The Globe. TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 1874.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 2, 2 June 1874, Page 2

The Globe. TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 1874.

TiiEdangers of pedestrianism in Christchurch seem to increase day by day, and we should be glad to see the important subject of street trailic fairly grappled with by the City Council. Take the spot where the streets converge at any of the corners of the triangle, and during the busy hours of the day, life and limb, are every minute in danger, either from reckless or incompetent driving. Cabmen, the drivers of butchers carts or drays, and breaksmeu, seem to regard foot passengers attemptiug to cross as trespassers, to bo run down, or hunted oif as quickly as possible ; whilst the drivers of some of the few private carriages about the town, are usually more at the mercy of their than is safe, either to the inof the vehicle, or to the unlucky who are compelled to walk. City Council might, we think, from the street reguluHLv in force in Melbourne, which the driver of any vehicle, HB private, to proceed across of any of the principal

thoroughfares at a faster pace than a walk. Another restriction would also be useful, viz, forbidding people to drive or ride horses for the purposes of breaking them in, through the main streets, except between certain hours. At present it is no uncommon occurrence to see animals, that by no stretch of imagination can be called safe to drive, urged along such thoroughfares as Colombo streel, Cashel street, and High street, during the busiest hours of the day, by men possessed of more courage than discretion, and dignifying themselves by the title of horse-breakers, though horsespoilers would be a far more appropriate term for them. It may be argued that a horse cannot be said to be nropcrly broken in, until he will face the crowd of vehicles which it is probable he will have to meet constantly, after he is delivered up to his owner; but surely there is no reason why the very rudiments of his education should be carried on in the heart of a town, and the breaker should be compelled to avoid showing his skill, or the want ol it, in the three or four streets, which are usually pretty fairly thronged during several hours of the day. With regard to saddle horses, it can be no hardship to any breaker, to be obliged to take the young one committed to his charge, away from the crowd until well under control and tolerably safe to ride; when, if he pleases, he can finish his education by parading him up and down the more frequented streets of Christchurch. No doubt such regulations as are now suggested, would cause a certain amount of grumbling for some time after they came into force, but we think the general public would soon find out their utility, and that the extra safety of the many foot passengers would compensate, for the slight inconvenience which would have to be endured by the minority who ride or drive.