WELLINGTONS RAPID PROGRESS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1291, 26 November 1896, Page 34

WELLINGTONS RAPID PROGRESS.

THE REMARKABLE DEVELOPMENT SINCE LAST EXHIBITION. SOLID AND STRIKING PROOFS OF PROSPERITY. AN INTERESTING RETROSPECT. It will be of interest to take a glance at the progress made by Wellington since the last Exhibition was held here. The day has long since passed when the capital of the Colony was looked upon as little better than a fishing village by the people of Auckland, Dunedin and Christehurck. This was in the days of provincial jealousy, when every man worked for his own district, regardless of the interests of the Colony as a whole. Men are imbued with a larger spirit of patriotism nowadays, and recognise that the prosperity and progress of a part tends to the welfare of the whole. Business men in tho other centres have for years recognised the importance of Wellington as a distributincr centre, so that the motto on the city coat of arms — Suprpmn a Situ —is no boast, but literally true. Within the past few years many of the leading firms in +he South have shown their faith in the solid progress of the city by REMOVING THEIR HEADQUARTERS HERE and building offices and warehouses which are alike a credit to the owners and an ornament to the city. There can be but Jitt'e doubt that a great deal of the progress of this city has been due to its beautiful harbour and the excellent wharfage accommodation. Our Harbour Board has not only kept pace with the times, but it has kept ahead of them. The Harbour Board has deserved well of tho citizens of Wellington in the enterprise displayed by it, but then no small amount of that credit is due to the able engineer of the Board, Mr W. Ferguson. A SOLID PROGRESS. It is most gratifying to note that the progress of the city has not been due to any temporary boom or artificial causes, but is of a solid character, firm and enduring, and based on the development of the powerful medium, commerce, which has contributed so largely to the wealth of the British Empire, and has left its mark on the British people. Booms may come and go, but commerce is solid and lasting. In many other places the progress is of such slow growth that it is only one who has bean absent for a time Avho can notice the improvements that have been carried out during his absence. In Wellington, however, the progress and extension of the city have been so marked that tho most indifferent observers cannot help being struck with them. Everywhere one sees residences, warehouses and shops being completed, or in various stages of erection, whilst the absence of that legend of deep import " To Let " is a guarantee that the city is not being over-built, and that trade is in a healthy and flourishing condidition. A trip on a tram-car to Newtown, or on a drag to Island Bay, gives one a splendid opportunity of seeing the progress going on on all sides. Looking towards Island Bay one may see

THE CITY GROWING LIKE A TRAILING PLANT

up the sides of the hills, over the summits, and even down towards the valleys at the other side. Coming nearer home, in the centre of the city the growth has been even more marked. This has been notably the case on tho reclaimed land between Victoria street and Jervois quay, where warehouse after warehouse has sprung up within a few years. A peculiar feature about these buildings is that on their sites, a few short years ago, yachts sailed, timber hookers came into shore, and small craft lay at anchor. But all this has been changed, and before another half a decade of years has elapsed it is safe to predict that still greater changes will have taken place. On every hill-side one sees houses in various stages of building, warehouses and shops are rising in all directions, and there is always a throng of masts, yards, funnels and hulks among the broad jetties of the port. In fact, there is to be seen everywhere solid proofs that Wellington is doing well. THE CITY'S WAREHOUSES. Our warehouses are not of the colossal proportions peculiar to Melbourne, or even Sydney, but there is this feature about them, that they have been erected to meet the requirements of the growing business of the proprietors, and not for speculative purposes. They are the result of the steady increase of the commerce of the port, and our merchants have recognised that the city, like a child, must walk before it can run. SOME BECENT PUBLIC BUILDINGS. The numerous buildings erected from designs by one firm of architects—Messrs Clere, Fitz Gerald and Richmond alone, within the past 8 or 10 years, would not be a bad recoi-d for this city. They were the architects for those substantial premises of Messrs Bannatyne and Co., in Hunter street, the Academy of Fine Arts, the Girls' Friendly Society's building, tho Harbour Board offices at the corner of Jervois quay and the Queen's Wharf, the Government Insurance Buildings, erected at a cost of £25,000, which are a distinct ornament to the architecture of the city ; Messrs Sharland and Co.'s premises, the Electric Light Station on the reclaimed land, the new wharf offices and stores erected for the Harbour Board, the cost of which was somowhero about .£16,000. These are only a few of the principal works carried out according to tho designs and under the supervision of this firm. A now wing has also been added to the Hospital, the contract price being about .£-1000. Among the improvements at the Thorndon end of the city may be mentioned the additions to the Royal Hotel, which were carried out at a cost of about £3OOO. Coming along Lambton quay one may note the fine private hotel just completed for Air Bodley, which is a standing evidence of the proprietor's enterprise, and his faith in the future of the capital of tho ' Colony. The most recent addition to tho architecture of the city is the substantial and striking premises now neivriy finished on Lambton quay, to be occupied by Messrs Wbit<

combe and Tombs. .Messrs Turnbull a!nd So'n. • are, the. jarc'tltie'ts for these premise's. This,'firm has designed several of the 'principal buildings erected in Wellington of recent years. The New Zealand Times and the Evening Post have gone into new premises since the last Exhibition. In Willis street, handsome and commodious prejias'e'h have been erected by Messrs. War#el'i Bros, and higher up M'eG ill's Buildjngs., 'Oh ttn? 'reclaimed land warehouses have beeh'erected, which would do credit to "tJie architecture of older and more pretentious 'eitiea, for Messrs Sargood. Son and Ewen, Ross and Glendiningf, E. W. Mills and Co., Briscoe, Mac Neil and Co.,'Kempthorne, Prosser and Co., Sharland and Co. The Public Library is an institution which is not many years old. Running betweeli Panama and Brandon streets are the commodious premises of tho D.I.C> erected within tho last half dozen years. The additions which have just been made to the Koyal Oak Hotel reflect credit, on the enterprise of the proprietor, Mr S. Gilmer, and the architect, Mr W. C. Chatfield.

