The Post Office Tower and Clock.

Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue XXXIV, 16 September 1887, Page 3

The Post Office Tower and Clock.

♦ DEPUTATION TO THE COLONIAL TREASURER. A deputation representing tho City Council, tho Harbour Board, and the Chamber of Commerce, waited upon tbe Colonial Treasurer this morning, with reference to the Post Office tower and clock. Tho following gentlemen composed the deputation : —Tho Mayor, Messrs. Petherick, A. Young, Bichardßon, Williams, Edwards, Dothio, J. G. W. Aitlten, E. Gardner, J. H. Cock, J. B. Haroourt, the Town Clerk, and Mr. Carroll (Secretary of tho Chamber of Commerce). The Major explained to Sir Julius that the deputation waited upon him with reference to tho Post Oflice tower and clock. During his (Sir Julius') absence from Wellington he had waited upon the Minister for Public Works, who promised to consult his colleagues in the matter, bnt up to the present ho (tho speaker) hud not received a reply. It had now been thought wise to wait upon tho Colonial TreaHnrer, as head of the Government, and put tho matter before him in a different shape. Tho deputation wanted the Government to complete tho building with its tower as a publio bnilding. They did not want (my special favour for Wellington. He would point out to Sir Julius that it would cost three times as much to put up a towor after the building had been roofed than if the work wore done before, because the roof would liavo to be stripped off to allow the towor to bo built. With roferenen to the clock itself, the Harbour Board and City Council had subscribed £NA between them. Tho deputation assumed that Government had insured the clock for that amount, and they now asked that the sum should bo refunded. If that wore done the citizens would subscribe tho halunrj, and another clock would he ereotsd. Thoy understood that most of tho large clocks in other towns had been put np by the citizens, and tho pooplo of Wellington did not wish to bo treated differently. Mr. J. Lachman detailed the Btep^ which had lod to the appointment of tho deputation, and said the public feeling in reference to the action of the Government in deciding not to put up a towor was vory strong. On all sides tho decision of the Government had bcon received with indignation. If the .£.300 for which tbo Government should have insured tho cloak were refunded, tho citizens would pnt up another clook on condition that Government re-erected tho tower. Mr. Duthie, Chairman of tho Harbour Board, and President of tho Chamber of Commorco, stated that tho deputation had not sought an interview to urge any feeling of indignation apainat the Government. Tho local bodios, it was now ascertained, had no power to vote money towards tho purchase of another olock, and it had bcon sucrgestod that powor should be given thorn next session to expend money in that direction. Mr. Pothorick pointed out that the re-orec-tion of tho tower and the purehaso of another clock wore matters of national importanoo, and would benefit the whole colony by fixing the mean time. Sir Julius Vogel, in replying, said the destruction of the Post Office by firo was a disastrous occurrence. A few days before the building was burned down the fact was brought under his notice that there was no nightwatohman omployed on tho promises, and ho had just completed arrangements for placing a watchman in the building when the fire occurred. He believed that if a watchman had been there the building would have been saved. Tho practice of the Government for aomo timo previously had been not to in. suro the large publio buildings of the colony, but thoy had since decided to insure up to 4J5000 each. When tho building was burnad down a political orisis was pending, and snob loan money as was not oxpended was almost, if not entirely, required to fulfil engagements already mado. Thorofore, the deputation might tako it that there was not much money for tho re-erection of tho Post Offico. Indeed, he considered that if it wero not for tbo requirements of the service the building ought not to be restored. Tbo Postal Department waß one of the most important branches of tho publio sorvico, ana oould not be conducted properly unless in proper buildings, and as Post-master-General, therefore, he had takon prompt stops towards tho restoration of tho building. Thorp seomed to be some misunderstanding with regard to the rooroction of tho building. Tho Minister for Public Works had stated that tho work would not be carried out until a vote of tho Houso was taken, but ho (Sir Julius) had subsequently promised that tho building should bo put up again as Boon as possible. The cost would be considerable, and it was not likely that everything could be dono with the amount now in hand. He believed that tho building without the tower would be exceedingly ugly, and ho did not care to have his name associated with, it in that form. Tho decision of the Govornmentwas that the build? ing was to be put up without a tower, leaving that portion to be erected at a subsequent date. For the sake of giving the people the towor he would not scamp the remainder of tho building. Tho now Post Office would be much stronger and more firo proof than the late one. He could never reconcile himself to a tower like the one .burned down. Ho considered that the destruction of that tower was a merciful intervention of Providence, becauso he had been assured that if it had not been burned down it would have fallen with a crash some day and killed many* people. When another tower was put up he hoped it would be much less dangerous. As regards the clock, he did not think that tbe citizens could be called npon to put up another. That was the duty of the Government when the tower was r,e-ere'cted. ' He ' wa3 sorry that he would not ba able to' give tho deputation any hope that the' towel would be immediately re-erected, unless 'it could be proveji that the roof \yould h>vo to bo stripppd off to enable tjie workmen to oarry out the work at a future date. His opinion was that the building without the tower should be put up at onco. He thought tho tower would have to be delayed. The plans, he might mention, wero so arranged that the tower could be put up any time during tho progress of the building. The Mayor assured Sir Julius that it would not cost more than .£llOO to put up the towev, He felt strongly on tho point, and would rather Bee the walls standing as they were now, than see the building put up without a tower, because a building without a tower and olock would be a disgrace to the Government, Sir Julius said it was perfectly absurd to talk about 41100 b.eing a small sum, Tho Government wero trying to effect retrenchment everywhere, and small sums added together were found to form a large amount. The tower and clock would cost about .£2OOO, and tho restoration of tho building about J12.000. The Mayor pointed out that the public were prepared to pnt up a olock If the J&3CO was refunded. Sir Julius said he did not believe tho people of Wellington would rather see tho present walls standing than have a building without a tower. He hopod tho Mayor would withdraw tho remark to that offect which he had made. Tho Mayor said he was not prepared to withdraw the remark. Mr. Duthio explained that it was tho unanimous wish of the people that a tower should bo erected without delay. Mr. Lachman paid that the public would rather see the building erected without a towor than see tho presont walls standing. The ruins reminded ono Macaulay's New Zealander. (Laughter.) Sir Julius said that the tower could not be put np without the express sanction of Parliament. Government did not feel justified in incurring the expenditure without the authority of Parliament. Mr. J. M. Richardson asked Sir Julius whether the Government would build up a towor as far as tho parapet, if tho public would continue it and put up a clock. Sir Julius said the offer was so munificent that he had little doubt Government would accept it. Mr. Lachman reminded Sir Julius of the old proverb, "He who hesitates is lost." He was afraid that if the Government now hositated the tower would never be put up. Sir Julius — I have heard that applied to women, but not to men. (Laughter.) The interview then terminated.

