NEW POLICE STATION

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2720, 15 March 1916, Page 5

NEW POLICE STATION

READY FOR OCCUPATION/. The fact that ths now Te Aro Polios Station will be ready for occupation as soon as the place is furnished'has mora significance than is conveyed by that simplo announcement. A fortnight ago was published a description of tlis new station—a substantially-built two-story, brick building in Lower Tarauaki Street* ivith its splendid - yard and -stable accommodation for mounted) police,- who, like mounted troops, are never likely; to be displaced by tho übiquitous motor. The completion of this building-meanß' the early vacation of the dingy little brick hut that has done duty aa a police station in ■ Manners Street for some fifteen years past,' and which haa long outlived its right to ho considered an architectural ornament, i£ it eyoi had such a claim. The old building forms tho apex of that triangular block (if mid-Citv land known- as ■ the Marlief _ Reserve (dedicated originally as a Bit* * for City markets, haS _ hfever been s< used, and the chances are that it -neve) will, though the position is ideal--foj, tho purpose), of which tho Royal Oak Hotel forms th? base. "

The long-declared intention of ■ the City Corporation is to demolish the existing police 6tation as' soon as it is vacated, and throw, tho ground so occupied into the area of converging streets near tho junction of Taranalii and Manners Streets. Tn' connection with "the scheme, tho council propose to snip'a strip of land off the. Manners Street sido of the block as far west as the Royal Oak Hotel block, in order to widen a thoroughfare badly in need of elbow .room, particularly 6inco tho erection of the new .Grand Opera Houeo. The counoil has made all requisite- arrangements with the tenants -of . the properties, ill, Monuers tlio widoning, and it is anticipated, that one of the first City works to. beput in hand in tlio new financial year will | be the setting hack gradually of the frontages of these properties, and.the 'trimming up of that end •of the ■ triangle how disfigured by the police 6ta.tion'. ' The improvement' effected' will jj)e .a really important 6W9,jjrid srill '4<3d dignity and value • properties in i that central Cits area^'