OUR PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13286, 19 September 1906, Page 6

OUR PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

There appears to be a prospect at last of the Government doing something towards remedying the grievance from which Auckland has suffered so long in the matter of public buildings. An addition is to be made to the Customs building in order to accommodate a number of Government offices at present scattered up and down the city, and the chief Government architect is engaged in endeavouring to secure a suitable site for a new Courthouse. This recognition of the necessities of our city will be welcomed by the public. But while they will be readily disposed to give credit to' the Government they can only accept these plans as an instalment of still greater improvements commensurate 'with the requirements of the times. The citizens of Auckland will not be satisfied until they are provided with a new railway station and a new post office. Both are urgently needed. The railway station, in addition to being quite inadequate for the rapidly-growing traffic, is a disgrace to a city of the pretensions of Auckland. The post office has been patched and altered at different times for the purpose of providing additional room for the work of the Department, but it still falls far short of meeting all requirements. It is to be hoped that both these necessary works will commend themselves to the favourable consideration of the Government, and that steps will be taken at an early date to provide for them. With regard to the site of the new Police Court itis necessary to repeat again that no proposal which contemplates the taking away of any part of the Albert Park should be tolerated for one moment.