Building Notes.

Progress, Volume XV, Issue 11, 1 July 1920, Page 844

Building Notes.

AUCKLAND. A campaign for funds to increase the accommodation at Papatoetoe School for Orphans has begun in Auckland. The sum of £15,000 is needed to complete the scheme according to tho original designs. The Education Board, through their architect, Mr. John Farrell, invited tenders last month for an Infant School in wood, at Whakatane, and additions to Mangere Bridge School. The P.W. Dept. invited tenders for new Post Offices at Waitoa and Taupiri last month. Mr. J. Currie invited tenders for alterations and additions to a residence in Park Avenue. The City Council is raising a loan of £IO,OOO from the State Advances Dept. for the purpose of erecting "Workers' dwellings. CHRISTCHURCH. Cabinet has decided to grant £15,000 for additional buildings for the Canterbury College Engineering School in accordance with plans agreed upon between the Superintendent of Education and Prof. Scott. The progress to date of the City Council's housing scheme was set out recently in a report presented by the Housing Committee to the City Council. The report stated that the committee had decided to erect eight houses on the block of land in Huxley street, Sydenham, which would allow 41.3 feet frontage, with an area of 25 perches of land. Competitive designs were being invited from architects practising in the city, the first selected design to carry a premium of £SO, and the second £25. "When the designs were received, the committee would make a selection and submit them to the Council, together with a recommendation as to the first and second successful competitor. The report was adopted.

HAMILTON.

The extent to which building operations are being carried on in Hamilton at present is shown by the value of building permits issued Dy the borough engineer, Mr. W. H. Stevens, during April and May. The figures were: — £54,171 10s, as against £19,162 for the same months of last year, an increase of £05,0'09 10s.

MASTERTON.

In spite of the high cost of labour and material, building operations are .still very active in Masterton, both in respect to private residences and business premises. At no time in the history of the town has such animation been shown as during the last few years. During the year 1919 no fewer than 111 permits for building were issued in the town. For the first five months of this year the average has been still greater, no fewer than seventy-one permits having been issued up till June 10. These do not include the workers' dwellings. The value of the permits, issued last year, and for the first five months of this year, was as follows: £62,505; 1920 (five months), £43,778. Should the operations continue as active during the next six or seven months as. they have during the first portion oi the year — several large contracts are shortly to be letthe permits for 1920 should exceed £IUO,OOO in value. it is safe to say that during the last three years, including the environs of the town, building to the value of nearly a quarter of a million pounds have been erected. A Masterton builder stated that he estimated the value of the buildings at present under construction within a mile of the Post Office at £50,000.

WELLINGTON.

A new Catholic school, St. Catherine's High School, has been opened at Kilbirnie at a cost of £2500 (including land). It is a reinforced concrete building with four class rooms 21ft. x 20ft.