Meeting of Ratepayers. PROPOSED MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 256, 2 May 1895, Page 2

Meeting of Ratepayers. PROPOSED MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS.

There was a large attendance of ratepayers at the meeting, in the Assembly Rooms last evening called by the Mayor, Mr Sandilands, to discuss a proposal to borrow £900 for the purpose of erecting Municipal Buildings for the Feilding Borough. The Major occupied the chair and explained the objects of tho meeting. The Council had uccupied the present promises for the past twelve months as Council Chambers, which they also used for library aud reading room. They wero totally unsuitable for the purpose, f«r, besides being too small, they were too hot in hot weather and too cold when the woather was cold. The site on which they proposed to erect the new buildings was at tho corner of Stafford street and Kirn bolton road, having a frontage of 75 links to the latter and 125 links to the former. This site had been given free of charge by the Colonists' Land and Loan Corporation oa the understanding that no other building would be erected there, and, also, that plans bo submitted to the Colonists' Land and Loan Cornoratiou for approval. A year or two ago a depu sation waited on Mr Levin, one of the New Zealand directors, for the purpose of requesting that a site for Municipal Buildings be given to the Borough, After some difficulty and correspondence the site was offered and the plans accepted. The Council now proposed to borrow the money, and he had arranged for it at five per cent from the N.Z. Insurance Company. It was proposed to strike a rate of Id in the £ as security for the interest, but it was not their intention to collect it, as they would pay the interest out of the general revenue. It would be easier to pay £45 than £50, which they paid at present for rent. A saving of £5 a year would thus be effected. The architect's (Mr H. James') estimate for the buildings was £800, and although a poll would be taken for £900 it was not necessary for them to take the fuU amount, which had been fixed to meet contingencies. The building consisted of a clerk's room, 19ft x 13ft, entered to the left from a vestibule. On the light hand side of this vestibule was the Mayor's or committee room, lGft x 13ft, separated from the Council chambers (27ft x 16ft) by a partition. The library (14ft x lift 6in) is in the centre of the building and is [entered through the vestibule and a hall, from which a reading-room (lGft x 16ft) facing Stafford street is also entered, from the reading-room and library there is a porch giving access from a small yard, through which entrance to the news-room (27 x 17ft; would be gamed from Stafford street. Detached from the main building is a fire engme-shed, 21ffc x 15ft, and meeting-room (17ft Gin x 15ft) foi the Fire Brigade. Besides the rooms mentioned is a strong- room (attached to the elei'k's room), cupboards, lavatory, and other conveniences. The piece of land given is valued at £400, and by erecting buildings there the ratepayers would gain that amount. They had advertised the loan proposals according to the Act, and this meeting was purely formal. Previous to concluding his remarks, the Mayor invited discussion and expressed his willingness to answer questions. Mr C. Bray (junr.) supported the proposal, and proposed, " That the action of the Council in taking steps to raise a loan tor the erection of municipal chambers at the corner of Stafford street and Kimbolton road be endorsed by this meeting." Mr P. Thompson seconded the motion. Mr W. Carthew agreed that it was necessary to erect municipal building's, and asked if it was within the province of that meeting to discuss the site. The Mayor said the meeting was called to discuss the loan proposals only, but he was willing to allow them to discuss the site although, any resolution that might be passed would not bind the hands of the Council. ' Mr B. Gosling asked why the municipal buildings could not be built in Manchester Square. The Corporation had offered good terms and he thought they should have been accepted. Mr Sandilands said that on a previous occasion when steps were being taken a few years ago to close and plant the Square an indignation meetwas held and the action of the Council was howled down. When General Feilding- was on a visit to the district this was pointed out to him. General Feilding offered to advance the money for the construction of the building, .some of the property owners around the Square objected to any diversion being made in the roads and he had heard that it the Council went on with it an injunction would be lodged against them. It would cost £2000 to erect a suitable building" in the Square. Mr W. Carthew thoug-ht the municipal buildings should be erected on one corner and the fire brigade on another, while the Government should be asked to erect a post office on a third. The corners of the Square would be improved and beautified. He thought this would meet the approval oi' the ratepayers. Mr Sandilands replied the Government would not build a post office unless the* land was transferred to them, and this the ratepayers would not do. Mr E. Goodbehere said the fact of a loan being- carried would make no difference to the site, which could be decided on afterwards. Mr F. Y. Lethbridge thought it advisable to decide on the site that evenino- as it would require nearly every ° ratepayer in the Borough to carry the poll owing to the number of absentees. They should come to some decision and unless they did so it would mean losiog the poll. Mr W. G. Haybittle asked if the Colonist^' Land and: Loan Corporation would be willing to hand over the site offered for any other. Mr Sandilands said they would lose the site at the corner of Stafford street and Kimbolton road if they built on the Square. Mr E. Giesen : The Corporation" would still give that site for some other buildif the Council Chambers were built on the Square. * Mr S. Andrew said he was present when the deputation from the Borough Council,

