The Globe. THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 1878.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1279, 25 April 1878, Page 2

The Globe. THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 1878.

It is satisfactory to find that the City Council are determined to carry out their by-laws with strictness. This is more especially to be commended as tho by-law respecting the rigid enforcement of which tho Council was so particular is the one referring to the erection of buildings within a certain radius of the centre of tho city. We have already expressed our opinion that tho time is not far distant when nothing but brick or stone will be allowed within tho inner circle. That lias not yet arrived, but it is necessary for tho safety of the city that a careful supervision should bo exercised over the buildings which are now in course of erection. If we allow of evasions of the bye-law, either on the ground of expense to the person putting up tho building or of mistakes made, wo might just as well not have any by-law at all. The practice of granting exemptions or winking at evasions would soon grow into very large dimensions, and the full extent of the mischief would never bo known until a large fire took place, when the folly of allowing buildings constructed of wood or other inflammable materials in a closelybuilt part of the city might result in a serious loss. Tho by-law has been before tho public—at least that section of them most interested —for some time. Copies were sent to all the architects and principal builders in the city fur their suggestions thereon. It is, therefore, no surprise legislation but a bylaw, the want of which was much felt, and which has been made with the full knowledge of those who come under its provisions. Therefore, there can be no excuse for evasion, and the Council have, wo think, acted wisely by at once taking up tho position they have done and insisting on the provisions of tho by-law being strictly carried out. There is just one point about this by-law which is worth while considering. Uudor it tho city stirveyor is made the person wliose duly it is to see that tho provisions of the law are carried out. Now it seems to us that tho multifarious duties of that officer will prevent him giving that amount of supervision to buildings in progress which it is so necessary should bo done. If tho law is to be of use, the Council should have some means of assuring themselves that ’builders and others do comply with it strictly. But this, it appears to us, cannot bo satisfactorily done by tho City Surveyor in conjunction with his other duties. It may, therefore, be worth while the Council considering whether they cannot appoint an officer who could undertake this in conjunction with some other duty which would not prevent his efficiently discharging that of buildingsurveyor, By this means the Council would possess an efficient check against any infraction of the provisions of the bylaw, and this very supervision might bo the means of preventing the spread of a very destructive fire. At any rate tho matter is worthy of consideration, and wo hope the Council will see their way clear to make some such krrangomeut as we have suggested.

The privilege of Englishmen to grumble has always been conceded. In many cases it is exorcised without duo cause. But we think there is ample room foxcomment on tho way in which at present the traffic arrangements of the railway at the Christchurch station are conducted, especially at holiday times. When undergoing all the discomforts of crowding for tickets and pushing on to a small platform we were consoled with the thought tiis.t, so soon as the new station was built, all this would be a thing of the past, But, owing to the absurd rognlatioue made by some one in authority, the same inconvenience and discomfort wore in full force on Easter Monday. It might reasonably have been expected that on a day such as that, when a large number of persons travel, not only the ordinary convenience for obtaining tickets would have been available, but, if possible, a little more. This is what common sense would have dictated. Given a largo nnpVbor of persons to despatch in a short time, every facility .should bo afforded to into the carriages as quickly u- ()n ordinary days, and easily as po,- .. -nc-teilii* when the trams fake about * *

pvt of t|ie passengers that travelled ou

sengers can go in as they arrive without any inconvenience. On Monday, however, the doors of the station wore closed, and kept so until a large crowd had assembled, thus making the obtaining of tickets, especially with ladies, a matter of just as much difficulty and unpleasantness as in the days of tho old station. So soon as tho crowd, in tho official opinion, had readied tho right number, one door was opened only, then the light for tickets round tho little windows began. Had the passengers nvho arrived in knots of four or five, been allowed to pass on to tho platform, getting their tickets as they did so, there would not have been the slightest confusion. It is hard to conceive the reason for this utterly absurd and uncalled-for regulation. Tho platform is largo enough to hold three times tho number who were there on Monday, and had the ticket offices been open from the time of the first train leaving for tho races, everyone could have obtained a ticket without having, as was tho case on Monday, to elbow a way through a crowd. Tho fact was, no one seemed to know what to do. There was no system or order at all prevailing, hence the confusion. They manage these things differently in Otago. In Dunedin, when there is any special holiday causing a large increase in the travelling public, the railway tickets are on sale for three or four days previously at the various shops. By this means, anyone accompanied by ladies is spared the ordeal of having to push his and their way through a not over-polite crowd, as is tho case here. Why this should not be done hero wo are at a loss to know. At any rate, on tho occasion of any future holiday, wo trust someone in authority will prevent the issue of such absurd and uncalled for orders as was tho case on Monday last.