ADMIRALTY HOUSE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 209, 3 September 1900, Page 2

ADMIRALTY HOUSE.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—As the IlarbouF Board will shortly he selecting a design for the proposed Admiralty Bouse, a few lines on the subject mny not be out of place. According to the reports published in the "Staf," it is proposed to spend £4000 in building the house. We may add to this: Stables, £600; stone and Iron fencing, £400; laying out grounds, £200; architect's fees, £300; sundries, £250. This tots up to £5750. Nest take the furnishing of house and stables. We find the eo«t of furnishing the Admiral's quarters in a flagship to be from two to five thousand pounds: so that at the lowest estimate it will cost at least £2000, making a total of £7750. Add to this the cost of caretakers, etc. It will cost the port £500 a year to in.'!.ntnin an establishment 'that will not be used by iho Admiral for more than seven or eight weeks out of the year. I think it would he a much wiser plan to build a ,-rifiller yet. up-to-date residence, to cost say £2000, and spend another £2000 In furnlshin'_•*. An admiral is not. supposed to entertain, nor does ho, to tho extent that the (Governor does. A ball given to the leading olHTiens. one or two receptions, two or three onlet dinners to n select few—this would probably be the extent of the public list. A,_n*n. the site is not suitable for a largo bnildlne, so that, taking all things into <"mi. ider..tion. it seems to he a needless wnstr*- of public money, that might be Rpeht to better ndvantnee in providing suitable nnd un-to-date hydraulic cranes, etc., on our wharves.—l am, etc.,

BLUEJACKET.