ABOUT LIVING ON THE HILLS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12405, 24 August 1918, Page 4

ABOUT LIVING ON THE HILLS.

r POPULARISING THIS- 1 ■ FAVOURITE LOCAL itY. THROUGH THE OFFER OF CHEAPER SECTIONS. Most people remember when .the' .present Cashmere Settlement was .mostly Irare hills, but little more than fifteen years ago, aud’the rapid expansion of this favourite locality has been phenomenal. Unfortunately,, the demand for the land in such a comparatively restricted area has led to ■ exceedingly high prices being demanded by owners. Obviously present prices place the benefits of a hillside dwelling out of reach of the average citizen. Is there any remedy (or this? Can a hillside suburb be popularised ? are the questions which a local expert, Mr Ronald S. Badger, Manchester Street,‘'answers in the affirmative for our readers, in this column to-day.

Yes,” said Mr Badger, “ most pcopla prefer living on tbs Hills, up where the sun shines, away from the fog and frost of., the flats. Aou gl back to Nature. AVb'proposo.to help this movement'forward, ,in, iho near future by placing on the market lovciy hillside sections close to the new . tram-line at St Martins. In fact, part pf fthe estate goes right down to the car-line. The position is that we recently disposed of, for the owners, that famous block known asthe' ‘ Huulsbury Estate, containing upwards oi eighty acres, mostly choice lull land, while wo also control one or two other blocks adjoining, which will enable us to offer shortly abouM2o.;£,cres o! lovely hillside sites, commanding a vieSv which even Cashmere cannot rival,' of ocean,’ plain and snow-capped mountains I ,' As a matter of fact, you cannot' see the sea. from ihe most part of the Cashmere. ScltlcnKnt, whereas'the ‘Huntsbury l 'spur commands a magnificent view of the rolling Pacific. ’ .. "But what about prices?" we asfod. A

"Thai's where we shall eooio," -was.the •/«■' ply, "for we expect to be in apposition to place on the market lovely hill sites oi thirty perches or a quarter o( an aora at ranging mainly from about £9O to XISO, end steps have been taken for the installation of a high-pressure water supply, while electric light willalso be available, and we shall have well-formed, easy-graded roads. In fact, the first,.three-quarters, of, a. : mile of road, of which the plans are now awaiting' the consent'.of-thu local body, gives us In, grads varying^*from one in eleven' to. one in fifteen feet,- and as the 'Hackthorne Jtoad is mostly a. onelfin. twelve grade., your. readers wjll have a. fair idea of the easy grades we shall offer them. It is proposed to make this a modern garden settlement, and an avenue of trees will be planted at the sides of the main roads, so that it will be risen that this will provide a model hillside suburb within the threepenny car .section. Than, too, when the easy terms wo shall offer are taken into consideration, there, is not the slightest doubt that the ' Huutsbury' Settlement will be rushed towards the close of, or when the wax is over, because there will be ao further need for a man to pay £3OO or £IOO for less than a quarter-acre on the kills." "Are your plans ready yet?" was the next query.. '• " No, we cannot have the plans ready till the roads havo been approved.by the lukal body, whoso consent it 19 anticipated will be 'secured at the next meeting, but still iya ara always glad to hear from those interest* ed, as names are placed on file, and tiiey wtU be supplied with plans as soon as thesa are available, so will thus havo first chance of making a selection before the inevitable rush sets in after wo start formally ed.vorti> ing the sections." A.nyono desirous of getting in "on tits ground floor " would be well advised to send their name and address to Mr llonali S. Badger, 187, Manchester Street, and, of course, this precautionary measure does isot bind anyone to purchase.