THE RHODES ESTATE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 122, 15 February 1908, Page 6

THE RHODES ESTATE.

. V' VALUABLE CITY PROPERTIES. The sale of the city lands . of the .Rhodes Estate ,on March 18 is being awaited with groat interest, .by tho .investors' and thoso' interested in the progress of Wellington. It is claimed that in aggregate extent arid value so much city land has not hitherto been submitted to salo at one time, by- public auction in. New Zealand. Under the will of the' lato Mr. A. B. Rhodes a large number of building sitevs in Wellington have been, locked-up! for many years. The trustees., approached .Parliament on the. matter, and' after negotiations relief was granted in- the shape of a. private Bill, which gave to the trustees powor to sell the lands of the estate, subject to certain provisions. All arrangements have now been completed, and the conduct of 'the cale has been entrusted : to Messrs. W; H. Tunibull and : Co: ;.i The whole • of the properties arc located within the city area between Thorndon, and To Aro. That the purchasers of .the .properties will, speedily set. about improvements, especially m. regard. to the nature and extent of-the buildings upon'- the "-several seclions, is, ;say the auctioneers; "obviously, a sure matter. From the .utilitarian standpoint, .it is pointed, out, this is an excellent thing, but to that section of the citizens'that places store by the old conditions there is cause-for regret' in the . prospective passing away- of the- very oldest among, present day 'survivals: from the days. of . tho forties.' , ' -

Chief aniongst those is the quaint old:gabloroofed building on Lambton Quay, known nowadays as' LethabyV umbrella ' shop; Another building of olden aspect to ■be offered for sale, with its lands, is " The Blue. House," which . adjoins Lethaliy's. There are other properties dotted in" tho ■ city-'between, this point and Manners Street. In a 'by-street from Manners. Street (Cornhill Street) there' is to be sold a survival from the big earthquakes in 1848 and 1555. Some of the estate lands are Situated, on the- Lambton Quay block -which was . traversed ,by tho 'fire''of October, 1006. One r of- these sections'was for many years the headquarters of Cobb and Co.'s coaching.: business.- The extent, of • tho lands' to be sold runs into acres. Separate detailed plans of . each allotment are % now, being'■ prepared for the convenience of intending investors. Full particulars and plans will 'be placed, before the public in a complete catalogue, which is now in the press, and will bo issued in a few days. In the meantime the auctioneers, Messrs. W. H. Turnbull and Co., will givo any information required with reference to torms and conditions of sale, and will bo pleased to forward the catalogue to any address immediately it is available. ' Particulars of each lot to.be offered are given in our advertising columns. ',