BUILDING ACTIVITY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3003, 14 February 1917, Page 8

BUILDING ACTIVITY

OUTLOOK SATISFACTORY

GOOD START FOR NEW YEAR

Contrary to expectations, building in Wellington promises to be fairly active ' for tlio first half of the year at all events. Many of thoso who have been hanging off in the hopo that the war ' would end, and so make prices and ! conditions easier, are probably con- ! vinced by now that even if the war ended during tho present year prices ' for building material which has to be : imported are not likely to fall, owing to the unprecedented demand for such 1 material, which must follow the cessai tion of hostilities in those countries that have been ravaged by war. All building material with the exception of bricks, timber, and concreto has advanced at least 100 per cent, since August, 1914, and it is sometimes difficult to get contractors to tender a firm price, owing to the tendency of prices to jump, with the result that a proportion of tho building work now going on in the Dominion is being done on a percentage basis. Building was nioro active in Wellington during 1916 than in the preceding year, and already there are indications that 1917 is going to be as active as its predecessor. The first big building to be commenced is Murray, Roberta and Co.'s big wool store on the new reclamation at Waterloo Quay (particulars of which were published on Saturday last). Another contract' just lot is one for tho erection of substantial brick bank premises for the National Bank of New Zealand, on the corner of Cuba and Ingestre Streets (on the site lately occupied by Mr. Coveney as a grocery store). Th© plans for this building have been prepared by Mr. Claudo Jones, and tho tender /Of Mr. W. M'Lellan, of Dunedin, has been accepted for its creetion. Messrs. Bourko and Wilson, wool brokers, are about to erect a large and substantial wool store on the corner of Sar Street (just beyond the railway viaduct), near Kaitvarra. Mr. W. Gray Young has prepared the plans. Another building to -go up in the same locality is a one-story store for benzine and salts that is to bo erected for Messrs. W. M. Bannatyno and Co. Mr. H. T. Barnes has prepared the plans. . A large motor garage is to bo crected between the railway line and the road just beyond the railway viaduct, between Wellington and Kaitvarra, for Davidson and Co., wool, hide, and skin merchants, and importers of tho "White" This will really consist of two buildings, the one for repair work and -unpacking, and the other for the storage of cars. Both buildings will be erected in brick, with roofs of specially reinforced Malthoid, and concrete floors. . The'repair.store will have a frontage of 90 feet with a depth of 27 feet, and the other will have a frontage of 100 feet with an average depth of 25 feet. The. sheds will have handy travelling cranes, capable of lifting ten tons, and will be fireproof .throughout. The garage proper will have eight private lock-up compartments, completely shut off from one another, which will be an additional security to property stored therein. The plans for these buildings have been prepared by Mr. L. G. James, of Hunter Street, and the contract has been let for their erection. to Messrs. J. L. M'Mullan and Co., at a figure just ■under £3000. ■ Another big garage is to be erected for Messrs.- Casolberg and Co., between the Crown Theatre and the Hotel Cecil ; in Molesworth Street. This garage, which will be- a substantial two-story building of brick, will have a frontage to Molesworth Street of 40 feet bl' a depth- of 95 feet, and will be replete with show windows, turn-tables, lifts, etc., all of'the latest and mosPapproved designs. Mr. IS. S. Knight _is tho builder. The contract price is about ■ £2000. ■ T , . r : Messrs. Fletcher,. Ltd., of Cunedin, are to erect new brick shop premises in Cuba Street for Mr. J. R. M'Kenzie. The site is now being cleared. Of tho above .buildings, it win be noted that one is a. new.store for ben- • zine, and tlire& of the'others ar© motor traces, a sign significant of the,on- i ward D .march of His Majesty the Motor, i