HIS HONOR'S REPLY.

Southland Times, Issue 967, 12 June 1868, Page 3

HIS HONOR'S REPLY.

Superintendent's Office, Southland, 11th June, 1868. Messrs Mitchell and Co. and others, Invercargill. Gentlemen",—l have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your memorial, requesting the use of the Provincial Council Chamber for the purpose of holding weekly readings, and to state in reply that in consequence of the very serious injury sustained by the furniture and documents belonging to the Provincial Council on the last occasion when the use ■ of the building was granted to another society, the Executive Council decided that without the express authority of the i Provincial Council their Hall should not again be used for any purpose foreign to the original object. I regret exceedingly that this circumstance should put your admirable society to inconvenience (which I trust, however, may be otherwise obviated) ; nor do I for a moment doubt that your committee would do all in its power to protect the property of the Council from injury; but the Hall is not properly at the disposal of the Executive, and it is the more incumbent on me to care specially for its preservation in the Speaker's absence .You must, moreover, be aware that the granting the use of it to your society would constitute a fair claim to its use by others. I am in hopes that aa the public now see the necessity of possessing some public building which shall be available for such and similar purposes, a subscription for carrying out that object may be set on foot, which I have little doubt the Provincial Council would be ready to aid.—l have the honor to be, Sirs, your obedient servant, Jno. P. Tatlos. .