BUILDING IN NEW PLYMOUTH

Taranaki Daily News, 1 April 1930, Page 3

BUILDING IN NEW PLYMOUTH

CLOSE OF THE FINANCIAL YEAR, ACTIVITY DURING WINTER MONTHS. There was practically the sama amount of building activity in New Plymouth last month as there was in March, 1929. According’ to figures supplied yes-: terday from the borough inspector’s department 27 permits last month represented buildings to the value'or £8624. In March, 1929, 20 permits were valued, at £8642. The difference, therefore, is only £lB. A shop erected for Messrs. Jones and Sandford in St. Aubyn Street was th® only building classified as business premises last month. There were permits for eight dwellings and 18 additions and. alterations. Besides erection of garages, the last-named heading included the renovation of the Empire Theatre, which was recently damaged by fire. This work was responsible for a large part of the aggregate figures for the month. In March, 1929, two small business premises and seven houses were erected and there were 11 permits for additions and alterations. The waterside workers’ hall at Moturoa was started that month. . . x The figures for the first quarter of the year showed a decrease of £5251 compared with the corresponding period last year. Since the beginning of January there has been no outstanding building commenced, though normal progress has been made in the erection of houses. The following figures show the position: 1 —

borough’s financial year. The aggregate value of buildings erected during the 12 months was £153,508,. this being exclusive of work on State schools and Government buildings, borough permits for which are not necessary. Following is the value of buildings • authorised, month by month: April,';£B394; May, £11,590; June, £l3/22'7; July, £34,653; August, £14,825; September,/. £10,160; October, £22,005; November, £7873; De-, cembe.r, £8916; January, £7002.; February, £6239; March,'£B624; total, £153,508. - . It will be seen that the .earlier part of the year, including the winter months, was by . far the most active > as far as the trade was concerned. July, the peak month, saw the commencement of the new building in Devon Street central for the New Plymouth;Savings Bank. This building, which should be completed in about a month’s time, was the outstanding during the year, according to Glii6f~fespefitor Day. Other new commercial buildings "tlhlthelped to swell the total value for the year included premises for Tingey’s, Ltd., an oil store at Ngamotu for the Texas Oil Company, petrol service stations for BL Moller, P. E. Stainton and Co., Ltd., and H. Derby and Co., Ltd., and . shops for Messrs. W. Broome, West, G. Walker (2), (Devon Street West), Graham (Morley Street), Gunderson (Vogel town), Mitchinson (St. Aubyn Street), and Collett and Co. (Devon Street). Permits issued for new buildings did not, however, represent anything like the work actually accomplished in remodelling and modernising the business area of the town. Not only have shop fronts been brought up to date, but shops themselves have been altered so extensively that to all intents and purposes they have become hew premises. Therefore, the contracts let for these works were, inadequately described when officially classified as “additions and alterations.” In most ages' large sums were involved;

1929. 1930. January £13,406 £7,002 February £5,068 £6,239 March £8,642 £8,624 Total £27,116 £21,865 Yesterday jr was . the end of the