The Globe. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1874.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 105, 1 October 1874, Page 2

The Globe. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1874.

It is customary in launching a new journalistic venture to indicate generally the aim proposed, and the policy it is intended to adopt. We this day come before our readers, not in the capacity of an untried aspirant for public favour, but rather to gratefully acknowledge the large measure of support we have received under the late proprietorship, and to give an outline of the course intended to he pursued under the new regime. We start

upon our career perfectly unfettered in any way ; bound to no party, under the control of no clique, we shall be able fearlessly and independently to speak our mind with no uncertain sound upon any subject affecting the interests of the public. The of an organ of public opinion in Christchurch thus able to take an independent position, and freely, without being in any way biassed, to criticise and comment on matters of general interest lias long been felt. Neither of our morning contemporaries can take up such a position, and the result is that no opportunity has hitherto existed for that healthful expression of opinion which is so beneficial in a community. Our end and aim will be as far as possible to supply the want, and take up the position of a thoroughly independent journal —prompt to expose abuses, let the wrongdoer be who he may ; outspoken in opinion, and offering every facility to any one who may have a grievance of a public nature to bring it under the notice of the community. We shall always endeavor to he guided by the sentiment expressed in the works of Shakspeare, “ Nothing extenuate nor set “ down aught in malice,” and shall not shrink when we conceive it our duty to speak out in the interests of our constituents, the public. Thus, without descending to scurrility or abuse, we hope to exercise a wholesome check over public affairs, and more particularly —as we are all so deeply interested —regarding municipal matters. By so doing we hope to merit the support of the public, which will enable us successfully to carry out the line of policy we have laid down —one of a perfectly independent character — and to make this journal what we hope it will be, essentially and truly a reflex of public opinion.

A Paragraph in Wednesday morning’s issue of our contemporary, The Press, calls attention to a state of things which ought at. once to receive attention at the hands of the Government or the Road Board of the district. We allude to the dangerous state of the Sumner road, at that part of it which is known as the cutting. It will be recollected that some time since a coach accident occurred there, by which one of the passengers lost his life. The Provincial Council at its last session voted a sum of money for the widening and otherwise rendering safe this very dangerous portion of the road, but no steps have yet been taken to expend it. The summer season, when the tratlic upon the road is likely to be very large, is close at hand, and yet nothing is done to lessen the risk which, with the utmost care, must necessarily attach to driving along the road. The toll has now been taken olf the Hcothcote bridge, and this, of course, will augment the tratlic considerably, added to which large sales of land have been made in the township, and there is every probability of a number of villas being erected very shortly Therefore it is not fair, putting it on that ground alone, that the residents at Sumner should be called upon to encounter tbe risk of driving to and fro on a road admittedly dangerous in the extreme, particularly when the funds necessary to render it as safe as it is possible to do, considering the natural features of the country, have been voted by the Provincial Council some months ago. But there is another way to look at it, and one in which all of us as citizens of Christchurch are interested. This is the highway to the seaside where, during the summer season, the residents in the city can get fresh air and sea breezes —two most desirable things when we consider the unhealthiness of the town itself, more especially during the hotter months. But if this risk Ims to be encountered, the greater portion of the people will be debarred from enjoying the advantages of a seaside trip, and therefore it. is to be hoped that, though somewhat late in the day, some steps may be taken by those in authority to make the road at least tolerably safe for travel.