LAND AND BUILDINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15499, 5 January 1914, Page 5

LAND AND BUILDINGS.

PERMITS ISSUED LAST YEAR.

INCREASE FOR AUCKLAND.

THE WELLINGTON FIGURES.

Tub building trade in the city has been very active during the past year, and many big buildings, especially in Queen Street, are now in course of construction. The number of building permits issued by the City Council for the year was 344, m against 336 for the previous year. The value of the buildings for which permits were issued during the year totalled £360,025, as compared with £322,591 for the year 1912. This represents an increase in value of £37,404 in the building programme for the year just ended. For the past year 122 permits were issued for dwellings, valued at £62,033; 71 permits for business premises, valued at £186,071; and 151 permits for additions and alterations, valued at £96,471, making a total value of £360,025. TLa details for 1912 at 'i as follows: — One hundred and twenty-two dwellings, valued at £67,665; 109 business premises, valued at £184,75 • and 149 additions and alterations, van.,J at £70,1?#, making a total value of £322,591.

Building operations were actively carrier on in Wellington during the year, but the Auckland figures exceed those of the former city by well over £1000. Quito a Large number of permits were Issued in Wellington, and they represented in value £233,072. March and July were the most busy months, permits to the value of £35,043 and £30,965 respectively being then issued. The next best months were; August, £26,128; May, £20,430; and November, £22,874. These figures are for the last 12 months, but for purposes of comparison® the figures for the last five years ending March 31 are appended. They are as follows:—1908-09, £443,012: 1909-10, £336,849; 1910-11, £343, <u/o: 1911-12, £312,996; 1912-13, £273,344.

HEAL ESTATE MARKET.

REVIEW OF LAST YEAR.

Land and estate agents agree that business was not as good last year as the previous year, yet, considering the many unfortunate circumstances in 1913, the business was much better than might have been expected. A representative of one of the large city firms said that the past year's business was not so good as that of the previous year. " Town business," he said, " has been very much better than the country business during the year, and a ■wonderful recovery was made in the real estate market after the strike, and a very brisk demand for building sections and house property has set in. A series of misfortunes interfered with the business last year. Money was tight through the Balkan war; then we had the epidemic, and finally the strike." Speaking of the prospects for 1914, he considered that they were very bright. The misfortunes of 1913 were not likely to occur again, and a more settled feeling now prevailed, and the investing public was now more confident as to the future. "Of course," he said in conclusion, when referring again to" the pact year, "if we never have a worse year than 1913 we shall do extremely welt."''" Other agents when approached also spok» on similar lines, ai.<i all agreed that I thif year would see a great improvement in tic real estate business. EXPANSION OF D JIEYIKI. ERECTi'-Jt* ChfiAkißlES. . Prom yeav to year the dairying industry ! in the Auckland Prrvinco exte.ads 1 necessitating the erecticu of new creameries and the enlarging of others. Tuakau is a district that has made great strides as a dairying centre. The present creamery, with a capacity of 2500 gallons per day, has been found inadequate to meet the requirements of the district and Uu- >isw Zealand Dairy Association is now ca'ling for landers for the erection of a new creamery. The struc I —., is to be o\ wood, fir ' the jew creamer., .rill have a capacity or 6iXtJ gallons per day, considerably more than double the capacity of tad old creamery. Another dairying district that has made great progress in recent years is that of yvamku. At Glenbrook, near Waiuku, the New Zealand Dairy Association has just completed & new creamery similar in capacity to the one to bo constructed et Tuakau.

Casern is a by-product of skim-milk and the Dairy Association has just completed several casein precipitation stations. The central station is at Frankton, while the sub-stations are at Horotiu, Te Rapa, Rototuna, Ru'vuhia, News f ea<i, Mat-angi, and Manawaru. All the buildings are constructed with galvanised iron. The idea is to put the curd process at the sub-stations, after which it is taken to the central station to be finished The stations are capable of turning out 1000 tons of dried casein per annum Casein is used for the manufacture if buttons, distemper paint. cigr.r and cigarette cases, and many other articles, an exhibit of which may be seen at the Aucl '.and Exhibition.