NEW OF PROGRESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18460, 25 July 1923, Page 11

NEW OF PROGRESS.

SYDNEY AND MELBOURNE. TOWN BEAUTIFYING SCHEME '.* COMMERCIAL , EXPANSION. ;';•..'" Sydney and Melbourne seem 1 to; have ; entered upon ■ a new .* era of progress, -so far as city expansion is-concerned," said Mr. H. D. Robertson, who returned yesterday from • a.' trip vto Australia. » " I found 'both; cities; much ' changed since, my last visit, two years ago, many; new buildI ings; having appeared in .the business centres. 'Sydney is now in '■",& turmoil. The widening. of Martin Placets; proving a very expensive and extensive job ; many buildings will have ;to be pulled down, the Sun newspaper building, *; six storeys in height, having already disappeared. McQuarrie Street and Hyde Park are Being torn up for the new underground railway while the widening of William Street, and • the proposed widening of York Street, in the vicinity of the Town Hall,".' are attracting a, great deal of attention." ' - . ' '~ ■ '":' The re-erection of many buildings was also taking place in the commercial centre in Melbourne, said Mr. Robertson,; these being of handsome design and adding to the architectural beauty of the city. Land -values had lately risen very high, and in the residential suburbs, . sections were selling at from £20 to £35 per foot.. The operation of the unimproved land tax had j had the effect of breaking up many beau- I tiful old estates, ; and . these were now being built over very quickly.; -.; - j ■v" " One point which struck me forcibly j was the. progress which is ."bene made in town beautifying in Melbourne, 'said Mr. i Robertson. The Domain and Gardens and -the St. Kilda Drive are famous for their beauty, and there is now a suggestion that St. Kilda road shall be carried right through to Brighton. Another important work being carried on is the construction" of the South Yarra Drive, on the same beautiful plan as that of the St. Kilda load, which will give a picturesque roadway skirting the river bank for mUes. It was good to' see that commercial expansion was going ahead hand in hand ■ with such a ; progressive city beautifying scheme." :, , >