A SETTLER FOR OLD SETTLER.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 9 July 1910, Page 4

A SETTLER FOR OLD SETTLER.

To tlio Editor Sir,- -To prevent any wrong impression gaming ground «s a eonscqueueo of sffatonients made liu a- letter by "An Old Settler" in your is.siit, 1 of Inst, night, I would like to say iu tho first plact* t itab the live mom.be.rs referred to (and whoso seats in tlio Council wo th rebate nod hy ''Old Sottler") made uio compact There aro nine couucillor.s and when live are against any proposal it is vory plain that any resolution carried l»y the {►liter four anil thu .Mayor could mot bo called a compact u hiich bound the. whole Council. Weraroa has lieeit fairly treated by tho present Council, and iu the matter of tho library site the claims of Werarua will also get a fair consideration. I consider that tlio library ought to bo built in Oxford street. For obvious reasoiiiis a library should be Will ere.' .til o people congregate; then changing a book could form part of tho business which everyone transacts when they go to town. Libraries are largely used for purposes of reference. It would he vory convtinjent to go iu off the main s'troot to consult k*i book or newspaper. There havy so t'a.r boon three sites suggested in Oxford street: one adjoining the Council office on the section occupied by (lit; lire station. This site is fa.irl.v central; ay.il could have the advantage of a. combined library and clerical silafr and a. saving in salaries: very desirable in a small place like this. Aiiiotihor suggested site (a. very good olio) is on tho corner of Hath street next the White TTouse. if. lias also been suggested to build it on the si to Jit present occupied by Rradley's sta.bles, As a business proposition I consider (his site is a very good oiw. Every ratepayer knows that tho Gravel T?eservo leases fall nil next year. .all the land from and including Mr Pink's sho.p to Bath street will belong to tho 'borough, and will bring in a verv handsome yearly income. T consider it very ii'nod business to put the librarv in the middle of that block. T? eta.il business frontages aro valuable according to tho number of pedestrianswho walk past. And there can be no doubt thai a C'l ■">()() library will improve tho ratepayers property. Tt will he a pity if the impression gets abroad that there is any illftvling in the Counnil over this quest.it/n —there is none. And left to itself the Council would come to a. unanimous denision. and one in the best interests of all. The threolt that, has been made to write to Mr Oa;rnegio and stop the emit is childish n.r.d silly. "An Old Settler's" letter is foolish and in ivul taste. Tt is surprising what trouble even one ill-balanced person can up in <a ccmmunitv.--T am. etc. HY. R. FT! ANC R. Levin, July 7. 1010.