ON THE RISE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1789, 30 June 1913, Page 3

ON THE RISE.

INCREASING ACTIVITY IN REAL ESTATE. A BRIGHTER OUTLOOK. Thero is a woll-defincd improvement in tlio condition of tho real estate market in Wellington, which has been moribund for 6omo time past. Only a yrar or eighteen months ago there were empty houses in cvory 6troet, and the blind stare from the windows of many houses in tho suburbs told a story. Gradually tho empty dwellings in tho city have found occupants during tho year, and oven suburban properties have been sought after. "If you want to know how things have changed, I'll tell you," offered a director of tho Ilataitai Land Company, which ha;? already been responsible for a township on the eastern side of Mount Victoria, and has still several liiuidred aens to dispose of. "Last year," said he, "we sold only six sections in all. This year— up till a week ago—wo had sold 21. And what is more, they have all been sold to pcoplo who aro going to build and livo on them. I am certain that Wellington is 'in for a good time, and that three or four years henco will sco this placo oil top again." Another well-known citizen with considerable "vested interests" stated that, he had noted tho change in Wellington. "But you can't keep this placo back," said ho with fine optimism. "Every year they aro building! Larger ships of deeper draught. This is acknowledged now to bo the distributing centre, and it' must bo so always on account of its geographical position and the splendid depth of water at all our wharves—that is going to keep this tho premier port. It must always, he tho port of departure for deeply-laden vessels, i'or tho reasons quoted, and for the fact that it & tho nearest safe port to tho coalfields. Incidents such as the wreck of tho Star of Cajiada and tho stranding of the Indrabarah must have a certain influence in limiting tho amount of ooastal work for cargo earners. In roadstead ports there is always an element of risk and delay, and such boats cannot bo lightly risked (when tho loading could bo attended to in perfect safety in a land-locked port a few hours' steam away. You mark ray woTds—iif thero aro any more accidents of tho kind—it will mean a change of policy regarding loading on tho part of the shipping companies.' "There's another thing apparent to me. If we are to get the big snips when tho Panama Canal is open and tho Pacific wakes up, which port will they como to If there was an Imperator (50,000 tons) clearing tho Pacific next year, which i 9 the only safe port she could enter in New ifoaland? There is only one—Wellington!" x