The Globe. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1874.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 153, 30 November 1874, Page 2

The Globe. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1874.

It says a great deal for the longsuffering nature of the public of Christchurch that they are content to rest quietly with the passenger station of the railway nearly a mile from the centre of the city. Time after time attempts have been made to alter what is admitted to have been a grave mistake, but they have been frustrated by squabbles as to sites, and different interests clashing. But this should be allowed to interfere no longer ; the public interest must be paramount, and therefore it is quite time that the Government look action in the matter. Lot them select the best site, so far as their judgment goes, irrespective of private interests, and upon this erect the station. Of course there will be grumblers; if they deferred the erection of the building until all were agreed as to the site it would not be completed in a generation, but we think we can safely say that in the selection of a fairly central site, easily accessible from the various parts ofthe city, the Gfovernraent would have the support of the majority of the public. The money has been voted for the work, and the wonder is why it is not proceeded with. No one can deny that by this delay the public are sufferers, and very severely too, because the distance of the station from the business centre is such as to cause considerable inconvenience and annoyance to those whose business compels them to travel much. This would be obviated were the passenger station brought nearer to the city, as proposed. But - there is even a stronger reason than this. The goods traffic on the lines has now become very considerable, more indeed than can be carried on at the station as at present constituted, in conjunction with the passenger traffic. A separation of the two is inevitable, and every day that is allowed to pass without it being done makes the case worse. By taking the passenger station to a more central part, and leaving the present station as a goods depot simply, the work could be better performed and public convenience consulted.

The matter lias now assumed this aspect —it is actually necessary that the railway station should be brought nearer to the city ; and, putting all questions of this or that man’s site out of the question, it is the imperative duty of the Government to take some steps in the matter. What we want to see done is that the Government should come down to the Council next session, and be prepared to submit to them, as the representatives of the people, a site for the erection of the building, and leave the matter to them as a fair and unbiassed tribunal. By this means the difficulty as to site would be got over, aud what is now an unmitigated evil removed.