WESTERN HUTT ESTATE

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4806, 8 November 1902, Page 7 (Supplement)

WESTERN HUTT ESTATE

A VALUABLE SUBURBAN PROPERTY.

This valuable estate, which has bceu offered to tho Government, is admirably situated, and near to Wellington. The property consists of 1640 acres of agricultural and pastoral country, ringfenced and subdivided, with legal sheepproof fences. A largo portion of tho estate has been ploughed, and it has at least 400 acres of ploughablo fertile laud. Though it is at present in a neglected slate —no improvements having been effected for many years—it, carries 2600 sheep and 140 cattle, besido’S horses.

Tho estate abuts on tho Hutt railway station on tho south-eastern extremity, and extends to within four miles of Pahautauui on tho north-western. It is all fclloci, burned and grassed, and nearly all stumped. Between Hutt and Pahautauui it is traversed by a weligraded arterial county road, fenced on both sides. The Wollingfcon-Manawatu railway runs within a mile of its western boundary, tho Porirua, Paremata and Tawa Flat stations being within easy reach. Only ten acres are in tho Hutt borough, and tho whole rates are less than £4O annually. The entire property lies well to the sun, adjoins a valuable native bush now about being acquired by the Government. and the Koro Koro Special Settlement, to both of which it is tho natural outlet. Host of tho latter, although remote, difficult of access, bleak and wind-swept, has been assessed for rent purposes at £IOO per acre. Tho land, with tho exception of tho portion west of tho Koro Koro stream—which is what might be termed billy—consists of rich grassy flats, gentle slopes and undulating “kopjes”; tho latter, which prevail mostly along tho front of the property, aro admirably adapted to building purposes, overlooking the entire watershed of the Hutt valley, tho Hutt river to its mcmtli, tno Sntt and. Pctono towns, as well as Wellington cAy and harbour right out to sea. Thoi property is well watered throughout with spring streams, and within ita northern limits rises tho Koro. Koro crook, which flows through it a distance of soma throe miles, supplying tho Potono Wallen Factory, and tho proposed supply of the Petouo borough. Tho principal part of the watershed of those supplies is within tho property. It commands a valuable supply of raw building materials, with its limitless areas of superior brick clay and largo adjoining area of native timber. There aro two substantial dwellings for manager and shepherds on tho estate, as well os a commodious shearing shod’ and up-eo-date concrete sheep dip. As tho estate is served by tho Governmeat’s own railway, and is in a position of unrivalled convenience for both' coasts, a unique opportunity is certainly offered to the Government for tho acquisition of tho last available block of improved country for a variety of useful public purposes. This is the last largo area within measurable distance of tho city of Wellington—the seat of Government and capital of Eio colony, easy of access, and obtainable at moderate cost.

As the site for a central prison it stands unrivalled placed there, and that institution would practically become self-supporting a.t the outset. The. back flats of the estate are specially and admirably adapted to this purpose, completely isolated in regard to local population , yet convenient and accessible for tradespeople, visiting Justices, prisoners’ friends, doctors, clergymen, police anu gaol officials. One controlling staff would be capable of running the penal and short sentence establishments. If or veterinarian and agricultural uses the estate is also highly valuable, as well as for military evolutions of all kinds—from hall-firing to a preconcerted attack from Borirua harbour on,the Hutt and Potono cn route for the capital. Another consideration which must weigh in this matter is this: Increased shunting and housing accommodation is badly required at the Hutt station,, and with the steadily increasing traffic this want; must become more pressing every day. This estate just opposite the station platform, would meet the local railway requirements for all time.' - As this estate will almost immediately bo offered to the public in small lots, by auction, it is claimed to bo the bemndou duty of the Government to secure it as a useful Wellington reserve and invaluable colonial asset. The proprietors want £35 per acre. The property in a neglected pastoral state has, of course, ■in the past been moderately assessed; but with the neighbouring flats—liable to flood—fetching from £ISOO- to £3OOO an acre, it will easily he seen that this offer is simply a gift, especially whoa it is known that many frontages on the same estate have sold at prices varying from £l5O to £3OO per acre. Of suburoan values obtaining in other mudh' less popular localities, the report of Messrs Botbune and 00., published on August 23rd, 1902, gives ample testimony. The purchase of this estate a M the price at which, it is now offered would be a much better speculation than investment in Miramar or any other property round Wellington. A section! near by, in tho Koro Koto village sat--tlement, inferior in quality and position to the Western Hutt estate, has been assessed and taken up at £67 odd per acre, and portion of the Koro Koro Homestead block was bought from Mr Morrison at £IOO and £l2O per acre.

Portions of the original frontages of the estate are now occupied by Messrs C. H. Treadwell (solicitor), Climio (surveyor), Allport (customs and marine), Whitten (E. W. Mills and Co.), E. Lae (ex-inspector of schools), Yerex (the Yeres-Jones Co.), Dr. Valentine, and others, and there is a firm demand for a largo proportion, of the property for building and other purposes. Whoa the mutt railway is straightened, the journey from the city to the Hutt will take Under fifteen minutes, and the return railway fare per week is only two shillings, or the same as the Wellington tram fare. With prison labour, the estate could be made immensely valuable in a very short time. The price obtainable for the. central prison site would more: than purchase the whole estate, and after more than a thousand acres have been devoted to workmen’s homes, there will he left a sufficient area for a thoroughly up-to-date agricultural prison, winch can, inter -alia, supply the public institutions of the city with plenty of good, -wholesome vegetables. The Western. Unfit estate is the .best and -cheapest property for Government purposes yet offered, and it is the plain, imperative and paramount duty of the Minister to secure it at the present juncture. 976