HUTT VALLEY SCHEME

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 54, 1 September 1926, Page 10

HUTT VALLEY SCHEME

AUCTION OF SECTIONS

PRICES REALISED FROM £256

UPWARDS.

In an offering of -10 Hutt sections, the sale of all the sections except five, and the realisation of a total of £ 11,645, is a record that speaks for itself. Such is the result of the public auction last night of sections disposable on ca3h or terms, being part of the Greater Hutt subdivision now being carried out by Government authorities, in connection with the railway ddvclopmont. These sections, disposable to the highest bidder, are on the^outskirts of Lower Hutt township, and are on or near Ludlam crescent.

They are part of what is known as "Eiddiford'a Block," which is, of course, quite distinct from the workers' home settlement on "Mandel's Block," where complete workers' homes are already being provided (to applicants personally selected by an administering committee) at a standard charge of 22s Od a week. Though below an average rent in amount, this 22s 6d a week is much more than a rent in character, since it gives the owner of the worker's home complete ownership, free of all liability, in 34J years. As the two sections of the scheme — allocation of workers' homes in "Mandel's Block" and sale cf sections in "Eiddiford's Block"—are proceeding mutually and in a sense reciprocally, they are of equal public importance; and the sale interests far more people than the actual purchasers. The sales and the allocations of the already erected homes aro only a beginning, as there is a good deal more of "Biddiford's Block" still to be offered; and, in the other part of the scheme, an extension of area for workers' homes, adjoining '•Mandela Block," has already been arranged for, and seems to be more than warranted by the groat excess of applicants for those workers' homos already built pr in hand. The sale last night of "Biddiford's Block" sections was conducted by the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Mr. H. W. C. Mackintosh, and aroused much interest. Good prices were realised, while the bidding and competition, in the majority of cases, was decidedly keen. All the area has been laid out in accordance with modern town-plan-ning ideas. The work of road ing and drainage is proceeding rapidly, and purchasers will be able to commence building almost at once.

A number of sections, 24.7 perches in area, sold at figures ranging from £256 to £287. Another block of sections, each with an acreage of 25.8 perches, maintained an average price, being knocked down at £262 to £2fa'7. The highest figure paid for any one ssction was £405 for a corner site at the junction of Miro and Matai strqets. Five were passed in, failing to bring the upset price.