Page 8 Advertisements Column 4

Evening Post, Volume LX, Issue 102, 27 October 1900, Page 8

GREAT AUCTION SALE Of the Celebrated M'NAB'S GARDENS, LOWER HUTT. Important to tho Government, Public Bodies, Speculators, Capitalists, Hotel Proprietors, and tho General Public. THE MOST VALUABLE, SCIENTIFIC, AND ORNAMENTAL GARDENS AND GROUNDS IN THE COLONY. IN THE EXCHANGE AUCTION ROOMS. No. 84, Lamhton- -quay, Wellington. * — THURSDAY NEXT, Ist NOV., -1900, At 2.30 o'clock p.m. MACDONALD, WILSON, AND' CO. are 1 favoured with instructions to sell by public auction as above — That magnificent property at tho Lower Hutt, so long and well known as M'Nab's Gardens. This grand properly contains noarly thirteen acres of the richest and most fertile land in the celebrated Hutt Valley, having frontages to tho Waiwetu-road, Nikau-avenue in Ludlam Park, and the Opahu Creek. It is laid out as a scientific and ornamental garden, orchard, kitchen garden, and small park available for cricket, bowling, tennis, etc., and has in addition a beautiful reserve of native bush. Fronting the magnificent lawn stands the family residence, upon which over £1200 was expended five years ago. TheLresidenco is built in the Elizabethan style, and with its Cathedral glass, leaded' windows, and quaint tables, has a delightful old-fashioned look. It contains ■20 'rooms, including drawingroom, two -large and lofty diningrooms capable of dining 80 guests, breakfast room, bedrooms, etc. Attached to tho residence' is a largo conservatory. There aro also two vineries filled with special varieties of vines.' A short distance from the residence there will bo found complete and compact stables, containing seventeen loose boxes, harness rooms, coach-house, dairy, wash-houses, and all tho necessary conveniences for bo large an establishment. A splendid artesian well, 68ft deop gives an unlimited supply of the purest water. Tho stable 3 and a cottage aro greatly used in connection with tho meetings of tho Wellington Racing Club (whoso grounds aro within a short distance of tho property), and aro estimated to return in rent and board and residence for those connected with the racing Blables somo £400 per annum. The history of the property is an exceedingly interesting one. The land was selected by the late Mr. Ludlam, M.H.R., some fifty years ago, as the most choice spot on"' which to establish a unique home. For somo thirty years that gentleman devoted a large capital and the best experience to creating a great scientific and ornamental garden. Every country was laid under contribution for trees, shrubs, and plunls. No botanist in Great Britain, Europe, America, Africa, and India, but was acquainted Tvith Mr. ' Ludlam and his desires. Collector after collector was pressed into tho service with the happiest rosults. Tho rarest and most beautiful of naturo's treasures were transferred from distant climoß to tho lovely properly .in tho Hutt Valley, until the reputation of the Gardens as one of tho most extensive and valuablo collections of living plants becamo world wide. Each succeeding year has shown how completely this work of collection was done, because no year has yet passed without the garden displaying some new floral attraction — a rare treo or plant flowering for tho first timo in 30 or 40 years. It is slated that tho laic Mr. Ludlam Bpcnt no less than £25,000 upon tho property. After Mr. Ludlnm's death tho property was purchased by tho lato Mr. James M'Nao for use an a public garden. Mr. M'Nab'u oxperionce as a high-class practical horticulturist enabled him to vastly improve and beautify it. , Thi'i magnificent property would make a fitting homo for a great University, while tho garden would bo found one of tho most valuablo adjuncts in connection with the scientific botany of irnch an institution, or of a great Stato forest department. No greater boon could be conferred upon a community than the purchase of such a valuablo estate as this by a public-hearted citizen, and its presentation to tho people for a great Convalescent Home, Recreation Grounds, or other beneficient purpose To Che ordinary investor the property strongly appeals from another standpoint. Its value as a public garden and private hotel (without license) is very groat. Having been kept ill first-class order as a "going concern" it has a substantial and important value in that respect. Not only is the residence in demand both in winter and summer for those desiring charming semi-tropical surroundings and a delightful climate, but for special dinners, high teas, and afternoon tea parties, the gardens under the present vigorous management are gaining golden opinions every day. As to its financial aspect the gross receipts from the stables, sale of flowers and plants, and the charges paid by visitors represent an income of from £1500 to £2000 per annum, whilo the value of the property, if taken in hand ond run on Continental or American lines, would be enormously increased. It must always bo remembered that M'Nab's is the favourito outing, not only for all tourists visiting tho Empire City, but that on holidays, Sundays, and week days, it is a source of enormous attraction to a largo proportion of tho 60,000 people of Wellington and its subur-bs As a suburban^ auxiliary to any one' of Wellington's principal hotels, the progoi'ty would prove of enormous value. Iverything required by a large hotel, in tho . shape of fruit, vegetables, poultry,/ hams and bacon, iB produced at the gardens, and the facilities for dealing with the extensive laundry requirements of a great hotel cannot be surpassed. The fact that the new arrangements of duplicating tho Hutt railway lino, running passenger cars free from goods trucks, and furnishing them with the celebrated Westinghoußo brake will shorten the railway journey to fifteen minutes will moon a rapidity and comfort in travelling to the gardens that will add enormously to their value. In this connection it may be mentioned that tho Waiwetu-road, • fronting the main entrance to the gardens, is being inoroased in width to 60ft. Specially liberal terms can bo arranged for the purchase money/ only a' small doposit of 10 per cent, being required. Tho major portion can lie on mortgage if desired at 5 per cent, interest. For further details, cards to view, t and conditions of sale apply to tho Auctioneers at thoir office, 84, Lambton-quay, Wellington. J^ACDONALD, WILSON AND CO., AUCTIONEERS AND ESTATE AGENTS 84, Lambtok-quay. BEAUTIFUL KARORI— Two good quarteracre Seotions, just off Karori-road. Prico, .£75 each, cash. ELLICE-ST WENT— Commodious Residence 8 rooms with bathroom, p.w.0., coppor, tubs, new drainage, oto. Price, 6.11 SOUTH-ROAD— Suporior brick Residenco, 5 rooms ; brick outhouses ; land, 33 x 120. Deposit .£SO and balance easy payments. CONS I'ABLE-STREET — Splondid Eesidonee, 7 rooms ; every modern conveni- ■ enco ; land 37 x 109. Price, JJ625. Terms. 632 HOME-STREET— Commodions Residonoe, 8 rooms; every convenience. Prioo, .£875. 621 ROXBURGH-STRBET (off)— Bijou Home (new) ; 5 roomß, soullery, gas, gas cooker, and every convenience ; splendid views. Price .£4BO. Wasy terms. 583 NORTH AND SOUTH AVKNUES (off J Hopper-street) — Double frontage 50ft v x. 122 ft, first-class 6-ronmed house, all modern conveniences. Price .£650. 620 EPUNI - STRICET (off) — new 5-roomed House, every convenience. Price >£4SO. i Terms. 609 ' HOBSON-CRESCENT-Pine level Building Seotion. Price, .£l5O. ROLI.KSTON-STltMKT— Superior Building Sites, 45 x 200,