HAMILTON PUBLIC HALL.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1108, 31 July 1879, Page 3

HAMILTON PUBLIC HALL.

Sin,—Whilo the question of a Public Hall is still fresh in the minds of the Hamilton people, I would like, with your permission, to point out some reasons which were instrumental in causing the loss of the Rev. Mr Caldcr's motion, on Friday evening last. That it is necessary to dispose or deal with the allotment given by Government whereon to erect a Volunteer Hall is plain, and reasons, all sufficient, were given at the,late meeting by the Chairman and Mr Colder; but, that point settled, are we pressed to build our Public Hall on any other site. The opinion of the people ought to be taken as to which procurable site in the town would be most suitable and pleasing to tho majority. But ao such question was asked; on the contrary, tho proposer of the last motion took pains to show how good would be a site between Sondes and Go's shop and the Hamiltion hotel, or again an allotment adjacent to the "Commercial." However much we may try to disguise it, there still exists much illfeeling between east and west sides with regard to allotting of public favors, great or small, and the promoters of tho Public Hall knowing this, would have been acting wisely and fairly in asking the opinion of the residents as to where this long talked of Hail should be erected. Has this been done '< It is not unlikely that many who voted for the amendment (and are, by the way, called rowdy for so doing), would have gone for building tho Hall on tho west side. That the Oddfellow* commanded many votes on Friday owning, is I presume true, but that thoy collected tho rowdy element, as has been stated, to assist in gaining their point, is decidedly uutruo; and when you consider that it is some eighteen months sinco tho Oddfellows purchased ground for the erection of their Hall, and woro only prevented from doing so by the belief m a Public Hall near at hand, in which thoy would no doubt have held their frequent meetlugs, tho costs of which would, in itself, have went somo way in assisting tho trustees to meet interest, &o. But no ouch Hall was forthcoming, every one seemed asleep about the matter, wita tho Oddfellows, disgusted at waiting so long, pwqeed to erect a building, which will be

as much a Public Hall as the proposed one could be, then the! "genteel element" awakes. It is suddenly discovered that this splendid Hall about to be erected, is to be on the "other" side of the river, and because the Oddfellows made the impudent and unpardonable mistake of proposing to build on the east instead of the west sido, they in their plucky attempt at advancement, must be checked. When those things are considered, is it to be wondered that the Oddfellows should muster, not so much as Oddfellows but as ratepayers, in ordor to prevent, if possible, the disposal or dealing with the Government grant, that the Public Hall might be placed on any spot pleasing to a few. There is an idea that strangely haunts me at this moment, had the Oddfellows proposed building their Public Hall on the west side of the river, no public meeting would have been called; the promoters of the Volunteer Hall would have slept yet, and awoke some months hence to enjoy the comforts of a Public Hall, built at the expense of the Hamilton Oddfellows. The gentleman who proposed at the late meeting " to call, at seme future date, a meeting of subscribers to the West Hamilton Hall," -would have better left it alone. He showed his feelings too plainly, and must have forgotten that the Government grant of land is the property of all the ratepayers, whether subscribers or not, and any meeting called at a future date for the purpose of asking the Government to empower the trustees to deal with the allotment, must be open to all.—l am, &c, X-Y.Z. • ——•- ■