LOCAL ESTIMATES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 310, 24 September 1908, Page 6

LOCAL ESTIMATES.

SOME POINTS OF INTEREST,

The most striking feature of the local Estimates included in tho Public Works Department's Statement, brought down in the House on Tuesday, is the small amount — : £7500 —allocated for the Wellington Post Office, a building which is estimated to cost £90,000. The explanation of this small apportionment is that it is only necessary to provide, in tho Estimates, for expenditure to bo incurred till March 31 noxt. Tho first tenders for the post offico havo been rejected as too high, and if fresh tenders were called again tomorrow, a month would havo to bo allowed in which to send them in, and- after a tender was approved the contractor would probably requiro another mouth or two to mako his preparations for so large a work. It is not likely, therefore, that any .vory,.heavy oxpenso will bo incurred within the poriod covered by tho • Estimates. It is possible that, before new tenders are invited, tho Government may decido to modify tho plana for the building, which would cause "its commencement to b.o still further postponed. ■ It is expected that the work ot construction of tho new post office will occupy two years. Threo thousand pounds has been revoted for a courthouse, ami £2000 for a police station at Masterton. The Department owns land in the main street, but a police station and courthouse should not be too central and ostentatious, and negotiations are in progress to effect an exchange with tho Masterton Town Lands Trustees, so that a site may be available which will bo hotter suited to these gloomy purposes. When tho negotiations are satisfactorily concluded, a start will probably be made with the now buildings. The amount of £6000, revoted for tho Wellington Gaol, is for additions.

The Newtown Police Station, for which £2700 was revoted, is now:- practically finished, the contractor having done his work with much dispatch. Tho buildings include a fairly largo house for the sergeant-in-charge, and a barracks capable of accommodating from 20 to 20 men. For the Foxton Post Office (£2600) a tendor has just been accepted, but as the contract has not yet been signed, particulars are not available. ;

Tho amount of £7000, revoted for St. Helens Hospital for maternity cases, Wellington is for a new building. Tho present hospital was a private liouss, and is not at all woll-suitcd to its requirements. The accommodation, also, is deficient, and ' cases have sometimes to he sent clsowliere; • The Department is endeavouring to proouro a site, and when it is successful in this object a commencement will ■ probably bo made with tho new building. ■ With regard to other Estimates, ,it has to be remembered that they have to cover' the year which'commenced on April 1 list, and some of them refor to works that are', already in progress. Post offices and police'stations are caflcd for all over the Dominion, and the towns that want thorn will have to "take their turn. Tho list represents, however, tho ■Do partment's programme for twelve months.' '