DEPUTATIONS.

Evening Star, Issue 7495, 13 April 1888, Page 3

DEPUTATIONS.

•*- —— I'OKT ( UALMKRS FIRE BRIGADE SITE. A deputation from tin) Harbor Board, consisting of Messrs J. B. Thomson (chairman), A. H. Ross, M.H.R., N. V. A. Wales, and J. L. Gillies (secretary) interviewed Sir Harry Atkinson this forenoon with respect to the above. It was explained that ever since 1576, on the formation of the Board, they had been i n possession of olliees fronting the harbor at Port Chalmers ; that they had allowed one room therein to be occupied for Customhouse purposes free of charge ; and that in ISSb' a Bill was passed vesting the land on which these buildings are erected in the Port Chalmers Corporation as a site for a town hall and fire brigade station. The building had also been used for harbor purposes in tho days of provincialism. Mr Ross urged that the transfer of the site wa3 made in a surreptitious and underhand way. Not more than one or two members of the Board were aware of the ctfect of the Bill. It was not taken charge of in the Upper House by an Otago member, but by the Hon. Mr Wilson, of Napier. The Harbor Board had been blind to their own interests in not preventing such an iniquity being perpetrated. What the Board now sought was to have accommodation provided for the transaction of their business. They did not ask for a reversal of the procedure in Parliament. There was no doubt that Government had been misled in the matter. Mr Walks: The Port Chalmers men have been too strong for us altogether. Mr Ross: Honest men do not look beneath the surface. Mr Wales : I suppose it is a matter of business to get the best you can. Mr Ross: That is the sort of business that has brought New Zealand to what she is at the present time. The Premier : The land, I understand, was originally set apart as a Government reserve for general purposes. Mr Wales : The members of the Harbor Board were not wise in their generation in not getting the Crown grant earlier. The Port Chalmers people stole a march on us. Mr Ross complained that the transfer was got in an underhand way, which provoked from the Premier the remark that it was unfair to make such a statement, seeing that the Bill had passed through both branches of the Legislature. It was the duty of members interested to have seen the contents of the Bill. Mr Thomson : That is a side issue. We do not, as a Harbor Board, come and say that.

Sir H. Atkinson said that he had been in communication with the Port Chalmers Council oa the matter, and he understood that they were willing to make provision for harbor purposes in the new buildings, but it was not stated whether rent would be charged. Without expressing any opinion on the merits of the matter, he promised to look carefully into it. He considered it a pity that local bodies should be quarrelling with one another. Mr Thomson : It is contrary to the nature of a Scotchman who has been living in a place that he should be turned out of the same. Sir Harry : No doubt, even if he has not got a title,—(Laughter.) At any rate I will look into the matter, and if it can be arranged it shall be very soon. The deputation then retired. UNIVERSITY COUNCIL AND GOOD TEMPLARS. Deputations from the above bodies were in attendance at th« Ministers' office this afternoon, but in tho absence of the Premier the interviews were deferred till to-morrow forenoon.