The Globe. TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 1875.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 302, 1 June 1875, Page 2

The Globe. TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 1875.

The Members of the City Council have determined by a majority of two, to make an attempt to render pedestrianism in Christchurch a little safer than it has been of late years. Councillor Ick's motion that the City Solicitor, Dr Foster, should prepare a bye-law regulating the speed at which horses drawing wheeled vehicles should be allowed to be driven round certain corners, and across certain streets in the city, has not been carried before it was urgently required. In no city is there a greater amount of recklessness indulged in by the drivers, both of licensed and private vehicles, than is the case in Christchurch. It seems to be a positive pride to some drivers in the town to see how narrowly they can avoid running over hapless citizens who are compelled to walk, and these drivers never appear for one moment to allow that those who walk have as much right to the streets as those who drive. The Bye-law will, if it comes into force, as we sincerely hope it will do, be very unpopular for a while. It will be called arbitrary and many other harsh names, but if its provisions are properly drawn out and these provisions insisted on, it will be found a great boon to the inhabitants of the town. That the proposed measure is thought arbitrary by some of the councillors is evident from their own statements, and Councillor Bishop thought that " riders and drivers should only be compelled to walk at the intersection of Cashel and Colombo streets " But if the proposed restriction upon the pace of horses and vehicles is required at the particular crossing named by Councillor Bishop, how much more is such a restriction necessary at the intersection of Hereford street, High street, and Colombo street. The driver of the hansom cabs in this town, are the greatest offenders against the ordinary laws of safety, and a sharp lesson or two to some of these men would do a great deal of good. In many towns in the Australian Colonies, the laws regulating the traffic in the streets are very strict, and we can see no reason why such laws should not be in force in Christchurch. The number of wheeled vehicles in daily use in the town is increasing rapidly, and it is high time that the drivers' should be compelled to take ordinary precautions, to prevent accidents to pedestrians, or to their fellow drivers in charge of other vehicles. That they will not take these precautions without a very stringent bye-law being in force in Christchurch, under which law they will be liable to suffer certain pains and penalties, we firmly believe, and therefore we hope that the result of Dr Foster's instructions from the Council, will be such a bye-law.