THE ALLEGED "SHELTER."

Evening Post, Volume XLIX, Issue 107, 7 May 1895, Page 4

THE ALLEGED "SHELTER."

ANOTHER DEPUTATION. A deputation from tho Wellington Scenery Preservation Society, consisting of Messrs. 1. G. Bead, A. B. Atkinson, JM. Bichardson, W. E. Pearson, E # Tregear, and A. H. Gibson, waited upon tho Premier yesterday afternoon in reference to tho cab -shelter opposite the Post Office. Mr Richardson said one of the objects of the 8" Ouiety was, as far aa possible, to improve the reserves of the city. The public looked to this little piece of reclamation tj form a bettor approaoh io tho Tost Office and wharves. The preaont erection was hideous, and quite unsuitable for its object It was quite unlike the cab-shelters erected in other cities, and in no other city would snob an ugly, useless stiuuture be erected in so prominent a position. It wo ild be hetter to remove the thing at tnco, and if it was n. question of money, it could be collected on Lambton-qnay. He had spoken to a large number of _ townspeople, and they were unanimous in desiring absolute removal of a struoture that would be useless and a nuisance as a oab stand by day, and a danger and a nuisance as a resort for loiterers at night. Even to pnt glass in the baok would not meet the object, aa it would become a resting place for cobwebs and blue-bottle flies, apd would not afford any view of the trains. Ihe ereotionß obscured the finest buildings in Wellington, and spoiled tho best city view. Mr Gibson said that as a shelter the erection was open to both northerly and southerly winds, and it destroyed the finest view in Wellinetpn The Council might be given six months to remove it. Mr.' Held said the Society did not wish to put the Council to inconvenience, bnt to ask the Government to see that tho conditions under which tho land was given were fulfilled. These were that there was to bo a widn street with spaoes which the Conncil oould plant. There could be no question as to what was meant by tho " conveniences," which the Act provided, and which were to be soreened by shrubs and trees. The reason of the Society's existence was that it was felt by the ratepayers of the city that the Council was shameful] j neglecting its duties aa to the reserves and the Town Belt. The Society desired to see the Belt and the reserves planted and beautified by dog Tees upon some defined plan, which would provide public beauty spots, breathing places, and recreation places for the poorer people of the city and for the city as a whole, and which the children could be brousint up to reverence. 'J hey were, very p'eased to ccc that the Premier was taking up tho work of tho Society. Tho Pron ier said he was with the deputation entirely in promoting the planting and boautificat'on of the Town Uelt and tho reserves, and with the objec's of the Sooioty •.-euorally. The l^opla of 2\'ew Zealoud should preserve the i.ativo scenery, and as • ;ir ita praoticab'e unpiovo what were now wastes md an eyes re. Com ng into Weliegton Harbour the vibitir s« in my c- esores First, tho lmi'l bolousing to Government was barren and lra.iv. He had under consideration the planting of thoje hills with tree*. As to the Corporation, bo was now a Wellington resident, and could speak as or.o. Had some of the hills been terraced, as thoy ought to have been, land on them would lidvo been threo times its present value. They could then have had beautifnl terraced streets and residences. J here were Home parts still which oould be terraced. Then, the Town Belts should be beautified. Strong pressure was brought to bear on the Government not to extend Te Aro Railway further, as it would take away the Basin Beaerve. That argument weighed much, but the Council was the first to destroy a reserve, and when it had an opportunity of improving a street and making a beauty-spot opposite the Post Office it destroyed it. The Corporation in the first plaoe, by offering to pay J6900 for the oost of tbe reclamation, had acted liberally, but it had afterwards changed front. Councillors could «iot plead that tlioy did not know tha purpose for which the reserve was giv.en A large sum had been spent by tho Counoil in this hideons monument -nearly £3000— and he was sorry for 'the ratepayers'.' He did not wish to deal hardly with thd Connoil | but if it were given six months, the next thing would be that the members for the city would be asked to introduce., a" Bill to validate tho erection of tho ah'eds. A largo oab and express proprietor bad, written to him that tho Ehed WKs quite rfnamtable for the purpose, nnd that he would notput his horses there till forced to do so, as the southerly winds would come throngh the struoture like a funnel. The deputation had better ."approaoh tbe Counoil and ask it to take the initiative. The legal position of the Govern■ment was unassailable, and the Council's only plea was that tho matter had been entered on before the present councillors entered upon office. He was absolutely °PP°3ed to the sheds remaining. The Society and tho burpesßes should approach the Conni£ nd m? 6 if lt wonld itself mee t the diffioulty. The Government was interested to tho extent of the .£9OO whioh the Counoil WSF"* *° P*y fot oost of reclamation, but if the Couno^had tola him thatthis was to be the difference between the Government filling ua and keeping tbe .eotion m »n open space and the Counoil'a putting the present buildings on it, the buildings would not have been put up. The oab and exprew drivers woold not use them until forced, and J iT. ay T, wero foroed . then tho Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals would probably step in to stop thaoruelty of putting the horses in euoh a funnel. Whoever was responsible for putting euoh a livery stable at the wharf had little oonoeptionof the beantif ul. Aa to the Harbour Board putting up iti building on the other

sido, that wns wi'bin tlio rights of the Board, but to leave b^lh bm'diuga there was tolcavo nftinnd. Tiie Qo«rnn cut would not bo justified in leaving the erection and paying a man £2 10s a week for looking after the crossing. On that groand alone hemuldnot allow the buildings to remain. ThVr erection was a oloar brnaoh of faith. jJr. Gibeon asked if the Council refused to remove the buildings when arictd to do ao by the Society, would tho Premier oanee their removal ? The Premier said he considered they should be removed. No doubt the Council would not proceed farther in the matter if the Society waited upon it baoked up by a, petition from the ratepayers. Mr. Biohardson said they could easily get a largely signed petition, so general was the feeling. The Premier said the deputation of the Connoil did not seem to be very favourable to the buildings themselves. Mr. Tregear said the shelter would be as offensive to the nose as to the eye if allowed to remain. Mr. Biohardson said both Connoil and Harbour Board were now trying to disclaim the responsibility for having caused the ereotion of the buildings. The deputation having expressed the intention of getting np a petition and waiting on the Counoil, thanked the Premier and withdrew.