DISMANTLED.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 805, 30 April 1910, Page 13

DISMANTLED.

NORTHERN GOVERNMENT HtWSE, AUCKLAND OTJTCRX IBj Telegraph.—Special Correspondent! Auckland, April 29.- . The "Star" continues its outcry against the demolition of Government House, and is publishing several interviews on the subject to-night. Th« journal in question states, inter alia :— "Public feeling is naturally running high over the now openly-avowed intention of the Administration to- dispense with tho official residence for the Governor in Auckland." It then proceeds to give some opinions, from which the following are selected:—■ Mr. Arthur M." Myers, when asked, what he thought of the closing of Goy- ' eminent House, said that the action of the Government came as- a surprise. "While Mayor of Auckland," Baid Mr. Myers, "I was an ex officio member of the University College Council. Th« matter of a site for a new university came before us from time to time, and, as far'as my recollection serves • me, the intention of tho University Council was to secure the Metropolitan Grounds alongside Government House for this purpose. This area, comprising, about four acres, it was ,corisidorea would be ample for all practical purposes for many years, in no way was the question of extending the area to ; include 'Government House ever: seriously considered. It is to me incomprehensible that an attempt should \ how be made to take away the official residence of the Governor m Auckland. As far as I am aware, the university does not require such an extensive site, while the fact of the last two Governora spending so much of-their Itime in Auckland shows conclusively, that it i* a mistake to close tbe official residence, and thus debar our future Gdvernoiii' from enjoying the heautifnl climate of■'■' the north for several months in each year." Mr. A. J. Entrican, chairman of tha Auckland Harbour Board, said thai the public of Auckland naturally resented any attempt being made to close ! Government House. "As far as tho; Harbour Board is concerned," said Mr. Entrican, "it interests us particularly in that we know that Auckland is now ■ a naval base, and that, when the. Pttcifto Squadron is created in 1912, this city will no doubt have to provide s. residence for the : Admiral and his family during certain months of the year.. Snch being the, case, I should think that Government House would have been placed at the, Admiral's disposal during; the period that the Governor was absent in other parts of the Dominion. The present Admiralty House is, of course, out of the question, and is quite unsuitable. In'my opinion Auckland should not: be-, deprived of a Vice-Regal residence, and' there should be ample room! for the retention of the present residence wfth five or six acres of ground, and then enough left-for university purposes ■■ on the. Princes Street site. I. think .that the -Auckland people. have every • right, to. complain-bitterly. "As Mr. Huglj Poland, M.P., stated, in his remarks yesterday:, "The promise was distinctlygiven. by the Minister for Education that nothing would be done until tha; House.had a chance, of considering the matter. Now it has been ascertained that the Department is,secretly dis- ; mantling the official residence of . tho Governor." ~, " _ i _•-.' ... ! "In my opinion, a public meeting should at once be held, for!a deliberate attempt has been made to. filch fromAuckland what she has every;right, to. consider her own," was the opinion expressed by Mr. W. J. Ralph, chajr-,, man of the Auckland Citizens League. "Some,immediate actitinv. should"/'•bo v taken," he added, "and an effort made to prevent what is being done.. This is the largest city in the Dominion, and, for ; residential purposes, possesses'every qualification. ; As a'_ future, naval, base, a gubernatorial residence will be ao absolute necessity, since the entertain-' ing of the Admiral and officors'of■ the Pacific Fleet will be a big undertaking in itself. The main objection, however, is that Auckland is being wrongfully, deprived of an old institution, surrounded by bea-utifnl and valuable .grounds, which has no right to b» alienated without the permission of the people. A public meeting, to protest ;against the Government's action, should certainly" be called, and, at a committee meeting of tho Citizens' League, to. be held this evening, a proposal will be brought forward to ask the Mayor to call a meeting of citizens to ga thoroughly into the whole question." >