The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, JULY 12, 1883.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4530, 12 July 1883, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, JULY 12, 1883.

Th« purchase of St. George's Hall as a site for Counoil buildings comes on again for discussion at to night's meeting of the Borough representatives, when it is to be hoped this much-rexed question will be definitely settled. The circumstances attending the negociations in connection with this affair are of a most peculiar character, and their recapitulation is unnecessary, as the matter is one of recent, .occurrence. We endeavored in a previous issue to point out to the Counoil the waste of time eonse* quent on dallying with tbe question, and tried to shew that body that the matter is one which will not vary in features by delay. Instead of postponing from,meet* ing to nesting the settlement of tbe subject, !it should be taken at once, and finally disposed of. We can quite appreciate the 'delicacy felt by certaiolmember* of the Council in retracing , steps taken by them—apparently without duly considering the effect of their action. but; ire cannot allow for any vaeillHtion displayed in saying yea or nay when a plain : issue is placed before them. We have no.doubt that tbe matt r will be decided to-night, and wt> can only say it I is about time it was disposed of; these j negotiations hare been going on for over seven months, and there ii not the least necessity for the thing remaining open any longer.. The desirableness of acquiring the property is a matter upon which very few people hold different opinions, and we hope that any attempt made at bringing, outside influenoa to bear in arriving at a conclusion on' the subjdot will be properly resented. As we stated in an artiole published nearly five months ago, if a poll were taken of the opinion of the ratepayers as to purchasing the property, the result would be a most decided

negative, and we cannot see that the wants of the Borough demand its ac qumtion. The* buildings at present in nse,»re sufficient for the official wants of the-place, tad will be for many years to •ome. The Council fnnds are not in „snch a plethoric condition al 1 ■to cause Councillors to wander about 'looking for an outlet for surplus cash. If many urgent wants were supplied, in the matter of street making and repairing, and other necessary works, and then there remained a bursting exchequer, one could almost understand a little fanciful purchasing on the part of Councillors delirious through prosperity, but as we now suffer from that dreadful complaint of impeeuniosity, the expenditure of every pound of the Borough revenue should be the care of each and every councillor. However, whether the matter be decided in favor of purchasing the property or not; whether this white elephant be added to the list of Borough assets or otherwise, "If 'twere done, when 'tis done: then 'twere well it were done quickly."