j interviewed General Feilding with re« ference to this matter and was convinced the General had not made a definite promise to fence and metal the road around the Square providing the Council built there. Mr Giesen : It was in his published statement. Mr Saudilands said he had no letter in his possession containing the information referred to by Mr Giesen. If it had appeared iv newspaper correspondence, that would not bind the Corporation. Mr C. Bray, junr., did not know what other public building would be required if the Council Chambers were built on the Square, and the Stafford street site would be lost. Mr Carthew moved, as an amendment to Mr Bray's motion, That this meeting approves of the action of the Council in taking a poll of JL9OO for the purpose of erecting Municipal Chambers^ and that they be built on one corner of Manchester Square, and the Fire Brigade station on another. Mr J. Scott asked if it was within the power of the Council to take any portion of the Square. The Chairman replied in the negative. Mr P. Thomson said that he had been informed by the late Mr D. H. Mac* . arthur that it was impossible for any ratepayer or body of ratepayers to interfere with any part of the roads through the Square. Mr H. Bastings said the only fault he had to find with Councillors was that they were asleep and people did not know what they were doing. He strongly condemned building on the Square. To do away with it would be doing away with a birthright, for when they obtained a privilege it should not be given up. He would advise all ratepayers to pull together and they would tjhen prosper better. The site chosen was a good one. He considered the Borough Council too much of a family party, and when anyone offered himself as a candidate for municipal honors he never let the public know why he aspired to the honour, or showed whether he was fit for the position, or the reverse. Mr Bastings vras loudly applauded during his speech. Dr Johnston opposed the proposition to erect two buildings on the Square, which he would like to see planted with trees and flowers. He considered buildings could not be erected on the Square for municipal or any other purpose. Mr J. Cobbe moved, as a further amendment, That in view of the great danger of this question of site being the cause of the failure of the poll, that this meeting cordially endorses the action of Councillors, and that the question of site be left to the good sense of the Councillors, the representatives of the ratepayers-! Mr A. Eade seconded this amendment. Mr W. G. Haybittle thought the ques- . tion of expense was of greater importance than that of site. There were ratepayers who would like to see municipal buildings erected but would not agree to an increase of rates. He asked if the Council paid £'50 for rent of the present office*. The Mayor replied that the Town Clerk would still have to contribute the same as now (£22 a year) as he had a private business. They would have to strike a rate of Id in the £, but they . > need not collect it and he did not think . they would. , Mr Carthew withdrew his amendment , m favor of Mr Cobbe's, which .the Chairman ruled was out of order as it was in fact practically (although in different words) the original motion. . On the motion being put to the meet- • ing, a show of hands was taken and the ! Chairman declared it carried by 41 to 10. . . . Proposed by Mr Lethbridge, seconded py Mr P. Thomson, That this meeting pledges itself to support the Council in the matter of raising the loan. — Carried. The usual compliment to Chairman closed the meeting.