THE PETONE POST OFFICE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1425, 22 June 1899, Page 46

THE PETONE POST OFFICE.

BATTLE OVER THE SITE. PUBLIC MEETING LAST NIGHT. A largely-attended public meeting was held at the Oddfellows’ Ilall. Petone, last Friday. The meeting had been convened bv the Mayor (Mr R. C. Kirk), on the requisition of forty-eight business people and residents of the suburb, to reconsider rho question of tho site for the new Post Office. The Mayor, who occupied the chair, said that at the commencement of the negotiations he had been asked his opinion by the Government in regard "to a suitable site, and he had recommended Mr Wilkie’s, and he did not think the price asked was an exorbitant one. Personally, he was not interested in the site either one v. av or the other. As Mr Piper’s name appeared at the head of Hie requisition. his Worship then called upon that gentleman to address the meeting. Mr J. Piper said that all along " he, in common with others, had felt that the site chosen by the Government vas a most unsuitable one. It was not, he contended, the most central site! and ho quoted figures as to the population, and number of houses in tire township, in support of this statement. He moved—“ That in the opinion of this meeting Britannia street is not the most suitable site to suit the business requirements of the borough for a Post and Telegraph Office, and that a deputation consisting of the Mayor, Councillors Castle, Fraser, Leighton, Luncion and the mover wait upon the Premier and urge the selection of a more central site.” He explained to the meeting that the Premier had consented to receive a deputation at 11 a.m. on Tuesday.

Mr G. Lundon, who seconded the motion, said he was not interested from mercenary motives. (Laughter.) He strongly condemned the Britannia street site, declaring emphatically that it was not the most central, and said that the site ought to be selected in the interests of the commercial classes. Mr Findlay, who was received with

considerable applause, said Mr Piper had forgotten to mention in his speech that a great portion of the land west of the Britannia street site was locked up for at least forty years, and therefore would not be available for building and residential sites, as tvas the case with the land on the eastern side. Mr G. Jones said some people thought they ought to follow the Government m everything. The site he considered was not a good one. Mr W. H. Ballinger expressed the opinion that the Council ougnt to havo given the public a lead in the matter. He was in favour of Wilkie’s site, but as that had not been obtained by the Government, he thought the present site was a very good one. Mr P. Price spoke in favour of the site selected. Mr P. C. Smith supported the motion. He objected to being inconvenienced for what was to bo for the convenience of people twenty yeai-s lienee. (Laughter.) Mr Silverwood also spoke. Mr J. Hutchinson said no one could speak on the subject- without being charged with being interested one way or another. The site, he pointed cut, had been selected by an independent man, that was, a Government official, and personally lie felt satisfied that the most- central site had been chosen. The matter bad been talked of for over twelve months, and it appeared rather late in the day to make such a fuss about it. He would oppose the motion. Rev J. Russell did not- see thatany good reason had been advanced why the site should be altered, and he pointed out that it would appear to the Government that they were squabbling over a very small matter indeed. It, was only a few yards one way or the other. He did not see why business places should not grow up on the eastern side as they were on the western at the present time. He was not in favour of the motion. Mr H. Damant was totally opposed to the site selected. Mr S. Carter said lie was decidedly in favour of the present site, and he suggested that the Mayor was interested as trustee for some property in the other site suggested. This statement brought the Mayor to his feet. He said he was quite used to the remarks and suggestions of Mr Carter. He (the Mayor) was not interested in any way in any of the sites referred to. (Applause.) Mr Carter was always making suggestions which were not conducive to good feeling. Mr Findlay moved as an amendment -—“That the Government be congratulated on its excellent foresight in purchasing the site, and that the Mayor be requested to write to the Government asking it to proceed with the erection of the building.” Mr Carter seconded this. Mr Piper having replied at some length, the amendment was put and lost, the voting being as follows: —- Ayes, 54; noes, 64. The motion was then put and carried.

A vote of thanks to the Mayor for presiding terminated the meeting.