REMOVAL OF THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7378, 23 May 1887, Page 2

REMOVAL OF THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT.

A singular petition has been presented by Mr. Fisher, of the House of Representatives, from one, G. E. Nias, a printer, praying for the removal of the seat of Government from Wellington. The petition sets forth that the land for building purposes in the city of Wellington is limited in quantity, owing to the configuration of the ground, tbe town site being hemmed in by high hills, and as a consequence the rent of dwellings is unreasonably high, especially of the class sought for by mechanics, clerk?, and employees, the rents having risen during the last four or five years 5 to 10 per cent, per annum ; that such increase of rent is a gjreat hardship to the rent-payers, as no rise in wages corresponding therewith has taken place ; that in consequence Of the demand for houses buildings are being crowded together, gardens are built over, and back yards are curtailed to a few square feet in size', that such crowding togecher is very injurious to health, and if the process is" continued and intensified will render Wellington one of the most unhealthy, as it is now one of the dearest cities to live in in the Southern Hemisphere ; that the petitioner is credibly .informed 'that in tbe event, of war breaking out' with the improved projectiles now in use, a large part of the most valuable portion of the city could be destroyed without any hostile vessels entering the harbour, projectiles fired by H.M.S. Ajax, having a range of seven or eight miles, and weighing lOOlbs ; that on all these considerations Wellington is not a fit site for the capital of New Zealand. The petitioner therefore prays "That your honourable House will see the advisability! and take measures accordingly, to remove the capital to some inland place, where there will be room for a large city to .grow, and where walks and plsasant drives can be constructed around in suoh a way as would encourage wealthy and independent persons to settle there, and constitute society for the Governor suitable to his rank and position." The petition has appended no other signa* ture, bo that G. E. Nias is the " only one." Everybody is asking who ie G. E. Niaß, bat whatever might have been the obsou* rity of his position hitherto, he has now secured conditional immortality. It is to be hoped that Bteps will be taken to" relieve His Excellency from bis present distressing position by constituting society suitable to his rank and position, but the petitioner's suggestion to plaoe His Exoellency in the City of the Plains suggestß some rather unhappy historical reminiscences.