THE COUNTY OFFICES.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXI, Issue 2726, 2 December 1910, Page 3

THE COUNTY OFFICES.

QUKSTION OF NEW BUILDING

In the course of the report of the engineer (Mr C. Bray) to the Ohinemuri County Council at its meeting yesterday was the following ptragraph:— " The chairman, instructed me to give an approximate estimate of the cost of putting the County offices in repair.

The estimated cost is about including painting and plumbing. I

might point out that the office is in a very bad condition, and the Council will quite understand that when you start pulling an old building to pieces for the purpose of renewals it is very difficult to know exactly how far one may have to go, so that the estimate given above is more likely to be exceeded than not." Mr Strange said it would be a mistake to start patching the old building, as the offices were in a very bad state. If they started patching up the building it would probably cost ,£l5O or more, so that the best thing they could do was to " face the music " and go in for new offices.

Mr Lattghlin said it was useless trying to repair the present building. At present there was a chance of somebody putting his toot through the floor and breaking his leg, and that would cost the Council as much as a new building.

Seeing that next year they would have more coming in from rates they should erect a new building. He moved that plans and specifications for a new building be prepared by the engineer.' This was seconded by Mr Strange. The Chairman (Mr Grace) said that although they would be getting more for rates, they must remember that they would probably be losing ,£ls°° per year out of their gold duty. Mr Corbett said he was in favour of a new office being erected. For a long time they had been crying out about want of funds, but a new office was badly needed. They could not expect the officials to carry out their work properly when their surroundings were so unsatisfactory. From ,£SOO to £600 should be ample to provide the necessary accommodation. Mr Franklin : You don't say whether the building is to be in stone, or brick, or marble, or wood. Mr Nathan : I think white marble would be best! Mr Strange : We could have alternative tenders for brick and wood. The motion was then put to the meeting and was carried unanimously.