LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13647, 15 January 1908, Page 5

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

THE NEW POST OFFICE SITE, 1

Sir, Absence from town during the holiday season has prevented mj sooner replying to the letter of " Citizen" ' appearing in jour issue of the 31st ult.

It is certainly unfortunate that there should be any conflict between the municipal government and the general Government on tho question'of compensation, but tho general Government always ha* the drastic remedy of tho Public Works Act in its hand.'. However, there is another side to the figures -which " Citizen " quotes. Ho sots out all the advantages of retaining the Victoria Arcade endowment; but what about the advantages of obtaining the money? £100.000 set aside in the hands of the City Sinking Fund Commissioners for investment at current rates for 26 years (the time of the falling in of the Victoria Arcade lease) would go a vert long way towards redeeming' the city debt.

But is there any occasion for this conflict, or for the absorption of so much of the grant in purchasing a site? There is no necessity for an actual frontage on to Queen-street. .so long as the site is central. The property on the other .side of the present post office would do equally well, affording ample space, and enabling the postal and telegraphic work to bo conducted under the aanie roof—an immense advantage. Rumour has it that the Government misled two excellent opportunities of acquiring this fine property at a nominal price. That cannot be helped* now; but the property cau certainly be acquired at a fair price, If the owners are not prepared to fix a reasonable figure, then the Government, as previously "pointed out, has the remedy of the Public Works Act. This property, in every way equal to the Victoria Arcade, should be procurable tit about half the figures suggested for the arcade, and, this being so, the Government has no excuse for placing the post office out of the business centre of the town, and to the lasting inconvenience of the Railway Department.

As to "Citizen's" ideas about yard accommodation for parcels, how dews' he suppose the parcels aro handled now* And where was the yard accommodation when the. parcels, tog-ether with , all the other brunches of the business, wore handled in the present oramped two-storey building? Our friend "Citizen" indulges in the weak old argument of the imposing building at the entrance of the city. May I ask what is the chief function of a post office: lo impress strangers or to serve the convenience of citizens? Again, even from our friend's point of view I would suggest to him the reflection that nil strangers arriving by train would obtain their first impression from a magnificent view of the back of the building! Not that their idea* would be much improved when they looked at the front, if the illustration of" the front, elevation which has been vouchsafed to tho public is correct. The best one can say is that the Government architect has improved on his previous attempt in the Parnell Post. (W,CC - Central. AUCKLAND RAILWAY STATION. Sir,—Kindly allow me through the medium of your journal to express my surprise, as a visitor to the country, at tho insi K nifi. cant railway station the oit.y of Auckland possesses. For such a place, as Auckland the budding referred to is a disgrace to tho city and unworthy of the ground upon which it is situated. How long the present building has been standing I do not know, but the sooner it is replaced by a more adequate and picturesque building the better I should certainly think it would be for the city itself. I would uot suggest a huge structure such as the city of Sydney possessos, but what is required is 'a building ■ that not only would be in keeping with the amount of railway traffic, but also an addition to Auckland in the way of a building worthy of inspection instead of an eyesore. . -•■■■•■ VISITOIt. ROTORUA TRAINS. -c*"*'!f •—Hay in ß just returned from a visit to England, I wish to relate two recent experiences, one. in England, the other here. From Bristol to London, a distance of 120 mrles, the tram journey occupied two hours.' To-day the RotOTua train took six hours to cover the same distance. Both trains woro " expresses;" one averaged 60 miles an hour, tho other 20. Allowing for tho necessary difference, surely the disparity cannot ho. justified. Is it not high time to run a. direct trai a to Rotorua each day during tho season? la it fair to the numerous visitors that they should bo subject to tho frequent and long stoppages on Ihe so-called "express" train? Traveller. Rotorua, January 13. ■ ■ '»i- - <■■■ - ■ : ;;'-. 1 THE HEIGHT OF BUILDINGS..."..'.' Sir,—-I have read with pleasure your welltimed leader on the height of city buildings, and I am hopeful that it, will induce the City Council to take action and limit for the future the height/ 'at the outside to, say, four storeys on tho widest streets. If I might make a suggestion, 1 would say a maximum of three storeys in streets 66ft wide and in such streets and lam* as Highstreet and Vulcan Lane one storey. In addition to the many good reasons you advance may 1 point out that the exclusion of light, and air is probably in tho long run more fatal than fire. J. M. McLachlan.

SCHOOL OF MINES AND MINE MANAGERS' CERTIFICATES. Sir,—Mr. Jarman, ia his let/tor in your issue of the 9th hist., states the mining graduate service required as "three years of underground work." This is a very different statement to Professor Park's one year general underground work and two years' officialdom, ft is evident therefore that Mr. Jarman docs not agree with Pro fessor Park on this important matter. Mr:' Jarman does not use any argument to defend the pronouncement of university schools of mines' representatives that " four years of technical training should be held as equivalent to two years of underground work." On the other hand, I am satisfied from observation that four years of technical training fails in overcoming tho physical ineptness of the mining graduate in underground work, and that the length of time he remains there a danger to himself and others depends not on his scientific attainments, but on his personal adaptability. The five years' underground service is not too long to develop in the average mining graduate that thorough understanding of mining conditions which alone enables him to use his scientific attainments to tho best industrial advantage. Mr. Jarman states that a board of directors may choose .between certificated applicants for a mine manager's position having (1) five years of mining experience, (2) five years of mining experience plus four years of technical training. Mr. Jarman then asks, " Who has made the sacrifice in preparing himself for the position of certificated mine manager?" J ask, "Which of the two applicant*! is most likely to obtain tho appointment? The industrial members buffering under an unreasonable examination are not five-year service men, but long-ser-vice men holding positions of trust. Mr.' Jarman asks, "If the instruction is of so little value as a training for mine managers, then the question arises: For what purpose do our university schools of mines exist?" If the mining graduate of proved industrial suitability plus practical knowledge of mining and. oret treatment in this, and preferably other countries, cannot compete with outsiders for a position of general manager or superintendent, then I am satisfied tho endowment and maintenance of university schools of mine's require reconsideration. The positions referred to carry salaries of from £500 to £1500 and more per annum, and a certificated mine manager is also employed who receives ail trouble under the penal clauses of the mining regulations. Mining graduate* readily obtain metallurgical and other positions, in which they are amply paid for work done, and have full opportunities to qualify for higher appointments. In fact, the very readiness with which the mining graduate has been accepted'on the metallurgical side has made university schools of mine* the more greedy to exploit fresh territory in the mine on their own —term* in which the mining industry receives but scant consideration. E. F. Adams, M.A.f.M.E, Member N.Z. Institute of Surveyor?.

RHEUMO CURES A WELL-KNOWN PATEA RESIDENT. Read what, Mr. J. Atkin, the well-known stevedore, Norfolk-street. Patoa, writes: "August 1, 1907. "For a long time I suffered from Lura» bago. I trie.l liniments of different kinds, and Doctors' Prescriptions, but. could get no relief. It was torture for mo to work. The pain was so severe that it bent ,me almost double. On© day I was in Boyle and Jones' Store, and was asked if I had tried Rheumo. I am very thankful that I did. The experience I had was a change from agony to great ease. Until I took Rheumo I coukl not get anything to touch my complaint.— Atkin." All stores and chemists soil Rhcumoat 2s 6d and 4s 6d.

Chamberlain's . Colic, Cholera, and Diarrhoea Remedy is equally valuable for children and adults.