IMPORTANT DEPUTATION TO THE GOVERNMENT.

Evening Post, Volume XVII, Issue 547, 27 June 1879, Page 2

IMPORTANT DEPUTATION TO THE GOVERNMENT.

THE WEST COAST RAILWAY. RAILWAY STATION. THE NEW PUBLIC BUILDINGS, &c. This morning a deputation from the City Council aod Chamber of Commerce, consfstnrgof the Mayor, Councillors Dixon and Thompson, and Messrs. Harcourt, GeorgA, Bethuno, and Carroll, and Captain Rose, waited on the Premier and the Minister for Public Works. Ttie deputation having bt*n briefly Intro* duced by the Mayor, Councillor Thompson said that they wished to obtain some information with regard to certain important public works, which, it was rumored, were about to be abandoned. He would refer first to a prevailing opinion that it» was intended to allow the vote lor the Telegraph" and Post Offices 'and Custom-house to lapse. .Another thing agitatiog the public mind was the action, of certain persons who were endeavouring to frustrate the bringing of the railway to the reclaimed land. They would also like to know what was being done with reference to the starting of tbe West , Coast Railway, which they considered of the greatest importance to the town. Mr. J. R. George said there was another point on which they would like information. It was resolved some time ago that tenders should be called for the erection of a powder magazine on the other side of the bay, but lately it had been rumored the site was to be removed to Kaiwarra. The deputation would like to know what position this stood in. Sir Gborgb Gbbt said he would ask the Minister for Public Works to be so good as to reply to the deputation, as the matters were really in his department. Mr. Macandrbw said that the powder magazine was really in the Defence Department. He believed that tenders were received some 'time ago for a magazine to be erected at Point Jerninghain, but it was found that the lowest tender was largely in excoss of what was anticipated, and it had been ascertained since that the magazine could be erected for much less money on what was supposed to be a much more suitable locality at Kaiwarra, and tenders were now being called for lor the work. Mr. Gborgb — The reason we asked was that we saw that Mr. O'Neill was going to superintend the work, and we were surprised at its not going through the usual channel. Mr. Macandrbw said that the Defence Office had taken it in hand, and employed their own architect. The Public Works Department was very much overworked just now, and ho believed that Mr. O'Neill had had some special experience of the erection of powder magazines. With regard to the West Coast railway certain Maori land had to be acquired before anything was done. He believed, howe?er, that the negotiations were nearly completed. Plans apd surveys had been carefully prepared of the line as far as Johnsonville. There was a sum of £5000 available at present for the work, but that was a very small sum. What he proposed was that the West Coast railway and the reclamation for railway purposes at Pipitea Point should go on simultaneously, so that the stuff from the former might be used for filling in the reclamation. He understood that the owners along the line of route would give the land for little or nothing, and the Government recognized the importance of commencing it at once. He thought he might almost ventuie to promise that the first section should be gone on with at once to the extent of the £5000 in hand. Sir Georgb Gbbt also observed that the deputation might be assured that there would be no delay in the matter. Mr. Macandrew, in reference to the railway station, said that a deputation waited on him some three months ago, and he promised that the matter should be gone on with at once. Accordingly the plans and everything were prepared for the extension of the passenger station to Mills' foundry. In the meantime, however, the Government had been strongly urged by a memorial, numerously feigned, not to shift tbe station. Under those circumstances, the Government had not been very urgent in tbe matter, thinking that they would hear more about it. He was disposed to think, however, that it would be for the public convenience that the passenger station should be extended, but of course they did not like to go against what appeared to be the wish of so many of the inhabitants. They had four or five hundred names on the one side, and a deputation from the Chamber of Commerce on the other. Mr- Gsoxqb pointed out that the deputation consisted of a committee appointed by a very large public meeting, together with representatives both from the Chamber of Commerce and the City Council. Mr. Macandbbw added that another reason why the Government had not been so pressing, was because the erection of the pier had a very close relation to the extension. When tbe pier was erected the railway must, of course, be extended in any case. They were getting on very well now with the pier, and he fancied it would not be very long before they had the railway extended to that length. He understood that there was a sum on the estimates towards the erection of a post and telegraph office, and the Commissioner of Telegraphs was about to advertise for competitive designs for the Building. He knew that Mr. Fisher was very anxious about it. A plan was prepared some time ago, and tenders were invited, but it was found that the cost would be about twice the amount sanctioned by the Legislature— £17,000. The Matob — Do you not think you could get a further amount from Parliament ? Mr. Macandbbw said that he did not think that the country was in a position to go in for any expensive public buildings just now. Besides, they ought to be able to get a very flue building for £17,000. He instanced the fine block of public buildings at Dunedio, erected by the Provincial Government at a cost, he believed, only of £17,000 or £18,000. The Mayor urged that the Government were about finishing a hospital for Wellington at a COSt Of £40.000, and they could hardly expect to get a post and telegraph office for £17,000. Mr. Macandrbw replied that he did not think that the Government built the Hospital. If it had been in the hands of the Government he fancied it would not have cost so much. Mr. Hutchison suggested that they might commence a large buiiding with the £17,000, and " trust to Providence" to get the tunds to finish it. Sir Geobgb Gbbt— l am afraid that Providence would not interfere in the mattea (Laughter). ' Councillor Thompson observed that the Government had one of the best sites in the city for the purpose, and he though that a building should be erected which would not only be an ornament to the city, but a credit to' the colony. Mr. Gbobob suggested that the building might be erected on such a plan that it might afterwards be raised when the occasion required. Sir Gborgb Grby agreed with Mr. Macandrew that there would be very great difficulty in getting the Legislature to grant any more money at present fo r the public buildings. He expressed his wish, however, to see the plan adopted at Home followed here, and all the public offices gathered in one fine large building. His wish had been to see a building in Wellington which Bbould show tbat they had some taste in architecture. Mr. MACAHDft&w did not think that the

colony was in a position to go to any Kwafe Dxpense for mere show, however desirable it might be to have a fine building. He thought the community had been going ahead too fast in this matter. „,.., „., Councillor Thompson observed that he dial not think either the past or the present Govern^ ment could be blamed for spending too much, on public buildings in Wellington. (A laugh.).. In reply to a question, Mr. Macandbbw said that it was propesed to have the customhouse in the same building as the Post and Telegraph Office. TheTe was no doubt about the desirableness of something being done, inasmuch as the Telegraph Office was like the. Black Hole of Calcutta. The Government ought to be indicted for " cruelty to animate fer keeping so many persons at work in such a. confined space. __, , Councillor Thompson— The Post Office isnearly as bad. Mr. Macandrbw— l suppose we are to understand from you that the public opinion, of Wellington is decidedly in favor of the railway station being retained in its present site ? The deputation replied in the affirmative,. Councillor Thompbon remarking that thousands of people had never heard of the petition. It must have been signed and presented in a very secret manner. Mr. Macandbbw— We must, of course, take^the Corporation as the exponent of public opinion. The Mator urged that the station should be taken right up to Te Aro. Mr. Macahdbbw— That is out of the question. The Mator then observed that he did not see that tbe removal of the station to the reclamation was a very pressing matter, because* it would not do much for Te Aro. However, he would like to tee it done, because it would create some stir, and give work to the unemployed. The deputation then thank «d tie Ministers and retired.