GOVERNMENT HOUSE AT AUCKLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2929, 4 May 1910, Page 38

GOVERNMENT HOUSE AT AUCKLAND.

PROPOSAL TO CLOSE IT. CITIZENS INDIGNANT. (FIIOM OUE OWN CP3BKB2ONDEHT.J AUCKLAND, April 29. The Star continues its outcry against tho demolition of Government House, and publishes several interviews on the siihiecfe to-night. The Star says that public feeling is naturally running high in Auckland over the now openly avowed' intention of thes administration to dispense with the official 1 residence for the Governor in Auckland. It. then proceeds to give some opinions, from which the following are selected. Mr Arthur M. Myers, when asked what he thought of the closing of Government House, said that the action of the Government came as .a surprise. " While* Mayor of Auckland," said Mr Myers, " I was an ex officio member of the University College Council. The matter of ay site for a new university came before ns_ from time to time, and as far as my recoK .'action serves- me, the intention of the* University Conned was to secure themetropolitan grounds alongside ment House for this purpose. This area, comprising about four acres, would, it'' was considered, be ample for all practical purposes for many years. - In no way wasthe question of extending the area to include Government House ever seriously considered. It is to me incomprehensible? that an attempt should now be made to take away the official residence of the Governor in Auckland. As far as I am aware the university does not require such an extensive site, while the fact of the» last two governors spending so much of their time in Auckland, shows conclusively* that it is a mistake to ciose the official residence and thus debar our future governors from enjoying the beautiful climatg of the north for several months in eacra year." Mr A. J. Entrican, chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board, said the public of Auckland naturally resented any attempt being made to close Government House. "As far as the Harbour Board is concerned," said Mr Entrican. i- jt interests us particularly, in that we know that Auckland is now a naval base, and that when the Pacific squadron is created in 1912, this city will, no" doubt. have to provide a residence for the admiral and his family during certain months of the year. Such being the case, I should, think Government House would have been placed at the admiral's disposal during tna period that the Governor was absent in other parts of the Dominion. The present admiralty house is. of course, out of the question.' and is quite _ unsuitable. In: my opinion. Auckland should net prived of a vice-regal residence, ana tnere should be ample room for the retentionof the present" residence with five or six acres of ground, and then enough left for; university purposes on the Princes streetsite. I think Auckland people have every right to complain bitterly. As Mr Hugii Poland. M.P., stated in his remarks yesterday 'the promise was distinctly given by the Minister of Education that nothing: would be done until tho House had_ a, chance of considering the matter. Jtow, it has been ascertained that the Department is secretlv dismantling the official residence of the Governor. In my opinion, a public meeting should at once be held.' ■ " A deliberate attempt to filch from Auckland what she has every right to sider her own," was the opinion expressed? by Mr W. J. Ralph (chairman of the Auck-: land Citizens' League). " Some immediate action should be taken," he added, ''and an effort made to prevent what is beingdone. This is the largest city m the Dominion, and for residential purposes possesses every qualification. As it will be a future naval base, a gubernatorial residence will be an absolute necessity.since the entertaining of the admiral and officers of the Pacific fleet will be a big undertaking in itself. The mam objection, however, is that Auckland is being wrongfullv deprived of an old institution, surrounded by beautiful and valuable grounds which have no right to be alienated without the permission, of the people. A public meeting:, to' protest against the Government » action should certainly be called, and afc a committee meeting of the CitizensLeague to be held this evening, a proposal! will be brought forward to ask the Mayor to call a meeting of citizens to go? thoroughly into the whole question. THE CITIZENS INDIGNANT. AUCKLAND, April 30. A deputaion of citizens waited on the Mayor and Mayor-elect to-day and asked the Mayor to convene a. public meeting! to permit an expression of opinion ort the action of the Government in dismantling Government House. It was* stated that a strong feeling amounting. to indignation prevailed in Auckland, and!, it was urged that even if a university! site were required it should not be secured at. the expense of such an institution as Government House. Mr Gray (present! Mayor) and Mr Bagnell (his successor), expressed themselves in accord with these views. It was agreed to convene a public! meeting for next week. May 2. Sir J. G. Ward, replying to the tele'* gram from the Citizens' League protestV ing against the removal of Government! House furniture, says : The glving-up of the present site foi|university purposes is dependent en.f tirely upon the assent by Parliaments Tit the event of tho site being ui-ect for a university, allowance will mads for rental purposes for the newt Governor at Auckland. The house iafcg not being dismantled. In the of Parliament not agreeing to a university on Government House sitet the. house' fIT-v- ..■■[] be for the u . w Governor. Thet intention ■' \rnment was _tc* expend a .i-« for university} purposes .■'; -sion as thj growth o , .;:•■ Y require..