SHAVINGS

Evening Star, Issue 20982, 22 December 1931, Page 2

SHAVINGS

The probability that in a few years time a number of the busier streets of Wellington would have to be confined to one-way traffic, was voiced by Mr L. Si Drake,' chief city traffic inspector, in the course of a paper read before the Wellington branch of the Town Planning Institute. Many streets, he said, were inadequate as regards both width and location to meet increasing traffic requirements.— ‘ Board and Council.’

The Christchurch Scottish Society contemplates building a Burns Hall on a section which it owns in Armagh street, near the Ridgley Hall. Hitherto the Society has had' no permanent home, and the Erection of such a hall will be the goal towards which it has been. working for several years. The principal aim of the society is the education of New Zealanders of Scottish parentage in the .traditions, songs, and literature of Scotland.

The most important work undertaken recently in Gisborne was the complete renovation of the 1 Regent Theatre, the back wall of .which was partially damaged by the ' earthquake on May 7. The reconstruction and strengthening of the theatre won't hand in hand with, the decorative work. It was found' necessary to use 20,000 ft of timber to hold the roof in position while a portion of the' back wall was demolished.

The prospects of raising a loan for the proposed Napier • town-planning scheme were, referred to hopefully by Mr J. S. Barton, chairman of the Civic Commission, on his return from a visit to Wellington recently. . Of the £25,000 required he said he had been able to find £15,000, so that it would be necessary to go on the market for only £IO,OOO. Mr. Barton stated he expected that at an early date the plans would be ready for submission to the citizens before going forward to the Town Planning Board— ‘ Board and Council.’

Commenting on the stylo of housepainting at present in rogue, a retired master craftsman of Oamaru stated recently that the most noticeable thing was that the trend was following modern architecture. Colour schemes were not so elaborate. In Oamaru at the present time the most popular combination for residences was either white or cream with black facings and red or green for the roofing iron. In many instances the stops and body of a' house were painted the same and the effect was distinctly pleasing.

Although few commercial jobs are in hand in Christchurch at present, men who are in close touch with.the building trade are predicting a revival in house building. It is reported that even now there is a fairly : good deman for houses, and many new houses that have been empty for some time are being taken. A study of the house-building figures for the past thirty years indicates that in Christchurch, and f probably in other cities, too, a period of slackness has generally been followed by a mild boom. With the increase of population, more houses will have to be built. -