SITES FOR GAOL AND DOCK. TO THE EDITOR.

Evening Post, Volume LX, Issue 108, 3 November 1900, Page 6

SITES FOR GAOL AND DOCK. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, — Your leading article of to-night re prison accommodation for Wellington has reminded mo of an idea I have held for years, and as it may help to n-lve the difficulty between the ,pi*esent contending parties, I propose giving my views. The Government some years ago took 250 acres from the Miramar Estate for military purposes. There is now Fort Ballanee, Fort Jernmgham, and a redoubt at . Mount Crawford, as swell as a primitive prison, leaving a very considerable amount of land unoccupied I—in1 — in fact, beyond /the grazing of official and unofficial stock, I don't think even occupied. But, if not now, the grazing rights which might be Blade profitable, will ever be abused. * My idea has always been to make the fortification land a central prison for men o.f long sentence for the whole of New' Zealand. Wellington being the central port, no other place could be more suitable, the geographical formation makes escape almost impossible. The locality could not be more healthy, and the unfortunate prisoners are away oiit of sight of the public. The land now idle might be easily worked up for vege-, table gardens, a considerable portion being very fair land, also many parts could be utilised for growing trees for planting out on Government reserves, a matter thai will have to be tackled before very long, unless we allow the country to bo denuded of timber. But the main point in my mind is a dock. Shelly Bay, on the south-east entrance from Wellington to the fortifications, commands a unique position for a dock. Prison 'labour couldbe obtained to excavate sufficient room to take in any ship by excavating the hill and using the spoil to form break- works, land for workmen and necessary buildings for their employment. ' Everything •seems to me to be in favour of a scheme on these lines. There is any -amount of water, both in' depth and 'room. " The formation is rock. A dock in this position would be safe, Deing commanded by the forts. Soon, a ferry service will be established, so that labour can easily be obtained, both quickly and at a moderate rate. The scheme to put a dock at To. Avo on a gravel foundation wi'l be most expensive in requiring enormous cost in concrete, besides limiting the sweep of steamers in the harbour "when coming alongside the wharf, and will necessitate the dock workers living in most expensive parts of the town. The nuisarice of noise and the general look of such a locality would be better out of sight and hearing, however ueneficial it may be to the town as an industry. — I am, etc., CONVICT. Wellington, 29th October.

The fortnightly meeting of the Workers' Union was held ut the Trocadero last night, Mr. R. Patton, President, in the chair. The Social Committee was instructed to present its balance-sheet at the next meeting. Four new members were proposed. At a recent meeting of the Presbytery of Mataura (says the Ensign), Mr. Kirk drew attention to the fact that certain "vvork was being done on dredges during Sundays. He moved— "That the Presbytery declares its disapproval of all unnecessary work on Sundays." The Rev. Mr. Gray seconded, stating that unnecessary work was largely carried on in gardens in and about Gore on Sundays. Tie motion was agreed to. Messrs. Haigh and Morrah will sell etock and horses at Manukau on Wednesday next. The -firm also advertises a number of second-hand vehicles and somo useful horses which it has {or private said,

The general committee appointed to arrange for a presemalioui to the Hon. C. H. Mills in recognition nt his accession to tho Ministry, met yesterday, ami appointed ii sub-committee to arranges Iho necessary preliminaries. The date fixed i'ov the dinner is Friday, the 16th instant. Tho names of Messrs. J. Sauuders. M. Myers, J. ODea, H. Kember, and K. Wilson -have been added to the general committee. At/ a special general meeting of the , Wellington Liedertafel held last night, it was resolved that the rule fixing the date of tho annual meeting be amended. In future the working year will dive from November in each yea,r instead of May us heretofore. This has been found more convenient, owing to the long recess which was resolved upon some k months ago. There was a good' attendance of members, at practice, and the dale of the next concert is fixed for 13th Deeembei-. A number of new members were balloted for. A supply of new music will shortly arrive. Further argument was heard in the Court of Appeal to-day in the case of Matthews v. Dampney Bros. In the Magistrate's Court at Pahiatua Dampney Bros, were sued for £192 for damages by Matthews foir tlve non-performance of a contract^ for the sale cf sheep. Judgment was given for the defendants. This decision Avas appealed against in the Supreme Court, where the Chief Justice affirmed the judgment, and refused costs. The case was then takeiii to the Court of Appeal. Mr. J. P. Campbell and Mr. T. H. G. Lloyd 1 appear for the appellant, and Dr. Findlay for the respondents. Messrs. Maedonald, Wilson and Co. will sell on Tuesday at No. 65a, Thorndonquay, the whole of the household furniture, etc. (including piano by Kirchnor),, details of which are published. Under *Lu&tructions in the estate of the late Mr\T/W. Hall a property on Tinakori-roacir part of the No. 2 Orangi-Kaupapa Block, containing over two acres, with two houses thereon, will be submitted on the 14th inst., as well as an unimproTjed farm property of 60 , acres situate in the County of Marsden. Soveral farm properties are advertised for private sale, as well as the firm's usual list of city and other properties, which can . be purchased on easy terms. Mr. W. F. Shortt calls special attention to his advertisement for Monday, when Tie will submit to auction the Icedar counter, wall show-cases, counter and shop fittings, mirrors, etc, on tho premises lately occupied by Mr. Harris, chamist, Willis-street, next to the Trading Stamp Oo.'s premises.