Town Hall Site

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29263, 22 July 1960, Page 3

Town Hall Site

Sir, —This is the 1960’5. In 1862 our predecessor citizens built a town hall in stone; in 1863 they laid the foundations of the Cathedral; in 1865 they constructed the beautiful Provincial Buildings and Chamber; in 1867 they opened the Lyttelton railway. And this by the Few! Those were days of vigour ’and vision. Since then we have dithered and disputed, distracted sound judgment by provoking dissent, divided our minds because of selfish or petty pressure groups, differend and deferred for alternate proposals, further consideration, suggested polls, and all the other paraphernalia of Kathleen Mavourneenism which is the mark of muddle and mediocrity. In the result—until just recently—the North has beaten us to a frazzle in providing amenities. We are pioneering a great city. Give it now what every other decent city has—a focus and a heart, and raise a structure on the chosen club site.—Yours, etc., ADVANCE. July 19, 1960.

Sir, —I consider the town hall should have a setting of its own and not be cluttered round with municipal buildings. Why pull down the lovely old Canterbury Club when there are derelict buildings all the way up Victoria street that could well be done away with? Most buses to and from the city go north and south. And who wants to cross the river facing a cold sou'-wester? We do not all possess cars, and many of us are too old to drive.—Yours, etc., OLD CHRISTCHURCH RESIDENT. July 20, 1960.

Sir, —It is not exactly crystal clear, from the latest deliberations of the City Fathers, what the current plan is; but it looks as if many of us may be mere “dottie” in a cinerary urn before the structure is even started. Apparently, if one has read these deliberations aright, there is a movement afoot to start work on a site, the full scope of which cannot be assured, that may provide little more than two acres for a town hall and all attendant amenities, as envisaged for 100 (repeat 100) years. Well, it is problematical whether the illustrious names that will no doubt be inscribed on foundation stones, etc, will last 100 years, but they may conceivably endure long enough to evoke, in a future generation, profound regrets that their forerunners were not inspired by a wider vision and nobler conceptions.—Yours, etc, n.AM July 21, 1960.