The Globe. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1878.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1500, 6 December 1878, Page 2

The Globe. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1878.

Much has often boon said in roforonco to the incorrect manner in which it was popularly supposed the city of Christchurch was laid out when originally survoyed. Late in the day as it is, a rosurvoy has at last been made, and the result of the work has boon forwarded to the City Council by the Government, Tlio contents of the reports of the Chief Surveyor, Mr .1. 11. Baker, and of the goodosical surveyor who executed the work, must bo taken as very satisfactory. Why and wherefore this mathematical chock was not carried out long ago, wo are not prepared to say. During lato years, enormous sums of money have been expended by I he City Council upon improving the public thoroughfares,while at the same time the amount of vested interests which kepi on accumulating in tho main centres, and in fact in all parts of the town, was very great. A feeling had existed for a considerable time that a good deal of hap-hazard guesswork had been unfortunately resorted to from time to time, by people anxious to fouco or otherwise occupy their holdings. Surveyors themselves differed as to properly fixed startingpoints, and it was generally understood that groat confusion, in certain cases, would arise at cue time or another through

the absence of recognisable and indisputed data. The physical features of the spot selected for the laying out of the city, and the system adopted of running streets at right angles, were certainly very favorablo to reducing to a minimum errors sf a serious nature. As property increased in value, however, more uneasiness was felt in the matter. The Chief Surveyor now offers to the Council a standard survey of the city blocks, which survey can presumably be taken as one of strict accuracy. In technically scientific matters of course, it requires people to be versed in the mystorios of the craft to bo enabled to form a competent opinion of the merits or demerits of the work of a brother craftsman. Professional men probably might bo found, should an opportunity bo given them, willing to dispute the results arrived at by Mr Baker and his assistants. Surveyors, it would appear, like medical men and lawyers, often disagree. But this should not influence the City Council in postponing the adoption of the standard-survey which has just been completed, apparently with much care and judgment. Delays in matters of the kind are injurious if not at, times oppressive It is fortunate certainly, as shown by the report, that the errors in fencing and building discovered by Mr. Adams have occurred in localities whore no great harm can yet have been done. The most serious encroachments and deviations seem to have taken place in the less populous parts of the the city, while fortunately, in the main streets, where the principal stone or brick buildings have been erected, the encroachments are but trivial. Here and there only, a building may be an inch or two beyond or within the building lines as originally laid out in 1850 by the Government Surveyor. Mr. Baker, in his report lays but little stress upon the absurd way in which this original survey was conducted, when the sections Crown-granted as possessing 100 links by 250 links, really contained, as pegged on the ground, one link moro each way. The suggestion ha offers of loaving undisturbed the present state of things, is cortainly a practical one. Of course the help of the Legislature will have to be invoked so as to render a bad system "good by Act of Parliament." If, as we have no doubt will be the case, the City Council endorses the now survey, together with the suggestions of the Chiof Surveyor, the many difficulties which have for so many years past beset property-holders when getting their land measured for purposes of settlement, or of subdivision, will once for all disappear. Mr. Baker purposes to place stono blocks at intervals upon the main intersecting lines of the streets, which, carefully measured as their positions have been, will become a reliable guidance, and bo the means of effecting a great saving of trouble and expense for the future.

We again hear complaints in reference to the loose manner in which certain matters of routine are conducted on the Canterbury railways. Let alone the unexplained and apparently inexplicable catise for the detention of trains and delays in keeping up the fixed time, it would seem aB if the slovenly ways of railway officials on the Auckland lines were likely to obtain here. Day aft3r day trains depart without anyone—not even the guard—being aware of what carriage is reserved for the use of tobacco-smokers. And it is especially on the Lyttelton line that this neglect of the officials to make provision for the comfort of those who do not love the fragrant weed is made more apparent. The bell rings, a rush is made for the carriages, and seats are taken by ladies and others in the first compartment that offers. Their being no notice ticketed outside, or in fact anywhere else, to show what carriage is reserved for smokers, it naturally follows thab contretemps of a certainly not pleasant character occur not unfrequently. Ladies find themeelves stared out by men with pipes or cigars in their mouths, who look on wonderingly at their having selected a smoking carriage. The guard enters, and explanations if not recriminations ensue. This is not as it should be. Surely there must be a rule stringently enjoining that the public shall be made aware of what portion of the trains shall be allotted for the various purposes of the travellers. The number of the classes, for instance, is painted in large and legible characters upon the panels of each carriage. It is the easiest matter in the world to affix a ticket to any especial carriage devoted to the use of smokers. That such means of identification should be so continually neglected tells much against the way in which railway discipline is conducted in this provincial district. And while on this subject we may state that the porterage of luggage at Christchurch from the Lyttelton trains is disgracefully conducted. Several timeß during the week there were no hand trucks to be seen, and passengers were compelled to shoulder their luggage, a porter or two looking on placidly contented that " things should be as they are." Wo trust that the manager of the department may think fit to look to these oft repeated subjects of complaint, and remedy them without loss of time. It would not cause much loss of breath nor even of money.

Whebe is Hiroki ? What has become of that famous brigand, murderer, thief, hero, or patriot, whichever people from different standpoints may choose to consider the proper name for him. Ho has been killed, drowned, shot at, captured, over and over again. He has had his offences winked at ; the Government have had their hand upon him half-a-dozen times. The Hon. J. Sheoban, nay, Sir George Grey himself, has, at the request of many Native chiefs, promised to drive round to a number of pahs and lead him away to justice arm in arm. A moro exciting chase has never been carried on, a more eventful campaign has never been soldiered through, and a more gratifying result has never been obtained in all our Native dealings since the time of Kooti. The intensity of the diplomacy employed in the negotiations carried on about his rendition wiih scarred old cannibals, may, as the playbills say, be equalled, but cannot be surpassed. Flour, sugar, rum, blankets, tobacco, and promises, have been Scattered around with a noble disregard to the cost, cither in money or of truth, with this difference—the rum, &c.,went to the Maoris, and the promises to the payors of the cost. But we do not intend to take a mean, party view of the thing ; what wo complain about is being left so long without any of those entertaining telegrams that reported erstwhile the progress of the colored gentleman wc arc speaking about. Hiroki must be somewhere. Is there no enterprising special correspondent up North who will tell us where he is? We cannot do without Hiroki.