BUILDING ACTIVITY.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 June 1923, Page 4

BUILDING ACTIVITY.

BRISK IN NEW PLYMOUTH. MANY BUSINESS BLOCKS. HOUSES AVERAGE £12,000 MONTHLY. Building operations in New Plymouth, particularly in the business area, are \ ery brisk at present, and judging by the number of buildings now under way and projected in the near future, the value of permits issued this year should break all previous records. ‘ A reliable authority estimates the total value of buildings in hand and contemplated to be at least £125,000, exclusive of the large number of houses which are being erected. A feature of building operations during recent months has been the erection of new shops, especially in Devon Street East. In addition to those erected recently and now in hand, others are projected which will almost fill up all tho gaps on the south side of Devon Street between Liardet and Cover Streets. New <shops have also been btiilt in the suburban districts, most of which now arc almost self-contained as far as the ordinary wants of the housewife are concerned. FAITH IN THE TOWN. Faith in the future of New Plymouth is being shown by business firuis who are building on a big scale. Very shortly the gap made by the disastrous fire in 1916 will be obliterated and the block facing Devon and Egmont Streets will consist of buildings fitted to grace any city street. In addition to the fine buildings erected by the A.M.P. Society and the New Zealand Insurance Company, a new ferro-concrete building is now under way to the order of the State Fire Insurance Department, having a frontage to Egmont Street, while the new Opera House, which is expected to be commenced in the very near future, will be a distinct asset, both in point of utility and architecture.

Two big building schemes in Currie Street will fill all remaining frontages in that thoroughfare. Messrs. Sole Bros, are having a big block erected on the west side, while on the eastern Gill Street corner a warehouse and offices are being built for Messrs. King, I Ltd. Tenders for both these works have j been let, and the structures are taking practical shape. Further expansion is taking place in the eastern end of the town by the erection of three oil stores in Molesworth Street. PLACES TO LIVE IN. Another big contract, now nearfng completion, is the erection of two blocks of four-storied flats at the corner of St. Aubyn and Dawson Streete. Next week another contract will be commenced in the form of extensions and alterations to the Criterion Hotel, in Devon Street Central. At the present time commitments have been made for at least six buildings of £lO,OOO or more each in value. The building of houses is also continuing apace, new homes springing up in all the suburbs. An indication of the healthy state of this phase of the industry is provided by the estimate, based on official records, that the value of building permits in respect to houses averages £12,000 each month.