A claim for commission made by Messrs. Baker Bros, against Thomas Driscoll, in connection with the salo of Sheffield House, Ghuznee-street, was contested in the Magis? trote's Court to-day, the amount in dispute being .£24 7s Od, Mr. Gully was oounsel for the plaintiffs, and Mr, Skerrett represented the defendant. The property was sold to a Mr. Phillips for .£775, and the commission was calculated at the rate of 5 per cent, on .£2OO and 2i per cent, on the balance. Objection was taken by Mr. Skerrett to a document which was produced by one of the plaintiffs, on the ground that it was insufficiently stamped. It was originally an agreement by Phillips to purchase the property, but on the same sheet was written an undertaking to pay commission to the plaintiffs. Only one stamp of a shilling was affixed, with a memorandum by the Stamp Department denoting the payment of a fino. Mr. Skerrett contended that as there were really two separate agreements, separate payments of stomp duty were required, Mr. Wardell, R.M., decided to refer tho question to the Stamp Department, and adjourned tho case in the meantime until Thursday next. Cards will be circulated amon? the public at the costume matoh at Newtown to-mor-row bearing the names of players and the characters repsesented. 1 1 On enquiry this afternoon we leirned that 1 1 Sir George Grey, who is suffering from . nervous exhaustion, the result of over-work, i is progressing favourably under Dr. Grace's ¦ treatment, and is expected to have rei covered altogether in the course of a fow I days. i For continuation of reading matter see fourth page.