GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 941, 7 October 1910, Page 4

GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

The Government has.been singularly unfortunate in recent'times _in its arrangements in.connection with the vice-regal residences. Its actions in relation to Government House at Auckland involved a question of policy; its decision in regard to Government House at Wellington called for the exercise of nothing inore than a little common- sense. It made itself ridiculous by its backing _ and filling over its Auckland'.decision which wa-S: crowned' by ' its, ultimate, back-down in response : to the clamour of the Auckland members ! of Parliament. It stands condemned on re-, cent experiences in connection' with its choice : of a site for' Government House, Wellington, -and on the manner in which the undertaking has been carried out. • Almost.from' the date :on which his' Excellency the Governor: took possession of, his official residence here, there lias been trouble for his family and staff: :The situation of tho,building and its design make it a most uncomfortable place of abpdo.in rough weather, and now it appears that the still .further complaint of 'faulty drainage, has to be added Tto.;,the.i-list ; ;.pf (Shortcomings. - Lord and' Lady Islington, and staff apparently, have now found it advisable to leave their-residence' here and depart to more comfortable and more 'sanitary quarters. -■• -We; are glad to note that. the Mayor; last evening -.made it perfectly 'clear "that the city, officials were in. no way • to blame for the state of things which has: arisen. Wellington, thanks to its splendid drainage system, and tho special care oxcrcised by its engineering department, is one of the healthiest cities,' if not. the healthiest. city,. in New Zealand. In the erection of Government House and in 'connection with its 'sanitary .arrangements,: however, the Government appears to have asserted its superiority to.and disregard for municipal require-, ments. Apparently ;, the' municipal officials were willing to -place their special knowledge at the disposal, of the Government,-,but' the offer -was not taken advantage of, with the result that a very unpleasant situation has now to bo faced. It is really very astonishing how the Govern-: ment nowadays bungles even in the smallest undertakings. Whether the now Government House will over be habitable—or sufficiently so to meet vice-regal .requirements—appears to be an. opon_ question. Possibly someone may discover some other use to which it may be put and a?fitting residence on a suitable site can then be erected. ', Meanwhile Lord and Lady Islington and suite will have the sympathy of everyone in the inconvenience to which they have.been since their arrival in the Dominion..