The Manawatu Times. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1877.

Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 91, 1 September 1877, Page 2

The Manawatu Times. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1877.

The late successful candidates for borough councillorship having duly assumed their name, it now remains for them to find a " local habitation." It has been suggested that they buy the Public Hall and transform it into a Town Hall-. This suggestion is~a. very sensible one, and we think tn&r Council cannot do better " than adopt, it. Two" yearjj. ago Palmerston was m urgent, need of a building suitable for public gather-' ings. - Two distinct efforts were' simultaneously made to supply this need, which resulted m the erection of two large halls, either of which is adequate to accommodate the public assemblages of this place for a long time to come. The , promoters of 1 each of these ' buildings doubtless looked forward to the letting.of the one m which they were-respectively interested as a source of income. But as the town is not sufficiently large to allow of the two halls being m constant, or even frequent occupation, it follows that the existence of the one is a loss to the other, andsuch, if present circumstances continue, it will be for years to come. Neither building can fulfil the wishes or expectations of the promoters, because neither will . have a monopoly ( ofthe public patronage. But now that the Town Council has come into existence, a Town Hall becomes, if not a necessity, at least a desirability." If the Public Hall were not m existence, there is little doubt i that a thousand or ;bwo of the '

Borough funds would very soon be m requisition for building operations, and very properly too. But as the Public Hall is a tangible reality, and, so far as we know, available for municipal use ; as it is, moreover, an edifice of which the Borough might well be proud, and could scarcely be better adapted to the requirements of the Council if it had been constructed expressly for them, we think the very best thing the Council can do is to secure it as Borough property. The two side rooms will serve 1 well as offices for daily use, and as receptacles for the documentary lumber'that a very few years will suffice to accumulate. The large room upstairs is ample for the Council meetings,v and any number of the public who wish to attend ; and the spacious main hall is very suitable for political or civic gatherings, such as pertain to times of election, or of other popular agitations. These arej^points that the Cou.ncil might consider, and to a very practical result. There. is also a consideration for the Directors should they- hesitate to sell. There is no doubt that the Public Hall could be made the most attractive, as it*is the most commodious building m the place for public -entertainments. But m effecting' the late improvements the Directors have failed to make it attractive. The walls are covered with dusky paper, divided into panels by funereal borders. It would now require, if not a magnesium light, at least a prodigious array of kerosene lamps -to illume the hall to any approach to cheerfulness. This is of course a grave defect if the nail is to remain to allcomers as a hall of entertainment. The most dazzling display of colours wouldbe sombre, and the most festive scene would seem dull, if contained within walls that absorb one half the -light by which it should beilluminated. But the sobriety of aspect ;that would be a defect m a concert hall would not be a defect m a town hall, for the reason that the gatherings m the .latter are not generally of a festal character. If,, then, the dismal aspect of the walls affords a reason for the Company selling the building, it affords no reason forihe Council, not purchasing it, and we trust the Council will see their way to this safe and desirable investment, instead of frittering away a portion of their revenue m a heavy;rental.