PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

Southland Times, Issue 1986, 21 September 1874, Page 3

PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

(to the editob ov the times.) Sib, — I was agreeably surprised to learn from Mr Cuthbertson's address, not only that the £5000 vote for public buiHing3 had not. lapsed, but that the sum hud baen increase! by £1000, and now is £6000. Thi* community ousjht not to be guilty of one moment's delay in memorialising the Q-overnniPnt lo have a site arranged for and to proceed with the buildings nt onee — this summer. If the structure is to be built of locally-made bricks, it is of importanoe tint it should be contracted for early in the season. It seems that brick-making here cannot be carried on during the winter months, the reason being, that manufacturers have not, as yet, sufficient inducement to the erection of establishments on a ln-ge Bcal?, which would afford protection from frost, &c. I think the best site for the proposed public buildings is the block immediately north of that on which the Custom House stands, bounded on the north byTay, on the east by Clyde, and on the south by Forth streets. A pile of building on this block would be a nice finish Jto the public gardens. Assuming that the public buildings aro to constitute one of the City ornaments, then imagine the town closely built upon, and you will discover that the ornament, planted upon the site of the present wooden structure, would bs lost except to the few hotels and places of business surrounding it ; whereas the same ornament, p anted upon the block above indicated, would be seen from a large portion of the public gardens and the houses surrounding it, also from the Crescent on the north, and a large area on the south, as well as f:om the estuary. In considering the subject of a site, it must always be borne in mind that the fine commanding position occupied by the present buildings, will ultimately (aow that Tap street has been extended) be hemmed in by unbroken lines of high houses, while the site now proposed by me will not be so hemmed in. As the telegraph and postal departments have no communication with other departments, and are the only ones frequented by the general publi ■, their offices ought to be flush with the street, and might remain where they are now, or be built in any street most suited to public requirements. In any case the public ought not to lose a day in pushing the choice of a site and the immediate expenditure thereon of the waiting £6000.-1 am. &c, A Citizen. 19 h September, 1874.