IN OTHER CENTRES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 157, 27 March 1908, Page 8

IN OTHER CENTRES.

(DI TEI.EGR.VriI—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS.) | , - AUCKLAND. March 26. Poor Dunedin. An article in tlio "Herald"- to-day casts rather a slur upon Dunedin. Tho writer says:—Each steamer arriving from 'South Island ports always brings a number of Southerners who intend to take up their rosidenco • here, either in town ,or country. The arrival of the Wimmcra from Dunedin on Monday was in this respect lio exception to the rule. Her passengers included quite a number of South Islanders who are deter-' mined upon casting their lot in this more favoured part of the Dominion. Among their number was a strong able-bodied young ma:i of about 25 years of age; who is a nativo of Dunedin, and has been resident in Christchurch for the.past three years. In conversation with a "Herald" representative yesterday, he spoke in doleful terms of . the condition of affairs in-the. South, and particularly as regards Dunedin. "I recently paid a visit to the-Otago capital,"-,he,said, "and much as I;regret to say it, must confess that I never-saw the old place in such a state before." "You found Dunedin stagnant?" queried tho Press representative. "Stagnant," was tho reply; "why, stagnant is .not the name for it. It is going nack, and .what the young follows seem to, desire down.there is to get out of jt. No. matter whore you go in tho Dominioiv you are bound to; crop up against a whole host of old, Dunedin acquaintances, all. of whom have had to get out of the place. for their own advancement. Why, there is quite a colony of old Dunedin-it-es in Christchurch, ana also in Wellington and Auckland." This statement was borno out by another man, a former Dunedin resident, who has been for fivo years in Auckland. "It is quite true," he said. "If a young fellow in Dunedin wants advancement, what lie's got to do, is to_ get out of it, .and as an illustration of this I could quote you • dozens of instances during the five years that I , have been in Auckland. No less thaji ,17 people who formerly resided in the same street as I did liavo come to live in Auckland.", i.

Growth of Auckland. ' A feature in the growth of Auckland is-the extonsivc subdivision' of suburban lauds that has boon going on, especially during the last two amongst prominent local land' agents elicited, the fact that' practically all these subdivided areas are being built upoiij There seems to be a greater. supply, howover, ' than the ■ immediate, demand,: and Jt is considered that, there is not likely to bo any 'scarcity of these areas for some time to come. In the face of this, however, .-.it is remarkable what high, prices the subdivided sections in tho suburbs are fetching. One land agent asserted' that. thb prices being obtained for land three miles away , from Auckland City aro more than for similar areas at a similar distance from London, Manchester, and Livorpo'ol. Anothor land agent declared that, while tho subdivision of suburban land in Auckland was coing ahead rapidly," it was nothing in 'the-nature.'of a boom, and was only characteristic of the steady- progress which Auckland had been making for a number \of years. Most of the sections that have been, purchased have boon bought for actual occupation .by; the purchasers themselves. In practically every instanco • they pay >.cash down, for.' the land, and- in about; .50 per cent.:'of eases -they borrow, to build.- Asked ,if hq'cbuld; attribute any reason; for the, high prices of suburban land out bore'as compared with suburban : land at Home, the agent replied: " Yes;: I; can, Ono great feature in connection with English lands; that. is nearly always-lost sinht of is that it is nearly always subject to very- high taxation for general and'local purposes. Take'city lands, for instanco. There are Mots of towns at 'Homo where the. rates run into 'over 10s.'.in the .£ on the ann'uar value,- whereas here in Auckland,.they only total ;about -2s. 6d. '.in the £. Where' tho rates'run to 10s. in the £' the municipality practically owns half tho property, while ono has tho : other half for himself. Such being .the case, ono can morereadily why land , out' here ■is so high''as compared with that ;at Home; and then, , again, in country districts in -England, between the local, poor ratb's, -and what, not, tho taxation totals about £1 an: acre: There is land hold out of occupation in England, simply because.it cannot pay the taxes.'.'' :

DUNEDIN. ; ... ■ , , ■ • . March 26. . . Tho Hon. T.. Fergus, one of .'the old members of tho Otago Harbour Board;' resigned to-day.,,; '. ■ Tho . city ■ tramwaj'. receipts for-"s2'.weeks 'ended -.a>Mardh. ..4 -amounted-.-.to :i £5.9,187 lis. Ud. : , and working' expenses ito £32,911 35..: lid.', showing a profit- of £26,276 Bs. over - working expenses,. and ,8.76 ' per cent.' on a,.capital expenditure of £300,000: After allowing for all charges a ■ profit ( of : £5578 3s. id, .yas.made.' The manager also'state's,: " I anticipator that for the,.., year': March 31, 1009, the tramways working under present, conditions, will. show an - even ' more satisfactory return,, as. I,estimate.that:,tho increase- of. revenue ishould .more, than ..cover our.' increase, in, repairs'.', and,;' .jqaifttefiajtcei charges.'" The city's tramway 'staff consists of 18 officers and 158 omploye'es. 1 1 ' '■-' Mr. I). C.V Robertson, superintendent 'of thewater, supply distribution >and construction .of. the Metropolitan .Water arid Seivago Board. Sydney,, is at present, on a visit.:to Dunodini. ' 1 'y •