The Lyttelton Times. MONDAY, JANUARY 4, 1869.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2497, 4 January 1869, Page 2

The Lyttelton Times. MONDAY, JANUARY 4, 1869.

It appears, from a circular which we published on Friday last, that the sum voted by the Provincial Council at its late session is just sufficient to enclose the necessary space for properly housing the collections under Dr Haast’s charge; that is, a barnlike building—ninetytwo feet long by thirty-two feet broad,’ with its walls twelve feet high—could be erected. Keeping in view the objects which it is sought to attain by the erection of a Museum, looking at it solely as a means of educating the people and thereby aiding the true progress of the province, it will be admitted that the “shedifice” which the Provincial Council grant would enable the architect to produce is not desirables or suitable. Dr Haast, anxious that the Museum building should be worthy of the collections which he will be able to place in it, worthy of the province, and in harmony with a scheme which will no doubt be developed in the gradual advance of Canterbury, appeals to the public for a sum of three hundred and fifty pounds. With this addition to the vote of the Provincial Council, he would be in a position to erect a suitable building. We have no doubt the public, though heavily taxed and not so prosperous as they might be, will make an effort to assist in the erection of such a building as they and their children will have no reason to be ashamed of.

At the meeting of the City Council on Monday last, Dr Haast’s circular was read, and, we. presume, a formal application for a grant from the funds at the disposal of the Council was implied if not expressed. Several Councillors, we observe, spoke favourably of the appeal made in the circular, but uo decision was arrived at. Without any intention of dictating to the City Council, or of discouraging the object which Dr Haast has in view, we must be permitted to question the propriety of voting any ‘portion of the city rates as a grant in aid for the erection of a Museum. We doubt whether, taking a strictly legal view of the matter, the Council has the power to allocate the funds of the city in this direction. And we may here take the opportunity of saying that the grant for rural sports was, in our opinion, a questionable proceeding. Not that we object to these sports, but that we think the money raised by an assessment which presses heavily on the ratepayers ought to be devoted exclusively to the necessary improvement of the city. The sum required to make the Museum building what it ought to be is not large, and we believe Dr Haast will find little difficulty in raising it. The Councillors will, we think, best consult the interests of the city and the wishes of the ratepayers generally, if they decline to make a grant from the city funds. I Q their private capacity as citizens, they will still have an opportunity of supporting Dr Haast’s application in a suitable manner.