The Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1871.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 332, 1 February 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1871.

"We observe that steps are about to be taken for re-building the Music Hall in Symonds-street. The money has been handed over by the Insurance Company, plans are about to be prepared, and, ere long, the Choral Society will be again lodged in their own building. The re-erection of the building is, to a certain extent, a necessity, though, in some respects, it is to be regretted. The City Hall, from the total absence of back premises and other accommodation, although admirably adapted for other kinds of entertainment, is not suited to the purposes of the Society: and for the sake of keeping together the members, and from the extreme suitability of the position in Symondsstreet for concerts, soirees, and other purposes, the restoration of the building could not be much longer delayed.

This we have said is- in some respects to be regretted. The re-building is calculated to attain one of the purposes of the incendiaries in providing employment; tlio other effect, "striking terror into the city from end to end," having, we presume, been effected to the satisfaction of the gang of houseburners. Bub while admitting the necessity for the re-erection of the hall, we ask those charged with the care of this matter, in the interests of law and order, to provide that any benefits arising from the undertaking will be neutralised to those who may have had a hand in the burnings This may be a matter of no great difficulty. r' Mr." Wetton's gang are all known to the police, aud the most stringent precautions shouldbeused thatnot one of all those in any way connected with the " Working Men's Protection Society," should receive employment in the most trivial work connected with the building of the Music Hall. If this is neglected we do not hesitate to say that a direct premium is offered for the crime of arson ; and while with one hand we offer a reward for the detection of the guilty, with the other we offer a similar reward to all those concerned in guilt. Every citizen has an interest in stampiug out the first symptoms of criminal conspiracy, and the trustees or society that with indifference to consequences would shrink from duty in the circumstances, are not deserving of sympathy or encouragement from the public.