The Evening Mail. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1877.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 518, 28 December 1877, Page 2

The Evening Mail. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1877.

Certain members of the Mechanics' Institute have dissented from the action of the Committee in deciding to lease the ground, subject to the ratification of the members, at the rear of their building to Mr. .Robertson. As in the case of ail other institutions, from our General Government downwards, the members of the Oaniaru Mechanics' Institute embraces an Opposition party, and it is this element, marshalled by its recognised leader, that is now agitating against what they conceive to be precipitancy on the part of the Committee. Two letters have appeared in our contemporary, evidently from the pen of the same gentleman, which scarcely put the matter in a fair light before the members. These have drawn forth editorial remarks which just as plainly bear traces of hastiness and mistaken judgment. It is not our intention to adopt either one side or the other, ss the question will shortly come before the members of the Institute who will, we have every confidence, arrive at a correct decision. Our object in writing is to afford some idea of how the matter stands previous to the meeting of members at which it will be discussed. To commence with, our contemporary indulges in remarks that are calculated to give an erroneous impression of the value of the site in question. It says that the Corporation site opposite was " leased recently, we believe, for 355. or 40s. per foot." We freely admit that an error is as easily made by a newspaper as by an individual ; but we cannot help thinking it strange that our contemporary, with its superior facilities for obtaining information upon such a subject, should have fallen into such a blunder, or that it did not understate the price received for this section. The Corporation site referred to was leased from the Corporation for L 74 10s. per annum, or at about 15s. per foot on its Steward-street frontage of | 100 feet, to say nothing of the more valuable frontage on Thames-street of 42 feet, and that on Medway-street of the same width. The Mechanics' Institute allotment in question has a frontage of 50 feet on Stewurd-stivet only, and iiu frmitogz to '{hiihiex-t-treci, with a depth of GO feet running at the back of the Institute ; fur this Ivlr. Eobektsox olfered about 20s. per foot. The sites are so totally different in character that no estimate can be formed of what should be obtained for one by what is paid for the oilier. We do no., make this remark for the purpose j of uuder-estimtithig the value of t:;e Mechanics' Institute site : but with an idea of enabling those interested of forming a correct estimate of its value. The ob-

jection is raised that the erection of a smithy by Mr. Robertson on the allotment will prove an eyesore to the town. This will be a matter to be decided by the members of the Institute, who will, doubtless, be as true to their colours as citizens as they will be as members of the Institute. It must not, however, be lost sight of that the Committee have been actuated by a desire to provide funds fur the erection of a more commodious building than the present, and that they, viewing the matter as officers of the Mechanics' Institute, and, perhaps, not in their dual capacity as officers of thai institution and citizens of the town of Oamaru, were willing to accept an offer that would provide them with an income that would enable them to pay at least a large proportion of the interest on the cost of the new building. 1( would be highly reprehensible for nnyon. to allow his judgment in regard to this matter to be warped by personal feeling or party consideration. To bring grave charges against the committeemen and officers of the Institute, such as those which have appeared in correspondence on the subject, is, to say the least, unfair. It is quite true that about two years ago the members of the Institute authorised the Committee to accept any offer that they might think reasonably good for the section in question ; but had the gorlonian, who appears to be the champion for any number of other persons, who are not, however, to be met with by anybody but himself, divested hnrself of rancour, and determined, without prejudice or ill-feeling, to do Ids duty towards the Institution and the town, made the necessary enquiries, he would have ascertained that it was the intention of the officers of the Institution to bring the offer they had received before the members -for their consideration. The members will take a common sense view of the question, and will weigh all the points connected therewith fairly. It will, of course, be judicious not to lose sight of the question as a Municipal one, and, if it should be decided by the members of the Institute to lease, to do so—in accordance with the ideas of the Committee—for a short term, in order that, should the section be required for important town improvements, it can be placed at the disposal of the Municipality.

Since writing the above we learn that the Municipal sections in the immediate locality of the Mechanics' Institute si te failed to obtain purchasers.