OUR LETTER BOX.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 238, 12 October 1904, Page 4

OUR LETTER BOX.

(We are not responsible for opin- ' ions expressed by correspondents.) MUNICIPAL AFFAIKS. (To the Editor.) n^r 1 no , tico h y - VOUJ ' WPer th a t the Mayor has, come forward with a scheme for municipal buiklinra j„! . which is included a theatre. Do von ' not think, sir, that we are inclined to go to fast ? Already there has Been a very largo sum borrowed, ; and I suppose before long they will require about £30,000 to purchase, ™ 8« s , work » ; at least another A-dOOO for drainage, as tho money previously voted is found inadequate. Also that necessary work of connecting Gill-street with Brougham-street* will, I suppose, bo too expensive to come out of rates. This will re-i quire a loan of £.IOOO or £6000.' Ami now comes the proposal to borrow £ro,ooo for municip a l build-i jngs for a small pl a ce with 6000 in- | habitants. I suppose that because Wangwmi, with nearly twice the' population, has made 0 , success with '■ its municipal theatre it is assumed that we must follow suit. Anyone who has noticed the large number of schemes put forward in the past, in different parts, i n the sha|ie of companies, etc., tho glowing, accounts of, their prospective; success, and their utter failure to realise the same, must be very diffident in accepting ; the figures given fn the above proposal. A thousand pounds were spent on the present Town Hall a' short time ago. As was stated at! that time, It was surely ample for oil requirements for the next fifteen years. If twenty foot additional to l the present site are reserved there i will be plenty of room for the erection of now building's -in the far future. The remaining portion, up to Egmont-street, could be leased. I see the Mayor has curiously added the prospective rent from this area ■(£■B2B per annum) to Bwoll the receipts of the theatre. The cry we so often hear of being up-to-date is inclined to bo overdone. Very little can be fairly said against the present Tlieatro Royal. I believe a company has taken it over, which will, no doubt, do all i n its power to make it satisfactory to all concerned. Ido not hold any brief for this company. I maintain that two theatres in the town arc quite unnecessary, and in conpetibion neither will pay. Hoping better counsels will prevail,—l am, etc.,