City Improvement.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 4131, 28 September 1883, Page 2

City Improvement.

Tiik clearing away of the old buildings at the junction of Shortland-street, Fort-street, and Queen - street has provoked a general expression of regret that this space has been released by tho Council. It is still worth while considering whether steps should not bo taken to keep tho placo as far as the building formerly occupied by Messrs. Sargood and Ewen's warehouse an open space. The allotments remaining would realise very high rents. Queen struct is greatly over-crowded with traffic, and will bo moro so when the tramways are at work, There is not sufficient room fora cab-stand, and with the growth of population and commerce tho difficulty and danger will increase year by year. This space would relievo the lower end of the street, and would immensely improve tlio appearance of tlio thoroughfare. With a lino of handsome buildings junctioniug with the Post-oflicc, the entire character of Lower Queen-street would bechanged.The Now Zealand Insurance Company, which purchased tlio block, must, of course, bo a consenting party, but as the widening of the street opposite their head olHee Mould immonsoly benefit them, they ought to meet tho Council in a liberal spirit, should it be deemed advisable to carry out this improvement. It may not, of course, bo practieablo now to retrace tho stops that have already been taken, but tho question is worth discussion and inquiry beforo the work of erecting tho now block in commenced ; and an examination of tho site as it now stands will satisfy any oiti/.en of tho immense benefit that would be conferred on the city if the proposed improvement were attainable on reasonable terms.

Another city improvement which we had hoped was finally settled is threatened with some obstruction by tho difficulties which St. Paul's Vestry is raising with respect to the exchango site for the church. Tho letter read at the meeting of the City Council last night declining tho Alten Road and Symonds-strcet sites, and stickling for the section occupied by the police barracks, is a very adroit move to secure what is unquestionably the best site for tho church, and the most advantageous for the city. Wp hope tho Council will be successful in obtaining it from the Govornmont; and tho Mayor having taken the matter up earnestly will, we doubt not, do his utmost to carry it through, But his success is byno means assured, and the trouble experienced by the Council in getting the old armoury in Albert Park pulled down forbids over-confidence in the issue of the prosont negotiations, St. Paul's Vestry must not, therefore, put up too stiff a back, orthey may find that a chance of improving the church building and site such as will never occur again may pass by them. Thero is no great distance betwoon tho site of the police barracks and the one oll'erod at tho junction of Wakclield and Symondastreets, and the vestry should make up their minds to meet tho Committee which »'a« appointed by the Council last night in a reasonable way, and take the best that can be offered to them.