Correspondence. Correspondence. THE CORPORATION & BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 200, 22 February 1895, Page 2

Correspondence.

Correspondence. THE CORPORATION & BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

TO THE EDITOE OF THE STAB. Sir, —l am very glad to see by the letters appearing in your paper that some at least of the burgesses of Feilding are waking up to their own interests in the matter of Municipal Buildings etc., and in order that no misconception may take place I think it would be as well for me to give a statement of the case, leaving tbe matter then to be decided by the City Council and tbe inhabitants of tbe Borough. In the first place I may say that a reserve was originally laid out in the centre of Manchester square shown on the early plans and marked " Post office " and another reserve was placed mi Denbigh square marked " Court House " v' but it appears that for some reason or other, which is not at all clear, the Kimbolton road and Manchester street were formed through these reserves thereby diverting them from the purposes for which tbey were originally intended. When General Feilding visited iis he was of opinion (in which I know many of the burgesses concur) that the centre of Manchester square would be the most appropriate place in which to erect the Municipal Buildings, and the ColonistsLand and Loan Corporation would pay all the cost of fencing in the reserve with handsome iron fencing making the roads and footpaths round the same, and lay out tbe reserve as a recreation ground on a small scale. In addition to this the Corporation will advance the money to erect the Municipal Buildings charging 6 per cent on the cost and allowing the Borough Council to pay off whatever they can afford, the payments to go against principal and interest. They will also fence and plant the ground round the buildings. This payment would be in the way of rent and reducible every year in accordance with the amount so paid. As an alternative the Colonists' Land and Loan Corporation is asked to grant a site for the Municipal Buildings close to Mr Daw's stables where they would be inconvenient and altogether out of the way, and by no means an ornament to the town, whereas if handsome buildings were erected in Manchester Square with a fire brigade station and clock tower as proposed, they would be an ornament to the town especially in conjunction with the proposed Corporation offices which it is intended to erect shortly just opposite such square. Besides this these improvements would have the effect of enhancing the value of all the property round the Square and might be the means of getting some decent offices erected where there are now only drain pipes and livery stables, and thereby increasing the revenue of the Borough Council. Another matter to which I would draw the burgesses' attention is a water supply for Feilding and I may say that this Corporation is prepared to grant sufficient land for the purpose of constructing reservoirs and also to make approaches to tbe new Kiwitea bridge, on condition that plans and specifications are submitted in regard to such works, so that now the whole matter of Municipal Buildings, water works, and bridge approaches are in the hands of the Borough Council, and it is to be hoped they will bestir themselves in these matters for the advantage of the township. I have been told that the buildings, if erected in Manchester Square, would be an obstruction, but it is evident from the traffic marks all round the Square that this is a mistake, and so far as stock is concerned, I think they should should not be allowed to be driven through the town at all, as there are plenty af avenues for them to the sale yards without coming along the main road. I think, sir, that these questions are worthy of the consideration of all the ratepayers of Feilding, - and I feel sure that if our Borough Council would only take the initiative and ask for an expression of opinion from the burgesses that it would be in favor of the proposals as now set out. 1 am aware that some efeht years ago the question of diverting the road was mooted and decided adversely, but circumstances, alter cases, and I hope that we have all grown wiser since then. Of course if it were a matter of the Borough Council being called upon to expend £1000 or so I could understand a certain amount of opposition, owing to want of money, but as the Colonists' Land and Loan Corporation will pay all costs of the improvements I do not understand where any objection can reasonably come in, and, looking at tbe Square in its present delapidated condition, I must say that any proposition for its improvement should be considered. Moreover, if the present offer is accepted the sticks round the trees, many of which are tumbling down, could be removed and the reserve be an ornament to the town. 'It is doubtless in the remembrance of your readers that two years ago subscriptions were invited by the then Mayor, Mr Et Goodbehere, and funds were given to fence and improve the Square,, but nothing was done, and the subscriptions wero returned to the donors, of which the CL. and L.C. was one, and I think there is no guarantee that anything more may be expeoted in the future, taking into consideration the attitude of the Borough Council at present. So that unless the 'burgesses bestir them* selves they will have the present eyesore in the shape of a "Square" in the middle of the town for all time as there will be no inducement in the future to alter it, provided the Municipal Buildings are erected elsewhere. I am, etc., Edward Giesen, Manager CL. and L.C.