MASTERTON TOWN LANDS TRUST.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1341, 31 March 1883, Page 2

MASTERTON TOWN LANDS TRUST.

A public meeting was fold last evening in the upper room of the Institute to consider the proposal of tho Town Luuls Trustees to sell ninety feet frontage in Hall-st to the Government as a fite for a new Courthouse for the'sum nf fliOO. There was a fair attendance of voters, between twenty and thirty lieiri; present. Mr E, Feist, Chairman of the Trust, who ocenpiod the chair, after reading the notice convoniiijr'tlio meetim;, said they wore all aware that negotiations had been tjoiuEj on for some time past with the Government for the sale of a site for a new Courthouse, and the Trustees had thought it ri"ht to.call the voters together to obtain their sanction to the proposal they had made, He did not anticipate opposition to it, and they would all that it was very desirable to have such a building in such a prominent position as their site offered. The Government were unable to find room for it on their own land, and this site was specially suitable. He read a telegram from thi? Government, stating tiiat the building would be commenced as soon as tho preliminary arrangements willi respect to the site were concluded. He would conclude by moving that tho present meeting approves of (he proposal of the Trustees to sell the site to tho Government for 1300.

Mr DeOastro seconded the motion, The Chairman beforo putting it invited discussion upon it. Mr Hogg inquired what the Trustees proposed to do with the money which they received from the sale of the site. He would like to know whether it would applied to extinguish the Institute debt? The Chairman replied that such a question «as hardly before the meeting. Tho Trustees had not ns yet lakon this poiut into consideration, -Some littlo time muat yet elapse beforo the completion of the negotiation, and the money was unlikely to bo immediately available. Next month, ton, the annual meeting of the Trust took place, and (it this the Trustees would probably submit their views on this question to the public, Mr McCardle inquired what the cost of tho new Courthouse would be? Mr R. Brown—About eight hundred pounds. Mr McCarthy thought that tho Go vernment should bo compelled to put up a building worth .£I2OO or on such a site, especially as they got it for less than its value. Tho ohairman said he- should he sorry to see auy obstacle put in the way of the Government. He questioned whether tho land if put up for sale would fetch more than tho Government weri paying for it, The motion of tho Chairman nas then put aud carried. Mr Payton moved that a vote of thanks bo accorded to the trustees for negotiating and carryiug through an arrangement so beneficial to tho town. Mr Eapp in seconding the motion asked if the Trust offered the land they were now selling at a little more than i' 3 per foot in tho first instance at M per foot? Mr Gappor replied that in the first instance they offered the present site and their interest in the adjacent one for a lump sum of £OOO which was about a foot. A gentleman who came up from town told thorn distinctly that the Government would not give'more 'than £2OO for a site. They had fought till tho last moment for a good,, price. .They had stood out for £i not M per, foot.. Ho was pleased that tho meeting had .endorsed their actions. : ' ■;■ y Mr Hogg said he could: endorse the statement that the Trustees had made tho best bargain possible with the Government. The only thing ho feared was that like Tittlebat Titmouse, they would be coming into too large a fortune. The Chairman 'expressed hh pleasure that' the condiiot;of the Trustees, hid met with theapproval of tbomeeling and put the vote of thanks which was earned .unanimously-and amid applause. JVIi" Gappor—With, respect: to the disposal of the funds.;:: ;/.;;\> : The Chairman we have disposed of that Mr:feappetellmerely,^ish ';.'■ to point. go in agaiiiatlei and wo can hardly^ind^our^uceesscirs; ■}.:! hope to see'theold ha'tida^

body.yuAing ; blpod ishof^^^ practical knowledge a»d; expeneiico.'; >; Mr G, Beetham," M.H.R.Ktatoe.ivfo-;-an objection raised by Mr fghrthy.. ; He thougLt f the plans of {he-ne^ourt.; house would suffice.. The publio room was within five foet; ol the size of the' Wellington Court room, and if they were . not satisfied with that'Masteiton must ". have made up its mind to become a very large place. A difficulty might yet arise in proceeding with the building before \jlio} site was absolutely conveyed to the : Government, but lie hoped this might be. obviated. He believed that; theicoutt.:■:,;' houso on the Bite now obosen would be a credit to the town. (Applause,) He testified :',io the, anxiety, of the Trustees to make a good bargain with the-Goverh-men I. In fact, the Government; had. alraosV been obliged by; the .way they stood out to sacrifice Mr Baege's. garden for the building. ' ' -ijr^;; .' A vote of thanks to the Chair concluded the proceedings.