MAORI HILL’S PROPOSED HALL.

Evening Star, Issue 14688, 4 October 1911, Page 9

MAORI HILL’S PROPOSED HALL.

UNSUITABLE SITE SUBMITTED. There were about 20 ejectors of the Maori Hill Borough South Ward present at a meeting held in the Council Chambers last evening for the purpose of considering t proposal to raise » loan for erecting a public hall in the borough. The Mayor (Mr A. J. But ter tick}) occupied the chair. ’ Chairman said he was sorry to see eo poor an attendance. In explaining the position, he said that the council had gone into the matter of two schemes, the first of which was to erect a building at the cost of £2.300. This would necessitate a loan of £1,700, and the remainder made up of Die Government subsidy of £250 and the sale of the present braiding, which would approximately realise £3OO. The second scheme was a minor building of £1,850, made up from a loan of and the balance being the same as in the finsri He taid the first proposal would be suitable for a drill ball, and seeing that this was needed in the borough, the council thought it advisable that this should be adopted. The site upon which the building would be erected was a section next to the fire brigade station.. Ho explained .the description of the section, which i* practically a largo hollow, and which would need a heavy foundation. The proposed plan of the 'structure was submitted to the Government, and they had decided to grant the subsidy of £250. He had to apologise for the absence of Mr Win. Henderson, who had gone into the matter thoroughly, and who would have been able to explain .the position more clearly. Cr E. S. Clarke said that there had been.' strong feeling for some time that steps should bo taken to erect a Jargor_ha.ll than the present one for the benefit of -■ tha borough as a whole. He briefiy explained the position in regard to asking the South Ward only to consider the proposal, as it was not thought advisable to ask the whole borough, as if a poll were taken there would he little chance of tho building being erected. By tho first scheme it was proposed to have the Council Chambers'and other meeting rooms on the upper floor, tho lower division to be w holly used as a drill hall. In the second scheme the top floor would be similar to that of the first, but iho basement would bo unfinished, and therefore practically useless. He said that this was a question that affected the residents or. the hill. He had nothing to do with it; he was only helping the other councillors. He stated that the hall might support itself from the revenue, but if not there would be a small rate of id in the £ levied on ratepayers. Cr Lillie said he was very much surprised to reo that the scheme was; turned down by the other wards. Personally he did not think the time was opportune for such a structure. He stated that the case could be met by spending about £3OO in j making the present hall larger, and would ( also do away with the request for a loan, j He spoke strongly on the matter being j left to the South Ward, which he thought j to unjust, and contended that all tho . other wards should be asked to assist- j Cr P. L. Clark said that he did not j think that the revenue of the hall would j pay the interest on the loan. In regard m ; the drill question, his feelings were that; the hall would be of great advantage to ■ the borough. | Mr S. N. Brown said that a bazaar was recently held in the present hall, and if there had been a larger hall in the district the profits would have been 50 per cent, more. In reference to the proposed building ho said that he was not in favor of this, ai d endorsed Cr Lillie's remarks with reference to the alteration of the present structure, and agreed that the proposal should have been submitted to the other wards. He had listened to the Mayor's statement in reference to the sale of the hall for £3OO, which ho thought web. absurd. He said that it was worth a great deal more than that.

Mr Duncan said that ho thought the section was unsuitable, as the foundations would be costly, fie did not like a drill hall below a meeting hall, as they all knew of the inconvenience of the Garrison Hall, and consequently ho strongly opposed tills idea. - - - * ■ ■- - '

C't F. G. Gumming gak! that ever since he 'was elected to a seat on the council he had advocated a public hail. He said the income from the present hall was practically nothing, and referred to the inconvenience to the residents, who had to go mrtside the district to obtain amusement. He condemned the idea of altering the present building, and concluded by giving the proposal his strongest support. After further discussion it was resolved —“That this meeting, though not approving of the proposals submitted by- the council, are of opinion that a, hall is necessary, and that the council he given an opportunity of bringing the matter before a vfuture meeting.” The meeting thcji terminated, with a vote of thanks to the Mayor for presiding.