NEW ZEALAND HOUSE

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 85, 7 October 1931, Page 9

NEW ZEALAND HOUSE

tfEW LEASE AKKANGED

ADVANTAGEOUS POLICY

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, 4th September. After prolonged negotiations tho matter of the Government offices in London has been satisfactorily settled. It will bo remembered that when Six James Allen was High Commissioner tho congestion in the Government offices had become so great that it was decided to purchase another building. The very fine offices on the corner of Agar street and the Strand, previously occupied by the British Medical Association, were bought. As there were several leases unexpired the move to the new place had to be delayed, and other suites of offices in the new building were let on short leases. Tho migration work of the Department having been, so greatly curtailed, the staff has fallen from 125 to 95, and there is no longer need for more commodious offices. After the visit of tho Prime Minister last year negotiations were started to repurchase the present building at 415, Strand, and the High Commissioner is now able to report that those negotiations have been satisfactorily concluded. The lease is for seventy years, and the ground rent is at £4000 a year, a very low rate compared to other rents in the vicinity. In the last few days the building at 429, Strand, has been put in the hands of tho agents for sale, and Sir Thomas Wilford feels confident that there will bo little difficulty in finding a purchaser at a good price. It may be mentioned that the Civil Service Stores, who aro rebuilding in the same block, might find the frontage very convenient to possess, even if they let the upper floors as offices. At the present time, in fact, they are using the shop in the building which was previously occupied by a well-known firm of hatters. Sir Thomas Wilford hopes to bo able to hand over a fair profit to the Government as the combined result of the repurchase of 415, Strand, and tho sale '•f the premises at 429, Strand.

worst conditions during a full draw off and with a fire in progress, should be 701b. The method to be adopted in codstruction has not yet been decided by either party, whether by contract or day labour, or a combination of both systems. The wells will be sunk just off Seaview road, where an experimental bore has already been put down. The rising main will be laid parallel to Seaviow road under the Day's Bay road and straight up tho hill to the reservoir site, a point of the ridge above Point Howard. From tho reservoir tho pipe line will descend into Lowry Bay and then possibly over the ridge to York Bay, before being taken round along the road to its destination. It will bo noted that clause (1) gives Eastbourne power to take water for other places than its own borough. This gives it power to provide other places along the route of its supply main, and there is little doubt that residents of Day's, York, and Lowry Bays and other places will avail themselves of tho opportunity. Tho whole work of the water and sewerage reticulation will be carried out under the control of the Lower Hutt borough engineering staff.

B.y special arrangement Renter's world serrice. in addition to other special sources of Information, is used in tho compilation of the overseas intelligence published in this issue, and all rights therein in Australia and New Zealand ars reserved,