The Feilding Star. Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. THURSDAY, MAY 2, 1895. BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

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

The Feilding Star. Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. THURSDAY, MAY 2, 1895. BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

The meeting held last night in the Assembly Rooms to consider the loan proposal of the Borough Council for the purpose of erecting municipal buildings was fairly representative. At first there was apparent a singular lack of animation, but after a little time an improvement took place, and one or two lively passages at arms resulted. It was evident that whatever opposition existed was not so • much to the erection of the building as to the proposed site. As our readers are aware, a considerable number of ratepayers would like to see the building in the centre, or on one of the [ plats in Manchester Square. Those who supported that view were twitted • with the reproach that persons owning land in the Square would like to have their property enhanced in value ■ thereby. Possibly that was so, but some of the speakers who objected to , the Square site were not entirely disinterested themselves as regards the one now practically chosen. We think, L on the whole, that the proceedings at i the meeting will have the effect of re- ■ moving a gocTd deal of the opposition known to exist against the proposed loan. The ratepayers are not inclined, as a whole, to increase the amount of " taxation for which they are now liable, but the assurance of the Mayor to the , effect that the extra rate would not be | called up because the interest could be paid out of the ordinary revenue, must have gone far to remove that impression. Of course it may be' justly contended that the Mayor can only

answer for the present Council, and cannot make any pledge or promise which would bind future councils, but the probabilities are in favour of his conjecture being a correct one. As we have said already, we believe the ratepayers at the meeting were in favour of having the building. No doubt they recognise the fact that if they throw out the proposal now before them they will never have it made to them again. It is not in reason to expect that the Colonists' Land and Loan Corporation will keep their very liberal offer open if it is rejected now, because the section is a valuable one for which a good price could bo obtained at any time ; and donors — especially when they are corporate bodies— do not like to have their cenerosity treated with contempt. What the ratepayers have to keep steadily before them is the fact that the proposed building will not cost them one farthing more than what they are now paying for office rent, while it will be a valuable asset for the Borough.