Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, JUNE 14 1906. Our New Borough Chambers.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3686, 14 June 1906, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, JUNE 14 1906. Our New Borough Chambers.

We have heard much comment re our new Borough Chambers, and opinion seems to differ whether it should have been built of brick or wood. Whilst we would personally have preferred to see a brick or concrete structure in preference to wood, we are certainly forced to admit there is much in the argument of Mr Alf. Phaser, Town Clerk, that a totara building will last for at least fifty years, and by that time any building erected now, whether brick or wood, is sure to be out of date. The fact of the matter is the state of our finance is not too good, and we must be content with what we can afford. And as the cost of erecting a brick building would be nearly twice as -much as a wooden one, and would necessitate a large increase in rale owing to special money having to be borrowed, Council may have acted wisely when they decided to accept Mr Rimmer’s tender for a wooden building the other evening. The building at present is being erected at but little cost to ratepayers, thanks to the iniative of Mr Alf. Fraser (Town Clerk), who, we understand, has been mainly responsible for urging the present and past Mayors and Councillors to arrive at the decision they eventually came to on Monday night last. We trust the work will be speedily carried out, so that, at least, w r e shall be able to boast of a respectable Borough Chambers building.