SITE FOR A NEW POST-OFFICE.

Colonist, Volume VI, Issue 599, 21 July 1863, Page 2

SITE FOR A NEW POST-OFFICE.

The mover of a motion for enquiry into the question of the best site for a new Post-office goes to his work of inquisition with a foregone conclusion. Mr. Elliott has already expressed himself favorable to establishing the Post-office on the site now occupied by the old Court-house, at the head of Tra-falgar-street, near to Christ church. There may be others in the committee who share this opinion. The chief arguments in favor of this site are that it is the property of the General Government, and might probably be had free of cost; and also that it is near the principal business street of the town. To our view, these reasons are not sufficiently powerful to induce a choice of this site by the general public. The difference in distance between the present and proposed site (for we may assume that this will be the one recommended by the committee) is very slight—so slight, that even the obtaining the ground free of cost would not counterbalance the objections on that and other grounds. In fact such a site would be as much out 6f the way, and would still be too far distant for many parts of the town. "We offer one or two1 considerations in favor of fixing on a, different locality, : The telegraph, when itf is formed, will be worked in connection with the post-office and by Post-office officials. It will then be doubly necessary s |hat.. !; the new site shall possess two pre-requisites of a Post-office,— it must be conspicuous and central. For strangers coming into the city by sea, for j the convenience of shipping, the Post-office should neither be distant nor difficult to find. It should be a landmark and a finger-post. When an amalgamation of the Post-office and the telegraphic office takes place this argument will apply with additional force. The site, therefore, we are about to suggest is, in point of convenience, the best that could possibly be selected, as respects both the present and the supposed future extension of the city. To our thinking then no better spot could be chosen than the triangular piece of ground on which the vacant building formerly used as a Wesleyan chapel now stands. This should be secured if it can, and failing that, ground in the immediate vicinity. ■

In selecting a position for two such important public institutions as the Post-office and Telegraph Station, regard must be had, as we have indicated, to the future growth of tie city, as well as to its present condition. It happens that the site we have pointed out suits both these requirements. It is at the junction of three main streeta:—the Haven,-

road, the way of ingress to town' from sea; Waimea-street, the main entrance from the country; and Bridge-street, which takes the passenger into the heart of the town. It is some 150 yards from Trafalgar-street, lies apart, and is prominent. It is close on Washington Valley and the unoccupied ground and numerous streets diverging in that direction; is in the near neighborhood of numerous other excellent building sites ; and centrally placed as regards the portion of the mud-flat most likely' soonest to be reclaimed from the sea, as many portions in the vicinity already have been. Taking all these considerations into account, we do not think it is possible to point out a finer, more commodious, or in every way more suitable site for a Post-office and Telegraph Station than that we have named. The price, if at all reasonable, should not be made an objection. Public convenience in postal and telegraphic matters should never be made the subject of cheese-paring economy. A few extra hundreds, or even a thousand or more, would be well spent in securing a proper building in a good, central, and conspicuous part of the city. And on these grounds we respectfully submit these; suggestions to the Committee of Council now discussing the question.