AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 6, 2 October 1920, Page 8

AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT

' PURCHASE OF HOUSE IN FAIRLIE TERRACE.

Tho Agricultural Department's purchase of a house in Fairlie Terrace. WeW liiiKton. for occupation by the Biologicfu Branch, was recently in the ■House- by Mr. W. A. Veitch (Waiiganui), •who asked for full particulars of the transaction. , . ... The. following statement concerning the matter was presented to the House yesterday afternoon:— ' . m , "The price paid was £2000. Tho distance -from the head office is from twenty •to twenty-five minutes' walk, or about ten minutes from the Kelburn tramway trminus. The nature of the work carried out at the laboratory does not require it to be situated close to the head offioe, but does render it highly desire able that it shall be in such a situation as to be free from city dust.' Before the change to Kelburn, the laboratory was at Weraroa, about sixty mile® distant. . The house wa<} bought from Mrs. Murray, who occupied it. The pccupici and owner was not an officer of 'the Department of Agriculture. The Public Works Department's original valuation was £1850, but during the progress of negotiations for purchase," that De-pa-'tment satisfied itself-that the house' was worth the money asked for it, viz., ' £2000. The Valuation Department's valuation is £1859. Officers of the Public Bervice were not employed during Goverrinent time in. removing and- packing the occupier's furnituro, and such furniture was not stored free of chargo on the premises of a public Department. It was removed as expeditiously as possible from the purchaiscd home direct to the seller's new residence."