THAT £30,000 LOAN AND OTHER MATTERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 168, 15 July 1908, Page 8

THAT £30,000 LOAN AND OTHER MATTERS.

(To the Editor* Sir, —When are -we going to cry "Halt"? This monstrous wedge-shaped Town Hall that is to be erected will, in my opinion and that of many others, cost the City far more than the miserable site selected for it in any degree warrants. I have seen the celebrated "Grid-iron" of New York city; but there is no doubt in my mind that our proposed Town Hall, if erected upon the site at present adopted, will take the cake for ugliness against anything. To the ratepayers I would say, wake up! This is only the thin end of the '"wedge," when we are asked for a further loan of £30,000; for when that is spent, what guarantee have we that another £30,000 to £40,000 will not be required for extras of all sorts? In fact, what security is there that the building will not cost something like £150,000 before it is completed? Many persons may be of opinion that it is too late to interfere in this important matter, which has apparently been definitely settled by the wisdom of our City Councillors. But it is never too late to remedy so serious a blunder as they have made; and therefore, in the interest of the City ratepayers and of Greater Auckland, I again cry "Halt" until city drainage and City roads have been finally and properly completed. And now. a word about another matter: this time about the unlucky Ponsonby residents along the northern slope of that suburb, between New-street and Freeman's Bay. These are now, owing to the closing of Beaumont-street, bottled up like the Spanish fleet in Cienfuegos some years ago. The old track leading out of Waitemata-street has now been for some months closed; thus causing hundreds, if not thousands, of residents of that vicinity much inconvenience in reaching town or home again. It is time the ratepayers of Ponsonby insisted on their just rights in having a direct road made to and from the City.—l am, etc., ALBERT SPENCER. London-street, Ponsonby.