THE COFFEE PALACE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6097, 2 June 1881, Page 3

THE COFFEE PALACE.

TO THE EDITOR. '' • Sib, —If the objects named in the prospectus of the Auckland Coffee Palace Company be carried out in a liberal spirit, there can be no doubt of the enterprise being thoroughly successful, both in a financial point of view and every other way, as such institutions have been in various parts of England. The site is peculiarly favourable, close to the busy part of the town, near the new railway station, and it must thus be passed by everyone entering the town, either by railway or steamer. A really well-appointed and well-managed coffee palace and family hotel there will be an immense convenience, and be very largely patronised. One of the great drawbacks of Auckland in the eyes of visitors is the want of such an hotel, where ladies and children can be taken without having to pass through hotel bars. There is also a want of a commodious place where ladies from the country, when on a shopping expedition, can go for such refreshments and for lodging as they may require. The fear is lest the .directors .may be content with erecting a j small one-horse affair, thinking that will be ■good enough. They have a magnificent site, which will enormously increase in value, and it is to be hoped that a large, handsome building will bo erected, sufficient for many years to come. The modern hotel of to-day is a very different thing in its size, appointments, comforts, and so forth, than was the hotel of even ten years ago, and improvement is the order of the day, Auckland lias progressed, is progressing, and will progress, no matter what the croakers may say, and its hotel accommodation sadly requires advancing. It has very great natural advantages. Its magnificent surrounding scenery, its remarkably fine climate, its position iu regard to the unrivalled hot lake scenery, all point it out as being specially adapted as a place of resort for visitors and invalids, and as a residence for persons of means from the South Island, from Australia, England, and other places who appreciate delightful scenery and climate. Auckland ought to be the Paris of Australasia, the place to which crowds of wealthy persons resort, and one step towards the accomplishment of such an end is to constantly improve the town and the accommodation in the shape of hotels, art museums, parks, and so forth. Build, therefore, a handsome coffee palace, and furnish it as are the best hotels in Europe and America. I venture also to recommend accommodation to be provided additional to what is named i in the prospectus. The Queen-street Wharf is a favourite summer evening's promenade, but this is of very much less value than it would be were there plenty of accommodation for sitting there. At present£there is none. Let there be outside the coffee palace ample space, covered by a large wide verandah, to place thereon, during the summer evenings, some thirty or forty tables with marble tops, and a number of rash-bottom chairs, for the accommodation of those who like to have a rest, a cup of coffee, a dish of fruit, a smoke, or what not, in the cool fresh air, together with a chat with a neighbour. If the refreshments were good, and sold at a reasonable rate, thero would be hundreds of customers every week for this outdoor lounge. A stand for a band also ought to be erected, for no doubt our instrumental musicians would gladly discourse sweet music there of an evening occasionally for their own and other persons' gratification. I hope the shares will speedily be taken by the community generally, and thus a great want and a great convenience be supplied.-—-I am, &C. A, BOABDMAX.