WELLINGTON CITY

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11423, 20 January 1923, Page 7

WELLINGTON CITY

LAND AT TE ARO LARGE AND VALUABLE ADDITIONS BY RECLAMATION. THE OLD STATION SITE. It is about forty years ago since the sea ran up to the south side of Wakefield street, before the Te Aro station was built, and since then the work ot reclamation has‘gone steadily on until a large and most valuable area, several acres in extent, has been brought into the city boundary and contributes substantially to the rates of the city. The most recent addition, however, is that portion through which Cable street runs, and few people realise what a valuable addition this area, about five acres in extent, means to the city. When the land north of Wakefield street was reclaimed it was taken under the Public Works Act dor what was known as the Welling-ton-Napaer railway. This line was constructed from the present station at Te Aro, now used as a military store and depot, aloitg Jervois quay to Lambton, "and was for some time used for passenger and goods traffic. THE WHITE ELEPHANT. After it was disused there was a proposal to remove the line and turn the station to commercial purposes. There was strong opposition to this, however, and it led to the formation of what was known as the Te Aro Railway League. This body endeavoured to seoure the support of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce for the retention of the station, and, so the “Times” man was informed, this not being forthcoming, those* concerned formed the Central Chamber, nojv happily merged into the' parent body. There is a consensus of opinion today' that the station should be put to some more practical use, and Mr G.. R. Mitchell yesterday said: ‘I think Te Aro station should be put to some profitable use at the earliest possible moment, although what use I am not prepared to say offhand.” SHORT BUILDING TIME. It was in 1911 that the reclaimed land through which -Cable streesfc_maw. •runs jvas subdivided,, and the road made. When this work was completed the sites were let on lease by the Harbour Board, the period being for twenty-one years, with renewal subject to revaluation on land value increment only. The city destructor stands upon a portion of this land,, and there is not a site that has not been taken up. There is also a condition that premises of a- specified value must be erected upon the sites within four years of the Tease being taken up, and a year is now about the longest period to run before this condition expires. VALUABLE FRONTAGE.' The following particulars will give some idea of the rateable value this land will bring into the city. From the .Westport Coal .Co.’s office . down to the Clyde quay end of the street is about 25 chains, and allowing for the cross streets, there is about 1000 feet of frontage, and for rating purposes this land has been taken at a- valuation of £SO a foot -frontage. In round figures the rates on the sites alone, without any building, are about, lbs-per; foot and as some buifdingis have already been erected -its- value to tho city from the revenue -point 'of- view can well he realised.' '

The ooal office occupies the corner site, the netxt has been taken by the Onion Shipping Co. for a stores department, the third by a Christchurch firm Which intends to erect a building costing £10,000; the Fletcher Construction Co. have their business premises an the next three sites, which contribute £132 per annum in rates for the Cable street site, and they have also a right of way from Wakefield street with a section on that side for which .they . pay a further £92 pef 'annum in rates/'Mbasra Hansford arid 'Mills also have large construction workß there,* which considerably enhance the city exchequer. A large area along the seafront is held by the City Council, Upon which the tramways overhead depot is being jstablished, while those firms whose sites are at present vacant' may eoon be called upon to comply with the lease and build in the near future. Mr. Andrew Fletcher said that he 'consider, ed his firm secured one of the business proposals in the city when they took those three sections. When the land was subdivided a piece of land was reserved for the pur. pose' of enabling Tory street to be carried right through when the time became opportune. AN ABANDONED PROJECT. , At one time steps were taken towards '’constructing another wharf there, and the contract was started upon. After a great expenditure certain difficulties were encountered, and the contract was abandoned, the Harbour Board deciding not to proceed with the work. The excavations which had been made Were filled in, the reclamation was continued until sufficient land had been recovered from the sea to justify the sub-division. The possibilities, the probabilities, of development in this small area in the course of the next two or three years ape enormous, owing to the conditions already stated, afid Cable street, is now practically taking the plaoe of Wakefield street as the main road through this part of the city. Especially is it important in view of the advance made by’Courtenay place as a business centre, and this reclaimed land is about the only direotion in which further building can be done within easy reach of Courtenay place.