BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 207, 2 March 1895, Page 2

BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR. Sir,— l am exceedingly pleased that some interest is being taken in the proposed improvements in Manchester Square, as is evidenced by tbe letters now appearing in your paper, but it is rather amusing to see the different views I taken by your correspondents. For instance, Mr " Common Sense," who ought to have signed himself " Uncommon Nonsense," credits me with a desire to enhance the value of our adjacent property, but, seeing that the portion of the reserve which has been sold, between Manchester Square and Fergusson street, realised between J6OOO and J7OOO an acre, I don't think that wants much enhancing. And even if it were so, Mr " Common Sense " might know that the more lands are enhanced in value the more revenue the Borough would derive from the enhanced value in the shape of rates. As to his contention about deviating the road, I contend that it never ought to have been a question at all as the road should not have been put through a private or public reserve. Your other correspondent " Ratepayer " seems to have a grasp of the subject, but, unfortunately, the Government have never signified their intention of giving us a Post Office, and I am afraid they would never agree to put it in conjunction with any other building. I recollect Mr Seddon being interviewed here on this matter, and all we could get out of him was that he would consult his colleagues—and of course nothing came of that. If our member, Mr Stevens, can assist us to get a Post Office in the Square, instead of Municipal Corporation Buildings, it will be all right. I presume that would be even more convenient for the public, and I don't mind whether it is in shape of a Swiss chalet or a New Zealand chalet, but I do think that some public building worth looking at should be put up on the reserve intended for it, and Manchester Square made an ornament instead of a disgrace to the town, especially as it will cost the ratepayers nothing. The CL. and L.C. have been many times twitted and taunted with never having done anything for the town. In fact, rather the reverse, but now that the reserves have been put into the market and the bulk of them sold, a gift of land for reservoirs and road approaches to new bridge offered, a loan to build Municipal Buildings and another for a Drill Shed, with a site given for the Municipal Buildings in the event of the burgesses not choosing to have them erected in the Square, and a free gift of the money to put the Square in order if they do, I think the Corporation is vindicating its character. But it is met on all sides with quibbles and difficulties, and it seems to me to be a case of "As it was in tbe beginning, is now, and ever shall be." I am, etc., E. Giesen. Manager CL and L,C.