TOWN HALL SITE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11028, 17 March 1914, Page 2

TOWN HALL SITE.

VICTORIA SQUARE THE PLACE. PROBABLE COST £140,000. riio City Council's selection of Victoria Squaro for a Christchurch Town Hfill was warmly advocated by a 'arge deputation from tho Citizens' Association. which waited on tho Council last night. The deputation went further, and submitted to the Council a detailed plan of a fine triangular building,' commencing from a spot well back towards the band rotunda, and extending right over the river. BRIDGING THE RIVER.

Mr J. A. Frcstick said that tbe necessity of a Town Hall was not in dispute, but there was a good deal of difference of opinion on the question of a site. The deputation wished to say that the selected Victoria Square site with certain modifications was by far the best site. No other had such a commanding nspecti A building could be placed on the north bank of tho river that would be unapproached in New Zealand. It was admitted by tho London County Council authorities that no town ball must be approached by a flight of steps. There had been some question whether tho foundations on the sito would give trouble, but it *vas the opinion of Mr Cyrus Williams and architects of high repute that no such Difficulties would arise. Mr Frostick added that the only difference of opinio r< n question of site between Mr Cyrus Williams and Mr S. Hurst Seager was whether the building should be a little south or north. PLANS UNFOLDED.

Mr Cyrus Williams said that ho understood the present site selected was the triangle containing the band rotunda, and the - only Abjection to it was that it would push the building rather far towards the south-east. He would have no hesitation in pushing the building back towards the river. It was suggested that the rotunda should be placed where the Queen's statue was, and that tho etatue should be placed on the south-east front if the building. The town hall proper would be pushed right across the river, and there would be not the slightest difficulty m passing the river through the foundations. lhe Mayor said that the Council had already decided to close the road between tho baud rotiuida reserve and the river, THE FRONT ENTRANCE.

Mr Williams added that the front entrance of the proposed town hall would be almost exactly where the band i ofcunda stood. He did not think that the river could be deviated north oi the proposed town hall. Councillor H. D. A eland pointed out in support of the deputation's proposal that the land could be.got for nothing, whereas land elsewhere, with the exception of Latimer Square, might cost £IO,OOO/ Mr Willi rims said that the extra cost cL. l olul(lllt 'ons woitld not be a nfth of the cost of land. PROPOSED COST INADEQUATE. ''Has the deputation estimated the costot a building/' Councillor M'Cullough as'iied. "My own opinion," said Mr Williams, is that you cannot build a fan nt ? n a "* v « ite for tile £90,000 limit you have set. My idea of the sort of building you are contemplating is from £120,000' to £140,000.". He added that the plan of the eomrrutteo was for a building 25 HaJl° Gnt krger tban the Tow a

..J}}. r<? P I}* to various questions, Mr Williams said that the south-eastern £n*? er -°i tllc .building would bo about /Oft wius, with plenty of space on. cither side for a colonnade of trees . Councillor J. iM'Culloiigh said that it had been proposed to put the Queen's statue ni front of the Supreme Court, and the Godley statue in front of the town hall ' '

Mr Williams replied that this was a matter of sentiment, He added that the building would exteiid forty or fifty feet over the river, running to within thirty or forty feet of each bridge. Mr Frostick read a letter from Mr Seager, who in reply to'the objection that the site was too low and too cramped, and that it robbed the city of an open space, said that there was already ample space, and the town hall would leave enough, and that the building would dominate the whole of the buildings in the vicinity. Mr Frostick, in reply to a question, said that no expense should be spared in securing to the city a town hall that would do the city credit. The Mayor, in thanking the deputation, .said that the Council was very glad of suggestions, and desired to leave the conditions elastic enough not to tie down the architects competing.

REFERRED TO A COMMITTEE. Councillor W. 11. Cooper moved that the matter should be referred to the Hall Committee.

Councillor J. M'Culloiigh said that if every proposal brought before the Council was to be handed to the committee without finality being reached, he -would as soon not sit on the committee. Anybody might come forward with a pet scheme, .and demand the sajne consideration. The Burgesses' Association would be as much entitled to its view as the Citizens' Association. Councillor Sorensen said that the vjouncil could come to finality on the point that any further suggestions should be accepted only on the question of site.

Councillor J. M'Combs said that the Council was greatly indebted to the Association, but the bridging of the river was not original with the Citizens' Association, for Mr T. E. Fraser had suggested it weeks ago. It was also worth considering whether the stnp ol road west of the Queen's statue should not be laid down in grass, increasing the apparent open space. After other councillors had expressed their appreciation of the action of the Citizens' Association, Councillor Cooper's motion was carried.