PUBLIC MEETING IN CHRISTCHURCH.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 595, 16 May 1876, Page 3

PUBLIC MEETING IN CHRISTCHURCH.

Ta the Editor of the Globe, Sifi,-°-My suggestion for a public meeting on the Cathedral square station question has the approval of many business men, indeed -of all with whom I have talked; but they •say that business presses so that they cannot spare the time necessary to getting up a ' petition to the Mayor for a public meeting ' Kow, although petitions are useful things, yet -they are not de riguehr. # The Council would be quite justified m passing a plain motion to the effect that the Mayor should call a public meeting, at the % usual place and time, to consider, say, three vzesolutions : , ' .. „ ~ 1 That it is expedient that the Southern railway be brought into the centre of the -city at once. ' .... , . 2 That the diagonal from Addington to -Cathedral square is the shortest, cheapest, and best route, as it needs no land purchase 3 That a deputation, to consist of his Worship, and say nine other persons, shall present the result of this public meeting to the proper authorities, wi'h a request that immediate effect be given to it. It is obvious that no better time could be • chosen for this meeting than just now? the land sales are very heavy (over £27,000 in m single week), and, although the Provincial • Council may meet no more, yet the Executives ate allowed, with approval, to initiate

works of great and general public good; provided they have the funds. That it is a great and general public good is quite obvious. That Timaruite picture in ray last letter is drawn from life; and language of a very improper character is often indulged in by travellers, at the punishment and loss inflicted upon them by the present inconvenient arrangements. As an instance to the point I can tell you a story. The other day one of our Hereford street merchants had to take a cab to catch the train, but, missing it at Madras street, ordered cabbie at a gallop up the Hazeldeu road to the Addingto-i station. I saw the curious charioteer, standing on his perch, lash his foaming panting steed; I saw our fity magnate leaning eagerly on the hansom door, strain his eye to catch the train standing at Addington ; I heard the wild koo-e-e-e of the cabbie as he sought to stop the train. In vain ! The remorseless carriages moved off when he was within one hundred yards.. Ashburton was minus one visitor, and the cab went quietly down the Lincoln road to Hereford street. All this inconvenience, expense, and cruelty, because the rail doe 3 not come to Christchurch. Then the saving of half an hour on the return journey, to every passenger, constitutes it a great general public good; and this saving cannot be attained by any other route than this diagonal. The public remember doubtless the great agitation about bringing the train into a ce'tain garden somewhere at the back of Messrs Edwards, Bennett, and Co's stores ;' but how would that save time to Southern travellers? How much hindrance to city traffic by crossing streets ? No doubt it was very patriotic to press on that affair, and would be useful to Lytlelton passsengers, but the same object could be obtained by a loop line, curving up through the lonely paddocks between Montreal and Durham streets, and crossing the river Avon at Dr Patrick's, and thence running into the Cathedral square station too ; so that the central terminus could serve both purposes, with the least possible inconvenience to the city and its traffic. This idea I have cherished for years, and mainly because it is the mo3t business-like way of settling the vexed question of a central terminus; but, if the Council decided to call a public meeting, it would be as well not to interfere with the Lyttelton traffic line till the othrr were open ; for once the enormous advantages of a central station were realised, the public would find some plan or other to effect it, in spite of every obstacle. This would be done without any trouble on the Council's part. I can assure the Council they will have a good meeting and all the requisite support, and, if it be well advertised down the South line, many Southerners would attend, for it is mainly they who are concerned. Undoubtedly the Lincoln road school is the proper place of meeting, if it could be had, because it is the centre of the proposed improvement, and, be'ng close to the Addington station. If the night chosen were the late train night, passengers could attend and get home after the meeting. After these few sketchy remarks on the business, I mu«t leave the question to the citizens who are prominent at our social gatherings. Lastly, I say remember London, with its circular central line, and underground railway, has had to pay millions for that which can be attained by you for a few paltry thousands. Yours, Sec, J. W. TBEADWELL.