the Salvation Army at the corner of Harrington and Edinburgh streets.The Tour. Clerk. Christchun-h, invites tenders, closing at -I p.m. uu November ISth, for the painting of the Sydenham water tower. Tenders are invited by Mr G. -S. Cowper, clerk to the Waimairi County Council, for painting, papering, etc., a hve-roomed house in Sisson's avenue, Papamii. Written fenders will be received up to noon on Monday, November 28th, 1927, at the office of the .Railway Board, Wellington, for the construction of the concrete- tioors and machine foundations for the new car and waggon shops, Addingtou. William Hill, architect. (jrcymouth, invites tenders, closing at 1 p.m., on November 21st, for the erection of a large warehouse in Creymouth for Barley and Co., Ltd. An application was received by the City Council for permission to construct additions to a building situated at 112 Peterborough street, and used as a factory. The property is situated in a business area and the Council granted the request. The new member of Parliament for Raglan, Mr W. Lee Martin, is not unknown in the painting trade. Mr Martin resided in Wauganui for a number of years, and while there he was secretary of the Wanganui Painters' Union, represented the tramway employees on the Tramway Appeal Hoard, and was representative of the Wanganui Industrial Unions before the 1910- Education Commission.— "New Zealand Decorator." A proposal that should have a special interest for New Zealanders is that to call a competition for a £75,000 Anzac Memorial Hall in Sydney, on a site given by _ the State Government. This competition is to be open to all architects in Australia and New Zealand, and to architects born in these countries who are living abroad.

The latest Auckland eily rot urns show that building is less active than it was, the total value for the nine months of this year being £962,79."), as against £1,173,885 for the corresponding period of 1926. The decrease is £211,090. The returns for the September quarter reflect, in a measure, the period of depression through which the building trade is passing. The value of the permits for the three months was £269,100, compared with £458,151 for the corresponding quarter last year, a decrease of £189,051.

In its report to the City Council o ■. Monday evening the Electricity Committee advised: —The Department's sub-stations now number 47, and are scattered over a very wide area. In adldition to the routine inspection and tesiing, prompt attention to emergency work by day and night is imperative in ensuring continuity of supply. The hrick walls of Victoria street electrical sub-station have been completed up to ceiling height, and the steel joists for the roof have been put into position. The builder is erecting the boxing for the concrete belt and the roof. Up to the present time, very satisfactory progress has been mad© with this contract.

The Town Planning. Housing, and Health Committee reported to the City Council on Monday evening:— "An application has been received for the City Council's approval of a subdivision of land which provides lor n section of land with a frontage of 2-1.24 links to Tainui street, widening out to 363 links at the back. If this subdivision is approved, the applicant intends to apply for permission to erect a dwelling-houso thereon. The Committee has given the matter due consideration, and as it is of opinion that a great hardship would be caused by refusing to approve of the sub-division, the Committee recommended that subject to the applicant depositing the sum of £8 to cover the cost of advertising, a special order be passed authorising him to erect a dwellinghouse on the section, also that the sub-division be approved." The report was adopted.

Building aclivitv involving the outlay of £11,019,389 constituted a New Zealand record for the year 1926-27. Reviewing; constructional work throughout the Dominion for the period, the Government Statistician's report mentions that while the total amount expended on new work and alterations combined was greater than ever before, it was noteworthy that the number of new structures was also a record. For private dwellings the report says that compared with the previous year, and making allowance for additional municipalities now covered in the return, building operations have remained about the same, showing, if anything, a slight decrease. The average value per dwelling, which showed a steady increase from £725 in 1921-22 to .£B6l in 1925-26. has this year shown a slight fall to £855. The average cost of wooden dwellings in 1926-27 was £BO2, and that of houses in other materials £1155.