TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11491, 26 January 1903, Page 8

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS.

Sir,—Now that the time is drawing near for the poll of the Sydenham burgesses f; bo taken, I sincerely hope that one ajid all will turn up ooi February 4th next and record the-ir votes.

I am strongly in favour myself of amalgamation with' the city, St. Albans, a-n-d Lin wood, because without amalgamation it is impossible to mate much progress, and I feel confident when casting my vote tiliat I shall be with the majority, ami, Sydenham being so close to the railway station, it must go ahead. I have travelled, throughout the whole of the Australasian Colonies several times, and different parts of the world, and have also lived in different suburbs of London, and have noticed the wonderful is-t-rid.es and improvements made in other cities from time to time for the benefit of the general public, and Chrisiclnircih, with its (surroundings, and such good country bell in J it, could be made one of the largest and mo<t important cities in the Southern Hemisphere.

However, as your readers have no doubt already noticed the overwhelming majorities polled by the city. St. Albans, and Linwoods respectively in favour of amalgamation, I sincerely hope the Sydenham burgees will do likewise, and any person with any progressive ideas whatever cannot but help understand that- amalgamation simply means headway. Why should we not seize tluis golden opportunity of makprogress, and Sydenham by joining in will, without the shadow of a doubt, take a step in the right direction, and thus pave the way for making Christchurch and its borough* one of Uve most important and finest cities of the Australasian Colonies.—l am, etc., P. H. STRAHAN. 86 Colombo street, Sydenham.