OUR PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11951, 29 March 1894, Page 3

OUR PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sin, — I was glad to see your remarks on tho condition of our Post Office and other public buildings. You say "it is high time the wliolo batch was made to give place to public buildings more in keeping with the advancement of the district." All your readers will, I think, igr.-e with you in this j but, Sir, moy I rnak i bold to my that I think wo ourselves are much to blamo for tho present state of things, for we as a people are too easily satisfied ? If we see the authorities sponding a small sum in nails and a few pouods of paint in patching up some old building we a^e very proud, and point to it as an evidence of tho prosperity of the district. Wo prdise the contractor, we pmiso the painter, and we praise the architect every time, but not once do we col siilur whether tho work being done h mi • ! ing the requirements of the district — i veil the immediate requirements, muoli less tho requirements of a few years henco— and so wo go on patching and patching, but nevor getting what we require ; but, if we should have by any chaaco a real new building put up, we do gush about it, and no mistake. The preiant railway station is a case in point, for wo did gusli about that station, and yet practical men at the time of its erection said it was far short of the requirements of the town, and very unsuitable in many ways. In the old days public meetings wore the means used to vent public feeling on such questions, but now the public mostly write to the Press — tlipy think the newspapers will see that it is all right, and, as a matter of fact, this is what the people of Wanganui are very prone to do, for it is most difficult to get a dozen people— unless they are personally interested— to aitond a public meeting on any question. They loave it to the papars. Seeing, then, that you have this greatness thrust upon you, you will, I am sure, see that your reporters are instructed to take a broader view of these matters— in shott, to consider whether the work proposed or in progress is in keeping, not only with present requirements, but will meet those of a few years hence.— l am, &c, Progress. Wanganui, March 28th.