THE POWDER MAGAZINE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 5803, 24 September 1880, Page 3

THE POWDER MAGAZINE.

Mr Hugh MacNeil called upon the Colonial Secretary yesterday, and interviewed him respecting the removal of the powder magazine rom the Anderson's Bay road. He freely adfmitted that a change should ba nude, but, aa one of the largest importers of powder in Dun edin, he took it upon (himself, not to represent his own views, but to urge tbat before any action was taken an opportunity should be given to the merchants to state their side of the question, for be thought that in addition to providing for the safety of the public some regard should bs had to the convenience of merchants. No doubt, if only one view of tbe question was taken, the safest place to \.uh the magazine would be at the top of Flagstaff, as was suggested by one member of Tuesday's deputation. The Hon. Mr Dick said of course they would not think of doing that, and that the merchants would have an opportunity of .representing tbeir views to the Government before any decision was arrived at. Mr MacNeil said that wag all he asked. There were many things to be looked at in connection with working a powder magazine as well as its fite, upon which he took leave to believe that he was an authority. The old magazine w»a largely the work cf himself and Sir Julius VogeL The Hon. Mr Dick : Then you are not credited with much judgment about that selection. Mr MaoNeil said that at tbe time it was made, before there was a beach road, or a population on tho Peninsula, the site was good enough, but he was not surprised at the objections now made to it; he was only surprised they had nofc beea made before, for if he had lived near it he would hava been very nervous. Some members of the deputation had shown thftt they .were ignorant of the properties of dynamite, and had talked utter rubbish concerning it, aid the disposition had been to make too light of the convenience of the merchants. The Hon. Mr Dick said that of course he would not coneider the suggestion of removing the magazine to the top cf Flagstaff. It was necessary that other arrangements should be made; but the merchants should have an opportunity of expresaiDg their views before any extensive alteration was adopted. In the meantime the powder was to be deposited in the magazine, and the dynamite placed in a hulk, the dynamite and tho detonators being separated.