TOWN HALL AND LIBRARY

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3929, 3 October 1891, Page 2

TOWN HALL AND LIBRARY

Deputation to the Tovn Lands Trust.

A deputation from the Masterton Borough Council, consisting of His Worship the Mayor and Cr Dixon, waited upon the Masterton Town Lands Trust at its meeting last evening, with reference to the town hall and the library loan.

The Mayor, who acted as spokes* man, stated it was the general desire of the Council, on behalf o( the Borough of Masterton, that something should be done in the matter of the town hall. On the destruction of the old town hall he understood that a sum of money had been received by the Trust for its rebuilding. He thought it was only right that the funds received by the Trust should be spent in the object for which they were voted. There would be no difficulty in procuring a site for a town hall, and if the amount at the disposal of the Trust was not sufficient to build the hall, he believed the public would subscribe the deficiency. The matter was one of great public benefit, and one which should not be allowed to lie sleeping. He hoped the Trust would give the matter their consideration. With regard to tin library, the deputation did not wish t<r dictate to the Trust. It was, however, felt that the library rate was a hardship on many and the Council wished to do away with it. The Trust had lent valuable assistance in the past, but he thought that if they would pay off the whole amount. of the loan the public would endorse their action. If the trust could not see its way clear to paying off the whole amount, they might increase the grant. Without wishing to trench on the good nature of the Trust, he hoped they would give the matter their fullest consideration. There was, no harm done in asking, at any rate. Cr Dixon endorsed what the Mayor had said. The Library rate was undoubtedly a hardship. If the Trust could see its way to paying off the loan and continuing their grant the library rate would be done away with.

Tile Chairman said be was not surprised at the expression of opinion of the Mayor. There was no doubt that the old Trustees had received the insurance money from the town hall, but he thought the Mayor would alter his opinion when he knew the facts of the case. The whole of the money had been expends 3 for the public benefit. One thing was certain, the Trust had not now the money. It would be impossi» ble for the Trust to meet such a contingency with the present demands on its funds. He was of opinion that if the grants made to the School Committees could be reduced a fund might be established from which a town hall could in time be erected, (hear, hear). With regard to the library rate, the Trust now voted £SO a year towards the loan, which would be paid off in a few years. The Borough was now reaping the benefit of the expenditure of the Trust. The whole of the library buildings had been erected by the Trust. This was a thing the deputation should not lose sight of. He had no doubt the Trustees would be willing to make a grant to pay off the loan if they had the money. But they had not got the money. He had some time ago made a similar proposal himself, The Mayor: Would it not be possible to realise property by which funds could be raised ? The Chairman said he did not think they had the power to sell. The Mayor. If the Trust were willing to realise, we could get an Enabling Bill passed. The Chairman would be pleased to see the sale of any property and the devoting of the money to the building of a town hall.

Mr Perry: That's just what we want.

The Mayor : I would like to ask the Trust to take steps at the next sitting of Parliament to enable it to raise funds as suggested.

The Chairman said it would be absolutely impossible with the present demands on its funds to pay off the loan.

The Mayor: If an Enabling Bill was passed and half the money required for a town hall was raised, I am sure the public would subscribe the rest.

Mr Eton said he thought the amount subscribed by the public had been over-stated.

The Mayor: I think so, too. A small amount only was subscribed. The Mayor then thanked the Trust for the reception given the deputation, and retired. At a later stage of the meeting Mr Gapper said he had been under the impression that a fund was being set aside for the erection of a town hall. At the same time the funds available were so small that the work could not be undertaken.

The Chairman looked upon the erection of a town hall as a most desirable thing to strive to obtain. It would be a lasting benefit to the town, whereas the grants made in the past had in many instances not been so. He would be in favour of setting aside a few pounds every year to form the nucleus of a fund for the re- erection of the town hall. But whilst their demands were so great they could do nothing.