THE TOWN HALL SITE.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 15 February 1901, Page 3

THE TOWN HALL SITE.

(To the Editor)

Sin.—l rend with some little interest in your morning contemporary the discussion on the proposed sites for the Town Hall. In reality the .only information was that of Mr. ITannan in regard to the difficulties surrounding the erection on the Borough freehold in Bomidary street, and it appears to me to be surrounded with legal difficulties outside of "The Chinese Smells," the out of the way situation and the flood trouble, and then there arc those terrible axes fo grind. With regard to the only other site spoken of —the Church of England reserve—it is certainly more central than the other, but it is in a bade street ; the building would have to he either erected ou piles or the ground tilled in. a large premium (£500) would have to be paid to attain possession, the flood trouble would also have to be considered, it is Maori ground for which rental would have to he paid, and again it is said there are axes to grind. IN'ow I would suggest another site—more central, already in possession of the Borough, and so far as I can learn only one axe to grind, that of the ratepayers. The site J. suggest is that of a portion of the Gasworks facing Tainui street. This is certainly the most central position in Greymoutli. ft fronts the main street and is in a line with all the public buildings in the town. The Post and Telegraph ollices. the Customs. Public Hall, Drill Shed, Courts, etc, are all within a few minutes walk. There is no fear of iloods, and no additional ground rent to pay, and the only difficulty is that the hall would have to be built either on raised ground or on piles, but the same, affection exists with regard to the Church of England reserve. Should there not be room enough on the vacant section now occupied by the gas manager's cabbage garden, it would not take much to remove his residence to another portion of the ground. The site would also possess tho further advantage that tho whole of tho Borough Council offices would bo on the samo block, and as the town is extending southwards, I think the site is worth the attention of tho committee, especially as it appears 1 tho ratepayers have no say in the matter except if; mere monoy is required. The Council should remember now that it is not a question of wards, but of the borough, as a whole, therefore, the most advantageous position should be selected, I am, &c., —

W. F. A Grcyrnouth, February 15th, 1901.