In Hunter street a neat and commodious building was erected not long since to house the Commercial Travellers and Warehousemen's Club, the architect of which was Mr Charlesworth. The building is of two stories, constructed of brick with cement facings. The Club is one of the best of its kind in the Colony. Among the other public buildings which Mr Charlesworth designed within the last 10 years are the Home for the Aged Needy, Adelaide road, and the new Thorndoji batli3, which will be superior to any of their kind in the Australasian colonics. Sinco last Exhibition the Working Men's Club, too, has removed from its old quarters at the corner of Manners and Willis streets to new and commodious buildings in Victoria street, close to the Public Library. Another imposing structure is that immediately to the rear of the premises in Lambton quay, and lying between them and Wellington terrace. This is Messrs Hannah and Co.'s Palace Boot Factory, erected from plans prepared by Mr T. Turnbull and Son. Among the industries started in Wellington within the last half decade is that of the manufacture of matches. The industry-, which is duo to tho enterprise of Messrs k&. 801 l and Co., of London, was carried on for some time in a small place in tho centre of the city, but the firm, finding their trade increasing, erected a factory in Newtown, from designs by Mr Chatfield, the cost of the building, &c, being about .£3OOO.

Perhaps one of the most striking and substantial buildings erected on the reclaimed land is that of the Wellington Woollen Company in tho Renaissance style of architecture, from designs by Messrs Penty and Forde. The same firm were also the architects for the new fruit market and numbers of private residences,of which class of work they make a speciality. They aro also th» architects for the glass manufactory at Newtown. Many haudsomo residences in various parts of the city and suburbs have been designed by Mr J. O'Dea, whose ability in this class of work is well known. TWO NEW PARKS. Among the many impiovements now going on in the city is tho construction of Kelburne Park by "unemployed" labour. Situate upon a commanding part of the Town Belt, and approached by good roads, either from the north by the Botanical road or the south by Salamanca road, this park gives a most magnificent view of the city and harbour. The history of the construction of this park is shortly as follows: During the winter of 3895 a lot of men were in and about the city, and as they were not able to get work (and many of them had families dependent upon them) Messrs John Ross, T. J. W. Gale and Jas. McLellan took up the matter of finding work for these men, and canvassed the city for funds with that object. Consent was obtained from tho City Council to put tho men at work on tho Town Belt. Tho land was surveyed and levels taken, and a largo number of men put on to work in August of that year, after a committee had been elected from tho subscribers, the Benevolent Institution and City Council, consisting of Messrs J. Boss, T. J. W. Gale, E. W. Mills, G. H. Baylis, J. Saunders, S. Lancaster, J. M. Hayward, Rev H. Van StaverenJ Councillors L. L Harris, Georgo Anderson and J. B. Harcourt, Messrs J. McLellan, (hon treasurer), A. G. Johnson, (hon secretary) and W. Ferguson (hon engineer). The work has steadily progressed all through, after the gieatest efforts on the part of those gentlemen to procure funds, these funds being subsidised by tho Government at the rate of 24s in the pound. The work has now assumed such proportions that its completion is in sight if the citizens will only come forward and generously assist those who, while doing their best to provide work for their less fortunate citizens, are also permanently beautifying the city and adding to its credit an asset in the shape of another splendid lung, of perhaps j£12,000 in value. It will be a resort for tho young and tin; aged, the rich and tho poor, and ;l splendid health resort for those who ar;> in weak health and in need of pure air. Tho slopes of this splendid property have boon planted with a vast number of trees, and these aro all growing vigorously and making qiv.te a show. The committee think there will be about ?ix or seven acres of perfect level land when the work is finished, and they intend, if !u uds come forward, to the levels and slopes, to form an amphitheatre with terraces at the north end, ana erect a stand, so that sports taking place on the park may bo comfortably viewed. There are now 43 men on the works (supporting 43 women and 105 children) and money is urgently required to keep the work going. Tho Athletic Park, a notable city improvement, is tho popular resort of this city on occasions of athletic gatherings. It is well managed, and its popularity will be further enchanced by a cycling track which is tc be put down. WHAT THE MUNICIPAL RECORDS SHOW. Perhaps the most convincing proof of the solid progress of the Empire City is to bo found in the figures supplied by the city authorities. The revenue from all sources in 1885 was ,£4.0,000, and in 1895 nearly J;70,O00. The Corporation properties wero valued in 1835 at .£635,000, in 18*5 at .£857,000. Turning to the city valuations we find that if we go back only three years there has been a marked increase. In 1893-4 the ratable value was set down at .£322,757, and in 189 G-7 at .£303,705, or an increase, in round numbers, of .£IO,OOO. The first valuation of the city was made in 1870, when the amount of ratable property was put at ,£71.980, so that in 20 years tho valuation had increased by over .£290,000. In 1894-5, 235 new buildings were erected, and in 1895-6 274, or over 500 buildings in two years. The population has risen from 23,000 in 1885 to about 40,000 in 1896.