The Wanganui Chronicle. PATEA-RANGITIKEI ADVERTISER. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1894.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11951, 28 March 1894, Page 2

The Wanganui Chronicle. PATEA-RANGITIKEI ADVERTISER. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1894.

The old rattle-trap of a building that does duty for a post office in Wanpanui f would be quickly pulled down and sold for firewood kindling in any other goahead town. We would not like to hint that Wanganui is not a go-ahead town, but it would take a deal of argument to make strangers believe it when they are introduced to the beautiful, stately, and strong public buildings that represent in our midet the authority of the Central Government. Such edifices we mean as the Railway Station, the Post Office, and the Courthouse. It is high time the whole batch was made to give place to public buildings more in keeping with the advancement of Ilia district. The Post Office particularly needs attention, and the best attention it could have would be to pall it down altogether. The Wellington authorities have long been convinced that something must be done to make it safe, serviceable, and habitable. So clearly aro they aware of this that they object to spend a shilling in replacing even a broken window cord, the plea being that extensive improvements must be undertaken directly, aud (hat all Binall repairs can be effected then. But the months and tho years go by, and the extensive improvements seem no nearer a commencement now than when they were first mooted. About once every year or half year some officer from the Empire City comes up to Wanganui to pass his opinion upon the veteran Post Office. Taking his stand alternately in the middle of Eidgway street and the Avenue, he can be heard muttering something about the durability of New Zealand timbers ; then he measures with one eye the length and breadth of the building; and finally, after long and sorious consideration, gives it as hie deliberate opinion that something must be done 1 Then everybody is pleased. That, say they, is the kind of officer to send up about a job of this kind. There is no fooling about him. He does not play with a live question—neither does he try to please his masters by reporting that much-needed improvements, can be done without a little longer. He is emphatic that something must be done. But the officer goes away, and nothing more ia heard of him or his report until, after months and months of waiting, another officer arrives upon the scene and repeats the old process. Last session, however, something tangible was really done. A sum of money was actually placed upon the Estimates— not for a new Post Office, but for moderate improvements, It was the session before the general election, »nd quite a number of such sums were set down for different localities. If we remember aright, the amount for the Wanganui office was JB4oo— bnt, of course, it bas never been expended, and, as the vote will lapse on Saturday next, there is not much chance now that jfc will be. In the meantime, tbe old ricketty rattle-trap has to go without even ordinary repairs. Window sashos will neither run up nor down because of broken cords, while all sorts of contrivances have to be rosortad to to make doors and locks effective. The doors of private letter boxes are tied up with bits of string, and generally the inside of the building exhibits a dilapidated and woeberone appearance. j