A NEW NAPIER

Hokitika Guardian, 14 April 1932, Page 6

A NEW NAPIER

A GREAT TRANSFORMATION. £513,000 SPENT ON BUILDINGS. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) NAPIER, April 14. Returns prepared by the Napier Municipal Reconstruction Department, show that building work, valued at £348,375, has been carried out since the earthquake. Permanent work on business and public buildings has accounted for the greater part of tins total, and the erection of many line blocks mi the devastated area has been responsible tor bringing about the transformation from a scene oi desolation to that which existed a year ago.

An analysis of the figures shows'that the amount ol £208,880' has been spout, on new and permanent buildings. £<•).- 037 on alterations to business blocks, and £27.420 spent on the erection of new houses, and alterations to dwellings.

Temporary buildings, erected before the permanent, reconstruction began in car.-nest, accounted for £30,441. The grand total of £348,375 shown by permits, is supplemented by £125,478 provided from subscribed relief funds for repairs to houses, for which no permits were necessary.

A further sum of £0302 was spent immediately aftec the earthquake by the Public Works Department in repairing chimneys. In addition, the Department has carried out the reinstate, meat- of the Chief Post Office, costing £30,000, for which no permit was necessary. The actual value of the work carried out i- s therefore £513,215. A reliable authority has estimated that the coming month will sec the commencement of further work valued at £IOO,OOO. including the new Masonic Hotel costing £404)00, and the new Plaza. Theatre, costing approximately £20,000. In spite of these figures, Napire lias a pressing unemployed problem, and no room for outside artisians.