THE DRUIDS' HALL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7953, 31 January 1906, Page 5

THE DRUIDS' HALL.

TO BE PURCHASEBY THE, t At the meeting of the Master ton Borough Council, last evening, Cr Feist opened a discussion ou tbe question of the Council purchasing the Druids Hall, in Chapel Street, from the Mastertun Farm pre' Imple- '' . ment Company. He stated that some time ago the Mayor and himself ,were appointed a committee by the Council ?to consider the, question ' and report. The Implement Com, - pany were ahxiouß to settle the affair, and be thought it would be good business on the part of the Council to effieot a purchase. There was no gainsaying the fact that the hal 1 would be a benefit" to the Borough, for it could be put to 'many uses, not the least of these being a showroom for gas fittings, etc. He moved that the Council make an offer of £6O to the Implement Company for the building. Cr Morris seconded ■ the motion. In doing so he Supported Or Feist's statements, and thought that the Oouaoii abiald not hesitate in buying it. Or Eton asked at what figure the ball had been sold to the Company | by the Borough Council? • j The Town Clerk, replied that the I Company bought it for £69 in 1900, ! ■and paid £1 per month ground rent. Ors Temple and Eton were of J opinion that it was a subject for the careful consideration of the Council as to what use they were going .to put the halt to. They also thought that more information " generally was wanted on the questlon. 'V. ■ The Engineer estimated the value t)f the building, if repaired, Would be £3OO, and the dost of repairing it £l5O. The Mayor thought it would be a great mistake on the part of the ' Council not to have the building. ■lt would be a valuable asset and to pay off the interest it would be easily let as a meeting room. Or Ewington said it was a mistake to buy each an unsound building ' and leave it stahdlpg on such a valuable site. Other buildings, * such as a Fire Brigade Station, would be wanted in the near future, 'and the site on which the hall stood would be an excellent one for such a purpose. He considered it bad business on the Council's part to re-purchase a building, that they had previously sold for £69. He moved as,an amendment that the question he referred back to the Committee for further information. Finally the motion was put to the meeting and carried, the voting being as followb—Ayes: The Mayor, Ors Temple, Hoar, Morris and Feist. Noes: Ors Eton, Ewington and MoEwen. Cr Elliott, being a member of the Directorate of the Company interested, refrained from voting.