The Globe. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1874.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 85, 8 September 1874, Page 2

The Globe. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1874.

The report of the new City Surveyor was read at the meeting of the City Council yesterday, and it is certainly more cheerful than the reports we have been in the habit of reading, which have enamated from the gentlemen who filled the office before him. Probably this is due two facts, first, the natural desire of a “ new broom” (no disrespect to the surveyor) to begin by sweeping clean, and, secondly, the present prosperity of the country generally, and the number of immigrants being poured iu, allowing of an extra quantity of labor being applied to those works which are moat urgently required about Christchurch. The surveyor reports having received twenty-six more men from the Gfovernment, and states that he has placed them to work on Park Terrace, the improvements to which part of the town have been most noticeable during the last six weeks or so. The work in this part being very nearly finished, the surveyor is anxious to begin on the North Town Belt, and if possible to render that “ a thing of beauty,” to the city.. For this purpose the survevor has laid before the Council a plan which we hope that body will be able to adopt. The plan in question involves the removal of a large quantity of earth, and requires that the citizens who inhabit that portion of the town should fall in with the suggestions of the City Surveyor to the Council, and remove this earth, getting their reward in being able by this means to fill up their sections to a higher level than they have at present. We hope that the inhabitants of this quarter, will take advantage of the opportunity, and thereby benefit therasi Ives, and aid the Council in the carrying out of the surveyor’s scheme. The advantages of this plan are obvious, and the doing away with the ricketty and dangerous timber bridges on the North Belt would be a step in the right direction. By this plan too, the water which is now flowing down Kilmore and Madras streets would almost all go down the belt, to the improvements of these streets, and to the greater comfort of the inhabitants. Altogether the proposed improvements appear worthy of every attention, and the plan, if carried out, will add greatly to the inducement of living in the part of Christchurch which is to be benefited. After receiving the report, the Council of course proceeded to squabble among themselves as to what account was to be charged for the proposed works, and after various arguments the report was referred back to the works committee, for them to apportion the various amounts to be charged to different accounts. The Lichfield street water supply next claimed attention, and after some discussion on the surveyor’s report, the town clerk, by the request of Councillor Jones read a resolution passed on 15th Sep-» tember, 1873, to the effect that this work should be proceeded with as soon as convenient. As it is now only September Bth, 1874, we could hardly expect that, in the short space of time since the passing of this resolution, anything would have been done. But we trust that by 15th September, 1875, the Council will have found it convenient to do something towards a work which is most earnestly needed for the part of the city referred to. Altogether we look at the report of the surveyor as a hopeful sign that there will be some really useful work done by the City Council, and that if the surveyor can keep the members of that august body to the mark, we may see more work done, and less squabbling going on in the Council Chamber.