LAND AND BUILDINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18455, 19 July 1923, Page 13

LAND AND BUILDINGS.

;^TJCKL^^ EXPANSION

SUBURBAN ENTERPRISE. >

(PROGRESS OF ONE TREE HILL

"W" MODERN IMPROVEMENTS.

The steady expansion *of Auckland's (suburban district year by year is one of the most notable features of the striking record of progress which the city has put up in the last decade. One may visit other cities year by year, and find very little chango; an exera house hers or there, a new shop where there was no shop before, perhaps a . few fields in the suburban area subdivided into building sections, with signs denoting that they are for sale. But for the most part, the population appears to be almost stationa.w,, or advancing at merely normal rate of increase. There has been no great industrial, agricultural or commercial development which has drawn population from outside sources, no influx of new and vigorous man-power . to speed-up enterprise, and bring power, prestige and wealth.

Auckland stands pre-eminent among all the cities of the Dominion for her.record of civio progress and expansion. Year by year the business area pushes farther and farther out towards the suburbs, and the suburban area itself extends into the hinterland of green fields and pastures which hitherto the sheep and tho skylarks have held in undisputed possession. It may bo argued that it is not a, good thing, this strong trend of population to the cities, but where there is to such a magnificent op-' portunity for expansion, for the erection of thousands cf homes in spacious, healthy surroundings, littlo can bo said in opposition to this trend of modern life. Where a city is set within fixed, irrevocable bounds by the hand of nature, where level spaces for the erection . of houses have to bo blasted out of stark hillsides, where a growing population clusters closer and ever closer to the heart of the city, such increase of population .is opposed to the best interests of the community, and although that city may seem to prosper materially, it will bo the loser in tho far greater essentials that make for civic well-being and true advancement. -

A Panorama of Homes. Stand where yon will on any of Auck- . land's encircling hills, and look out over the far-flung city, and compare that wonderful panorama with the scene presented ten years, ago, and you will gain some idea of what. the expansion of recent years has meant to the city. . . . Homes everywhere, miles of red roofed homes, wide streets where motor-car! and tram traffio carry tens of thousands of workers to and from their daily toil. Take a trip on ona of the electric cars themselves, and the impression gained ~. from the: hill-top will be more than confirmed. Whole estates have vanished completely, acre _ upon" acre of open country has been built over, shopping centres have sprung up; on every side there are isyidences 01 the march of progress. Some districts, it is true, have been retarded . by the lack of transit and other facilities, yet so impelling is the desire for home life in healthy surroundings, that the normal order of things has been reversed, , and settlement has preceded the provision of these conveniences of modern life. One Tree Hill District. In no district has greater progress been made in recent years than in the. One Tree -Hill area. It is interesting, at this stage of : . development when .the proposal to form . v a " new borough is being considered, to . glance back *.. to the first ' balance-sheet issued .by the One Treei Hill Road Board in 1873, when the total revenue from the district amounted to £1509. The last balance-sheet shows a total income for; the year. Aof £24,411. Valuation figures also provide a most interesting basis of comparison between the prosperity of the district in bygone years and at the present time. In 1895. the Government valuation stood at- £159,71.9; twenty < years' later • it was well over the million mark, while the last valuation was £1,920,345, an increase of nearly £500,000 .oyer the figures for 1918.

Tile subdivision of several large estates, and the conversion , of many open fields into building sections has wrought a remarkable increase in building activity during ■' recent years. Some idea of . the progress . made "in this direction may be gained from the fact that the number of building'permits issued in 1912 was 28, at an estimated value; of 11,000. In 1922, the number was 154, the value of the buildings standing at £75.787. Figures ■-_ such as these speak for themselves, and are an. important indication of the soundness ,of the district's finances and future prospects. , . '}■ ' In the provision of facilities such as reading, lighting, water-supply, drainage, ■ etc., the authorities have adopted a forward policy that brings the district well into line with other progressive;: suburbs. A pure and plentiful water supply has been secured by the erection of an up-to-date chlorinating plant on One Tree Hill, which treats scientifically tn.e > water . drawn from springs in the vicinity of the Man ukau Harbour, The concrete paving of the Manukau Road, and the work now in progress on the Great South Road, were much ; -needed. improvements long over-due, without which- the- further progress of the district would have been seriously impeded. In concreting these roads, special consideration has been given to the fact that in the near future, an enormous amount of very heavy motor traffic will undoubtedly bo carried, and the foundation and slab have been specially designed to meet this demand. The partial completion of the Great South Boad tram-line has already proved a great boon to residents, and when completed, the service will certainly, enhance still further the value of property. Electric lipht has been installed over the greater portion -of the district, and as soon as the necessary equipment comes to hand for the erection of a new transformer station "at ' Ellerslie, the reticula tion of the remaining portion will be .completed. " J All these modern improvements and facilities have cost much money, a '. total. sum of about £93.000 having been borrowed for expenditure in th© district. But the results have more than justified the outlay, and have provided a strong foundation for a policy of : advancement in keeping with 'Auckland's fine record of suburban enterprise.