The Globe. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15. 1879.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1532, 15 January 1879, Page 2

The Globe. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15. 1879.

The City Council has at last moved in the direction of providing the muchneeded municipal offices. Some time back a committee was appointed to report upon the most eligible site, and at the last meeting of the Council they brought up their report. They state that they have carefully considered the matter, and have come to the conclusion that there are only two sites available, viz., that on which the present buildings are erected and the one occupied by the Council as a yard on the opposite side of Worcester street. So far as the report goes we hear nothing of the site in the Market place, which everyone will agree is by far the most eligible. This site does not appear to have come under the consideration of the committee at all, and it only cropped up in the debate upon the report. We are quite at a loss to understand the arguments used by some of the members against the Market place site. The Mayor seems to think that there are many leading politicians who would oppose the diversion of the site from its original reservation as a market place. We entirely disagree from this. It is intended on the site now proposed to combine with the Town Hall the Resident Magistrate’s Court. Buch a plan, carried out in connection with the Market place site, would go a long way towards inducing the Government and a majority of the House to agree to the diversion. The erection of a now Magistrate’s Court would be a great boon to the public, besides which no more convenient place could be found for the purpose than one in close proximity to the Supremo Court and the Law Library. Those who oppose the Market place site on the ground of the improbability of the requisite power being granted to the City Council to deal with it other than for a market forget one thing. It is quite possible to leave sufficient space for all the market requirements of Christchurch for years to come and yet to place there the municipal offices and Town Hall. The area is such as to afford ample room for both. Therefore, it seems to us that the citizens would have a good case to put to the Assembly. They could say there is a valuable site lying waste in the centre of ,the city which cpuld be utilised both for the benefit of the city and the Government without preventing the original intention for which it was reserved being carried out. The site is by far the best one in Christchurch, and certainly a building such as the Town Hall and municipal offices, would show to greater advantage there than where it is now proposed to put it. One of the Councillors appears to ftppvQTft atroßgl/ oi tfefJ site recoup

mended by the committee on account of the quietude which would be secured. This is certainly a very singular idea, and can only bo explained by the retiring and modest disposition which has been evinced by the present Council in their debates, since their election. Perhaps Councillor Binslead desires that the Council shall so continue, and that therefore their deliberations will be better conducted in a retired spot. Wo trust that this matter, which is all important, will receive at the hands of the citizens careful consideration, with a view to seeing if it is not possible to obtain the market place site. This would be eligible on all considerations, and, as wo have pointed out, one side of the Market square would still remain for occupation at any time as a market, when it was deemed necessary to erect one. Thus we should have two handsome buildings upon a prominent site in the city instead of, as seems likely, it being employed as a receptacle for kerosene tins and rubbish of all kinds. So soon as the post office vacates the present building, it will have to be removed, as its condition is such that it would not be worth while patching it up. Therefore, with the exception of the noble pile of buildings which excites the wonder and admiration of all visitors, and from which the city receives the munificent revenue of seven shillings weekly, the Market place would be a dreary waste. We cannot approve of the piecemeal system of erecting the buildings which it is proposed to carry out. We gather from the remarks made during the discussion that it is intended to erect the municipal buildings in one block and then build up the Town Hall afterwards as a separate building. Now, it seems to us that it would be much better and more economical to erect the whole at once, making the Town Hall, as it were, the centre of the building, with the various offices radiating therefrom. By this means the work of the different departments would be more concentrated, and the building would be far better. It must be remembered that we are not about to erect a temporary building. It is not at all probable that we shall improve upon it in our time. Therefore it is incumbent upon us to proceed with caution. By erecting the whole block together we conceive that money will be saved to the city, and that we shall be enabled to get what we require at far less cost than by erecting what are really separate buildings though connected in some way. This is another point which requires consideration, far more, it appears to us, than it was possible to give in the short debate which took place. We incline to the belief that the Council has decided upon this matter too hurriedly altogether. It is a subject of such importance that it would be better first to ascertain the feelings of the citizens upon it before committing us to any rate or scheme. If a vigorous representation be made to the Government as to the Market place site we believe a favorable answer will be received. At all events, we hope that before pledging the city to the present proposals means will be taken to consult the ratepayers. It means a large expenditure of their money, and it is only right that they should have a voice in the selection of the site. Besides it will, if the decision be in accordance with the report of the committee, strengthen the hands of the Council considerably.