The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 1878.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5380, 25 June 1878, Page 2

The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 1878.

The Auckland Improvement Commissioners and the Governors of tho Auckland College and Grammar School have come to loggerheads about the occupation of a building, formerly the Commissariat Store, which stands within the Albert Barracks, and which has been rented for the use of the school. Bailiffs had been put into tho house on the part of the Commissioners ; but these officers having imprudently vacated the building for an instant their fortress was captured by surprise, and the myrmidons of the law found themselves barred out by the boys, the head master leading the rebellion against the men in possession. The Improvement Commissioners are an unpopular body. Auckland worships success, and the Commissioners have not been successful in accomplishing all that they desired to effect. The fact that the members of the Commission have given their services gratuitously, that they have not and have not even been suspected of having, any personal end to gain, and that they have devoted much time and labor to the work in hand, and have incurred considerable responsibilities—is nothing. The manyheaded and their leaders are not satisfied, and their opinions are expressed in the hardest and most uncomplimentary terras. But yet, to those who are impartial spectators and know the facts it must be apparent that the Improvement Commissioners have deserved well of tho city and of the citizens of Auckland. Their original plan may have been too ambitious, but it was not impracticable. It involved the making a second approach to the railway terminus at what was Fort Britomart through Shortlandstreot to Fort-street, and included the reclamation and improvement of Chan-cery-lane and its purlieus, a congeries of hovels, the haunt of vice and the hotbed of filth and disease. This project failed from a miscalculation of its cost in the price of tho land required to be taken, and in the necessary compensation for alleged injury to property; but [the failure was due chiefly to the fact that the Commissioners failed or neglected to effect a sale of the debentures which they were authorised to issue at the time when the market and their own credit were alike favorable. Those who say that the Commissioners have effected nothing useful are wilfully blind, as well as unjust, A very groat

deal has been done. The old and unsightly barrack wall has been removed ; wide streets, which add greatly to the beauty and convenience of the city, have been laid out, formed, metalled, drained, and planted on each side with trees ; the whole area thus made available is being rapidly covered with handsome buildings. The rents from the allotments, which are let_ on long leases, already make a considerable revenue, and if the whole area wore available the revenue would be sufficient for the purposes of the trust, and then probably the citizens would be able to discover that the much-abused Commissioners had really been public benefactors. The proximate cause of the “ row ” which is now attracting notice is, we believe, this The Resident Magistrate’s Court in Auckland is inconveniently situated, and is unsuitable for the increased business of the city. An arrangement has been made by the Improvement Commissioners with the Colonial Government to hand over to the Crown the building known as the Wesleyan Chapel, and the stone building in the Albertßarracks now used by the Grammar School, and to take in exchange the police office buildings in High-street, with a sum of money to make up the difference in the value of the respective properties. The chapel is to be converted into a court house, and the stone building into a police barrack. Both the parties to this transaction, the Government especially, were anxious to have it completed, as the public convenience would be greatly promoted thereby. The Commissioners, however, found it difficult to get possession of the building from the Grammar School, and it appears to have been in their efforts to accomplish this end that they have come into collision with the head master and the boys, and been barred out of their house.

There is, we think, no excuse for those who have, or have had, charge of the interests of the Auckland Grammar School that up to this time, and after so many years’ enjoyment of a large revenue from school fees and from landed endowments, no attempt has been made to put up a suitable building for the school. A longing eye has been cast by the governors upon the Government House, and whispers were heard in the lobbies 1 ist session of the possible appropriation of that building and of the surrounding land to the purposes of the school and college. We feel quite sure that the people of Auckland will not consent to any such application of that property. An attempt was also made last year to obtain an Act authorising the sale or exchange of the site already set apart for the school in Symond’s-street, but the Bill was dropped in the Legislative Council, we believe with the concurrence of the promoters. Constant complaints are being made against the Improvement Commissioners because of their having failed to inclose and improve the reserve of fifteen acres, the Albert Park, within their boundaries; but their ability to do this, and also to keep faith with the Government, is restrained by the action of the Grammar School Board in keeping possession of the Commissioners’ building, and in failing to provide accommodation for themselves after having received due notice. We think, therefore, that the Commissioners were right in taking summary measures to place themselves in a position to carry out their own solemn engagements, and that the authorities of the College and Grammar School are solely to blame for the scandal which has ensued. It has afforded us satisfaction to have this occasion to place on public record the fact that the Auckland Improvement Commissioners appear to have loyally endeavored to discharge the duty which they have undertaken, and that, although the work has not been so complete as they desired to make it, they have, as we have said, deserved well of the city for what has been accomplished.