The Press THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5. 1903. GREATER CHRISTCHURCH.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11500, 5 February 1903, Page 4

The Press THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5. 1903. GREATER CHRISTCHURCH.

Sydenham having carried the vote in favour of amalgamation by a substantial majority, it now only xeniains to take the formal steps prescribed by the Act to make Greater Christchuruii an accomplished fact. Sydenham is to be congratulated on having prilled a laiger proportion of the electors on the roll than any of the" other boroughs. Abom one-half of those qualified recorded their vot*s, and amalg;vlnatinn was carried by more than two to one. Taking all the towns it appears that out of 9674 electors only 4088 recorded their votes. Seeing, however, that no fewer than 3173 of theso were in favour ol amalgamation, and only 881 against, it U clear that the deems for union ia the desire of the great body of electors, ana not merely a section of, them, who have managed to capture Ute polls. In thie fact lies the best augury of success in the future in managing the affairs of the new city. We must again congratulate those by whose efforts Chmtclmrch has now been raised to a commanding position among the four principal cities of the colony. We have before referred to the valuable services rendered by Mr W. Rtiece, and Mr A. B. G. Rhodee, in the early stages of the moveand by Mr Wigram, the present Mayor oj Christchurch, in bringing it first to a practical issue, arid, now to successful fruition. Undoubtedly a great deal of th-3 credit for working up public interest in the movement in itti later stages is al«o due to Mr H. G. Ell, M.H.8., who threw himself into the work, with characteristic energy. But if ■Wβ are to make Greater Christen urch * city worthy cf the name, vie must not r«* content with "imply having ewept away a few useless dividing lines, and centralised fche municipal staffs. This is merely the preliminary to the; real work which has to be done. Wβ heartily agree ■with Mr Sim. the Mayor of Sydenham, in the remarks which he made yesterday that if we are to make Oreeter Christchurcb an ideal community, the citizens must continue to take as much interest ia the administration of its affasre ac they have in the movement for amalgamation. Its future lies entirely in their handb. Their first care mudb be to «lect the beet representathree whom they can induce to stand for immicipal office. In tbje connection we venture to euggest that it would be an honour well bestowed it Mr Wigram were elected the firs* mayor of Greater Chriatehureh, and judging by the way in which he has carried out his iroayoral dutics;dur- . ing the <nast year, to feel cure that in the larger sphere his services Would be of •the greatest value. But there ought to be a good Council to eupport him, and seeing the increased importaniee of the position under the new "regime," yr& hop_a that some of our ablest citizens will be induced to .give their services. The motto of the new Christchurc&i Hhould be progress, combined with ■grudem* and efficiency. The amalgamation ceitarjily ought not to be made an eicuee for extravagance, but there ought to be w> otagnation. While observing due economy itt the expenditure every effort ought to be made to add to the healtfafulneas <and attractiveness of the city, and the comfort and well-being of 'ts inhabitants, Aβ to speciic ways in wbieh this might be done we shall perhaps have a few suggestions to make bo sooiv as tho new Council ge+e into harness.