A CITY ESTATE SOLD.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 460, 19 March 1909, Page 5

A CITY ESTATE SOLD.

PROPERTY IN LAMBTON QUAY. • AVERACE PRICE ABOUT £320 A FOOT. A PIONEER'S LEGACY. Quietly and in a minimum of time ono of the largest and most valuable city estates, which has been preserved almost intact from the time it was created by the New Zealand Land Company, has, during the past few weeks, changed hands. This is tho Evans ' estate, which extended along the greater part of tho western side of Lambton Quay between Kelburno Avenue and Woodward Street, and was the property acquired by ! Dr. Evans, one of tho shareholders in the 1 New Zealand Land Company, which pur- > chased tho site- of Wellington city from tho > Natives in 1839. Tho late Dr. G. S. Evans, who arrived in tho ship Adelaide in 1840, ; was a barrister-at-law, and ho was 'one of ■ tbo committee of government set up to administer tho affairs of the little colony, and also occupied tho position of umpire, who was, according to tnc constitution, "to prcsido at all criminal proceedings, and, assisted by seven assessors, shall decide on the guilt or innocence- of tho party accused." That was the standing of tho gentleman whoso wind-swept property on the old beach has now merged its identity in some of the most valuable city lands in the wholo of the Dominion. Dr. Evans, as good a pioneer as ever loft tho shores of Great Britain, has long since gone the way of all flesh, but the result of his enterprise, in settling in what was then considered the most remote spot on earth, has benefited his kin considerably. Tho chief beneficiary to-day is understood to bo a grandson of Dr. Evans, who resides in London, but; who has made occasional visits to New Zealand on business connected with his heritage. At other times his business has been attended to by Mr. C. H. Izard, barrister and solicitor, of Wellington. A few months ago the present owners (in England) decided to realise on their Wellington property, and so successfully have sales been effected that comparatively little of the original estate is owned outside Wellington city, assuming, of course, that the purchasers of the freehold are not acting on behalf of anyone abroad. A Heavy Purchaser. By far tho biggest buyer has been Mr. Robert Hannah, ono of cur best-known captains of industry. That gentleman commenced operations a fow months ago by purchasing that block of land, comprising all those- shop premises between tho New Zealand Clothing Co.'s establishment, adjacent to Kelburno Avenue, and Mr. J. 13. Speedjs tobacconist shop (in Skerrett and Wylie's building) on tho greater part of which ho has already erected n commanding block of buildings (to bo utilised as shops and offices) that would bo a credit to any. city. More recently Mr. Hannah has acquired from tho Evans Estate the freehold of the retail shop in which ho has conducted his Lambton Quay business for so many years. This property has a frontage to Lambton Quay of over 30ft.,. and, liko all tho other sections in that vicinity, its depth extends back to tho Wellington Terrace—a depth of about 140 ft, He has also purchased the property for so long known as "Holliday's" (having a frontago of about 10ft.), where tho Holliday Bros, have boon established as booksellers and stationers for many years. Mr. Hnnnah's faith in Lambton Quay property did not stop there, for he has within tho past few- days purchased the freehold of that section and block of wooden buildings surmounted with tho figure of Britannia that was formerly the location of Messrs. E. W. Mills and Co., ind is now occupied by Mr. Geo. Winder, ironmonger, ftnd tho Diamond Confectionery Co. This building has a frontage of about 47ft., and stands in as valuable a position as any of tho other properties mentioned. Other Sales. Among th'e other transfers of property is tho purchase by Mr. W. Littlejohn of the now three-story brick structure known as tho Evans Building, which has a frontago of 54ft. Tin. to the Quay, and in depth stretches back to Wellington Terrace. Mr. Littlejohn's jewellery store and Mr. Gamble's tailoring establishment occupy the ground frontage, and Godbor's tea-rooms spread over the first floor of this fine building.

Tho City Buffet Hotel freehold has been I purchased by Mr. Arthur Lodder, tho present lesseo of that popular hostelry, but tho added portion which extends over, and includes, the shop premises of Mr. W. Hendry, tailor, and a millinery store (held on a lease by Mr. W. Littlejohn), have not yet been disposed of, though negotiations are believed to bo in progress. Tho freehold of tho section occupied by Messrs. Charles Hill and Sons, hatters and mercers, has been secured from the estate by the firm in possession. Tho section shows a frontage of 25ft. to Lambton Quay. Mr. \\. Wiggins, saddler and leather merchant, has effected the purchase of the property ho has occupied for so long (next to Hannah's boot shop). The building is a modern brick structure, and has a frontage of 27ft. Gin. to the Quay. Davis and Clater, mercers, now located in the building for so long occupied by M'Ewcn and Churchill, bakers, have purchased that property, which presents a frontage of 35ft. to Lambton Quay, and Mr. Joseph Joseph is said to have secured tho freehold of tho block in the occupation .if Messrs. Ferguson and Hicks, stationers and printers. The section and building in the occupation of Mr. Geo. Aklous have not changed hands, but those old wooden buildings covering a 39ft. section, occupied by Gallato Bros . restaurant, and Mr. Ludwig, watchmaker and jeweller, have passed into tho hands of a small syndicato of wellknown names.

Tho only other business names whoso promises aro included in the block of city property under review aro thoso of Messrs. Skerrett and Wylie, G. and T. Young, and King and Muir, who have been in the possession of tho freehold for sonio time past. The Frontages. Summarising tho extent of Lambton Quay land which has changed hands during the past week or two, the total (excluding 1 Mr. Hannah's purchase of i a year ago, and on which he has just erected a new building) works out to about 364 feet. Whilst this total is arrived at from approximate measurements, it may be taken to bo fairly accurate. In the following table tho properties (with their frontages) run from south to north :— Frontago. Ft.ln. W, Wiggins, saddler 27 6 R. Hannah, boot salesman 30 6 Holliday's, stationers 10 o C. Hill and Sons, hatters 25 0 City Buffet Hotel 40 G Diamond Confectionery Company and Geo. Winder, ironmonger 47 0 Evans's building ' 54 7 Davis and Clater, clothiers 35 0 Ludwig's and Gallate's 39 0 Forguson and Hieks's 46 0 364 1 Tho price paid for the land varies slightly, and allowances aro made in some eases for tho longth of leases held by occupiers, but from soveral interested sources' wo gather that the average price paid per foot was about £320. Ono of the properties is said to have been let go at £280 a foot. If so, that was the lowest price given. Taking tho avcrago prioo as £320 a foot, the total amount involved must bo about £117,000.