STATE PROJECT

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25312, 20 September 1945, Page 7

STATE PROJECT

CONCENTRATED AREA final development Plans have been prepared for the development of about the last available block in a locality with the greatest concentration of State houses in the Auckland metropolitan area—the district bordered by Mount Smart, Campbell and Great South Roads. Well over 1000 State houses, already built or under construction in this district, are distributed over an area of a little more than a square mile. The two largest State blocks in the locality are on the Cadman, or Harp of Erin, estate, where about 300 units were erected as one of the earliest housing projects in Auckland, and the Oranga block, one of the latest developments, where about 400 units are completed or under construction. In addition to these, various smaller settlements are distributed through the area. In the whole district bordered by the three main roads, the State will finally have erected about half the total houses there, private enterprise accounting for the other half, lhe area is almost equally divided between the One Tree Hill and Onehunga Boroughs

The development of the last section, known as Stubbs' block, is expected to conclude the State housing activity in this particular district, where the Housing Construction Department has been thorough in acquiring all available building land. Further expansion in one direction will probably be precluded by the Onehunga_ Borough Council declaring the adjoining area an industrial zone, while development in the other direction is barred by Jhe One Tree Hill domain. Mid-way between the Oranga block find the Cadman estate, the Stubbs block, of about 19 acres, is bordered by Maroa Road. Paihia Road and Oranga Avenue. Plans providing for 85 new State units on the block have been approved by the One r I ree Hill Borough Council. The work of developing the site, which is expected to start early next year, involves the construction of 2chains of newfroading, including the extension of Aliford Avenue to Maroa Road, and the provision of drainage. The land has a gentle slope generally to the south-west, and the eastern portion affords fine views of the Manukau Harbour. It is convenient to the industrial area around Penrose.

CHURCH MUSIC CATHEDRAL CHOIR URGED The establishment of a cathedral choir of bevs and men in the diocese of Auckland wa s recommended in the report of the committee on church music, which, was presented to synod yesterday and adopted. The committee was set up in August, 1944, by direction of the Bishop of Auckland, the Rt. Rev. W. J. Simkin. _lt was suggested that in the meantime greater use might be made of the boys' choirs of King's College and King's School in the cathedral and larger parish churches. Other recommendations included.the formation of ft church music association of clergy and musicians, and of a diocesan church music library, and the organisation of church music and choral festivals. It was of the greatest consequence to recover the Anglican tradition in church music, the committee pointed out. Choirs of boys and men were essential to the recovery and preservation of that tradition. That the Anglican tradition was not exemplified in the majority of Auckland churches was due largely to the non-existence of a cathedral establishment, which could provide parish churches with a steady stream of organists, choirmasters and choir men. Music was included in worship, not primarily for its own sake, but for the Rake of the service with which it was connected. The purpose of this music was to strengthen and to deepen the meaning, beauty and expressiveness of the words contained in the service.