The Globe. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1878.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1503, 10 December 1878, Page 2

The Globe. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1878.

Our remarks last week, in reference to the re-survey of the'city, have drawn forth, as we almost expected it would, a reply from one evidently cm fait in surveying matters, and whose assumed name, “ Old Colonist,” shows that he is not speaking from hearsay. "When alluding to the report lately sent to the City Council by Mr, J. H. Baker, the Chief Surveyor, we strongly advised the City Council to adopt the suggestions which it contained. The Chief Surveyor was offering a standard survey of the city blocks, which survey could presumably be taken as one of strict accuracy, and we gave it as our opinion that, under such existing circumstances, and taking into consideration the fact that vested interests are daily increasing throughout the town, the sooner the question of settling definitively people’s holdings is dealt with the better it will bo for a long-suffering and expectant community. “ Old Colonist” finds fault with several of our strictures. Ho says that some of our remarks appear to have been written under a misapprehension, especially when we referred to the absurd way in which the 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 more each way. Our correspondent combats the statement by saying that, while such extra measurement was deliberately pegged at the time “the frontages are shown on the original map of the survey of Christchurch made by Mr. Jollie as 101 links.” He further adds that “the town sections wore not Crown granted as 100 x 250, but wore simply referred to as being town section number so and so on the map of the Chief Surveyor, and that that map shows the measurements which are now ascertained to be correct.” It is evident that “ Old Colonist ” has not refreshed his memory lately on the points which ho now raises, A glance at the Government maps and other records will show that not only were the regular town sections of the city granted as being 100 by 250 links, but that there are absolutely no traces whatever of what became of the numberless extra single links so kindly allowed “ on the ground ” by the original surveyor. From a legal point of view, the existence of this mysterious link to every chain is purely fictitious. It is a matter of tradition only. And while the Crown grant of each section refers to the plan drawn in the margin—and not to the section as being number so and so on the map of the Chief Surveyor—each of these marginal plans contains in black and white the measurement of 100 by 250 links, which, wo may hero state is the only true legal record in existence of the size of each lot. As to the socalled Chief Surveyor’s map of Christchurch, upon the value of which so much stress is placed, it is worse than useless for mathematical reference, and although signed by two of our old Canterbury Chief Surveyors, it is certainly not worth the paper it is drawn upon. To show how far astray “ Old Colonist ” is in his so-called facts, wo may furthermore state that the eccentricity of the original survey is exhibited in a great many places, when, for example, two frontages being on parallel and rectangular spaces, one frontage shows a surplus of no less than eleven links, while the other frontage does not possess it. The system of adding on to the ground an extra link to every chain of frontage was ridiculous

enough in all conscience. Such an impracticable piece of unprofessional ingenuity was never heard, of before or since in any part of the civilized world. And the fact of those extra links—thrown about promiscuously throughout the survey, like plums in a pudding—being left out of the measurements shown in the title given by the Crown, discloses as egregious a piece of mathematical absurdity as official records ever exemplified. A suggestion is made that as the owners of property have certain interests and rights, before it is officially and finally declared that their holdings encroach on the streets, the fullest and most careful investigation should be made. The City Council, as representing the citizens, is pointed out as the proper investigating power in deciding whether the proposed lines represent the best general average lines that can be adopted. With this wo quite agree. There is no doubt but that, laymen as the councillors are in technical questions, yet, they will not “ buy a pig in a poke,” lot it even be an officially authorised one. But whenever the time comes for a sub-committee of the Council to consider the question we trust that no outside pressure from members of the “ learned” profession, let the latter be interested as “ old colonists” or otherwise, will be permitted to influence the speedy settlement of a question which is daily growing into greater magnitude. Building are going up in all directions, in many cases they are valuable ones, frequently reaching the very edge of the Crown granted lots. There should be no unnecessary delay in dealing with what has been for many years past a source of anxiety as well as of financial annoyance to owners of property. Mr. Baker’s datum line when the departure of the new survey was selected, seems to have been a singularly fortunate one inasmuch as the results of the work have struck a general mean of errors by which the encroachments have not been thrown throughout, on one side. On the contrary, the encroachments have generally boon found to be fairly distributed.

The works committee, consisting of the Mayor elect (chairman), and Crs. Clifford and Jenkins, met in the Council Chambers between nine and ten o’clock this morning for the purpose of meeting the various persons interested in Carter’s lane, who had been written to with a view to see if any satisfactory compromise could be come to with regard to the Carter’s lane affair. Every resident had been communicated with, and it was hoped that there would be a good attendance to meet the committee, and quietly talk the matter over. Only one burgess, however, turned up, a Mr Mazey, who, although belonging to the now celebrated lane in question refused point blank to contribute a single sixpence. The only reason he gave for coming at all was to meet the courtesy of the Council half way, but further he would not go. Mr Mazey was then dismissed with a benediction, and the committee having received no offers whatever from any other of the landed proprietors of the House, declined to accept the lonely offer of £2O from the gentleman who gave that thoroughfare its name. It might also bo mentioned in this connection that the feelings of the committee were further solaced by the receipt of a note from Mr W. A. Murray, stating his firm and unbiassed belief that he was not liable, and should not consequently “ part.” It was thereupon decided to draw up a report embodying these circumstances, for presentation to the Council with a request that they would proceed against the offenders with the utmost rigour of the law.