The Oity Council took the only course open to them in declining with thanks to entertain Messrs Stanford and Milne's proposal for leasing the Triangle. Even if they had legal power to accept such an offer, a large public concession of this kind is not to be given to the first bidder, and Or Solomon summed up the position of the Council towards Messrs Stanford and Milne's proposal very justly in the saying, " They could " not if they would, and would not if " they could." Besides, Mr Stanford's further explanations of his plans show them in a much less favourable light than they originally appeared. What kind of a public library could we ex pect for L3OOO I And of the whole L 25,000 half is to be spent upon revenue-producing- buildings. But it will be time enough to criticise: this scheme if it should ever be resuscitated. The present effect of its having been brought forward is to have induced the Council by a, majority of eight to one to pass a resolution—■" That in the " opinion of this Council it is desirable " that the Triangle be utilised for a " market or other public purpose, and " that a local Bill be submitted " this session to give effect to ""these objects, provided the citizens "by a vote give their sanction." This calls upon the citizens to decide whether it is desirable to retain the Triangle as a reserve or to allow build ings to be erected upon it. How these buildings are to be erected, and of what nature they are to be, is left entirely open, though it is pretty apparent that the funds for erecting public buildings upon the site can only be obtained by leasing a considerable part of it for private buildings, or by the erection of public buildings by the lessees of the rest of the sec tion. It is evident that the Corpora tion would have to approve of the plans for any private buildings erected upon such a site, and there arises the question of whether, this .limitation would not seriously interfere witb^ViA rents.,. 