THE VOLUNTEERS AND A DRILL-SHED SITE.

Evening Star, Issue 3362, 28 November 1873, Page 2

THE VOLUNTEERS AND A DRILL-SHED SITE.

This morning a deputation, consisting of Liout.-C 01. (,‘argill, Major Atkinson, Captains Wales and Sturdy, incut. Muir, and SubLieut, Spaldings waited upon the Superintendent. Col. Garuhx explained that some three years ago the Government, when they took the drill-shed on Tower Hill, agreed to give in exchange two sections on 801 l Hill, and facing Dowling street, which were then useless. Mr Bathgate, who put the matter through the Provincial Council, made some mistake in the preamble of the Bill, in consequence of which the General Government refused to recommend the < Tovcruor to assent to it. Last session of the Provincial Council the same resolution was brought forward, and passed, leaving the land to be ( Town granted, which was the position of the matter at the present time. The PitoviNClAlj fSoMcrrou said the mistake was in reciting that the land bad been < down granted, when as a matter of fact it had not been. When brought before the Provincial Council last session the matter stood in the same position. Col. CauuiMj said the proper action was taken last session. He would remind his Honor of a conversation he (Col. Cargill) had with him just before he wont to Wellington, when his Honor said the Government wanted the site for a {Supreme Court. The volunteers did not desire to mu counter to the Government, from whom they had received great assistance; on the contrary, they would be glad to fall in with the views of the Government if they received an equivalent. His Honor: I was not aware at the time that theoo particular sections were referred to. However, according to the resolution of the Provincial Council, you are hound to get the land ; apart altogether from the question of Supreme ('ourt site, unless you can come to some arrangement by which you will relinquish it, which, in the public interest, it .would be well for you to do. In a conversational discussion that ensued, his Honor suggested as suitable exchanges a portion of the playground of the proposed Fourth School, the liberty to use which the Volunteers might get, the old Botanical Gar. dens, or two sections belonging to the Government, situated at the cud of Albany street, contiguous to the JL’elichet Bay railway station,

and facing the buy. The deputation appeared to think that the two fiißt-menticJiied were most unsuitable, and were not much impressed with the Pelichet Bay site. What they liarfcicnlarly laid stress on was that they looked for an exchange which would give them an equivalent in value for the sections they were asked to relinquish. When tiie old Drill-shed was given up, Mr Reid, then Provincial Secretary, agreed to ;:ivo the Volunteers L9OO, to be paid in three annual instalments; but, when the Volunteers applied for the money, the Government bad then to admit their impmmiosity. Then the Dowling street site was given, aud it was then valued at LDOO. From a portion of that site the Volunteers expected to obtain a revenue which would go towards paying interest on the money that would have to be borrowed to construct a drill-shod, which it was proposed to erect in stone or brick. His Honor : Then it is very clear you are not inclined to part with it. Of course_ we cannot take it from you, for, although this is a lucre resolution, yet it has the force of law. Col. Cargill remarked that the Volunteers could not be expected to give up a valuable piece of land without an equivalent in land or otherwise. His Honor : If we cannot make an arrangement about this site for a Supreme Oourt, the Court must remain where it is, which is very inconvenient. Dowling street is more suitable, being away from noise and traffic. 1 have received a telegram from the General' Government, who are ready to commence building the Supreme Oourt at once; that is why we are anxious to get the site. TJnlo.sK the Volunteers are prepared to make an exchange, the thing must be abandoned. Col. Cargill : The fairest wayis to value the two pieces of land, ami give us the difference to build a shed with. His Honor : I am not in a position to do that. After further discussion his Honor mentioned as a suitable exchange, an equivalent in land, on the proposed reclamations at the rear of Driver, Stewart, and Co.’s wool stores, cr at the head of Crawford street, or between the two jetties. He then proposed to give a definite proposal in writing, and the deputation retired.