AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY SITE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1528, 26 August 1912, Page 6

AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY SITE.

Sir,—Kindly allow mo space to draw attention to a matter that is engaging tho principal attention of residents of Auckland at the present, namely, the selection and adoption of an appropriate site for a .university building. All parties to tho controversy are in agreement as to tho urgent necessity that exists for tho erection' of such a building, without further delay. This week the Minister for Education (Mr. Allen) paid us a flying visit, with a view of inspecting tho different sites suggested, and finding there was a great diversity of opinion as to which was the best site, with wise discretion recommended the citizens of Auckland— the parties principally interested—to come to an agreement as to the most appropriate silo, and the Government would then take tho necessary stops to carry out their wishes. The only in every respect appropriate sito for the university is tho public Domain, which comprises an area of nearly 260 acres, and nearly two-thirds of it is now only used for grazing- horses. Tho Domain is situated in tho most central position in the city, and is of wisy access to all the suburbs. The elevated ground in the Domain upon which a building would be erected worthy of our rapidlyincreasing population commands the. most magnificent views of tho sea and surrounding country, not to be surpassed by any site in Auckland. In support of the Domain being tho most central and accessible site in tho city, I may mention that it has been chosen as the silo where Ihe exhibition will .be held next year, and tho grounds aro now being laid'ont upon which to erect the buildings necessary for that purpose. To assert that (hegranting of a- small portion of this large area for a university site would 1m an encroachment on a reserve set aside for public u?8 is entirely without foundation. J'ho woll-laid-out ornamental grounds which would 6iirronnd tho building would be as open to the public as to the students, and would bo an extra attraction to the visitors to the city, as well as to (ho citizens themselves. I trust, that all classes of the community will act in harmony to secitro tho site, which can l» had free of cost, and from which educational advantages of a higher order can be shared in by all, at a cost within the means of the masses.—l am, etc., KENNEDY HILL'. Auckland, August 21, 1912.