THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1879.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1784, 8 November 1879, Page 2

THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1879.

The ratepayers of Christchurch are certainly indebted to Councillor Taylor for calling attention to a very important matter, which appears hitherto to have escaped notice. We refer to tho damage done to the streets by tho operations of the Drainage Board and Gas Company. For some time past these two bodies have in the course of their works had occasion to break up tho streets of the city. With this of course no fault can ho found. Tho proper drainage and lighting of a city arc two most important items. They are absolutely necessary for tho health and safety of its residents, and it would he absurd to wish to restrict tho operations of the bodies appointed to see that they are properly carried out. But, as Councillor Taylor vor justly pointed out, it is tho duty of the Drainage Board or Gas Company, whichever it may he that breaks up the street, to restore it, when so broken up, to its original condition, as far as possible. It is absurd to suppose that the ratepayers will allow public bodies to so cut up the streets, which cost so much for formation, as that they shall require tho expenditure of considerable sums of money to put them in repair. Tot this is what the Gas Company and the Drainage Board have done. Wherever they have had the streets excavated, the city has had to pay, more or less, for their being restored to their original condition. When we consider that this has been going on for some time, the ratepayers can form some idea of what extra expense —and consequently unnecessary expenditure of their rates—the city Las been put to. Wo only wonder that some Councillor has not ere this brought the matter up with a view to compelling tho Board or Company concerned to restore all streets to their original condition when they have finished with them. That some steps in this direction are highly necessary is shown hy tho report of the City Surveyor on the subject, road at tho last meeting of tho Council. After stating what, in his opinion, would be a fair compensation on the part of tho public bodies referred to as having excavated the streets, he proceeds—“ Another reason why it is so difficult to form an accurate estimate is that some of tho streets are twisted out of all shape, while others sustain very little injury. The north bolt, for instance, was so considerably sunk that wo have had many hundred loads of earth to cart on to it. Madras street north was so thrown out of shape that it was necessary to re-channel and re-asphalfo a portion of it, and Antigua street, where tho excavation was not rammed on being filled in, was obliged to have earth carted on to it all last winter to make up for tho sinking.” This puts very plainly before tho ratepayers the extent to which the city funds have suffered from the laches of tho parties concerned. The Council, it will bo seen, have had to cart “ hundreds of loads of earth” on to tho north belt; Madras street in part has had to bo re-channelled and asphalted, and earth has had to bo carted on to Antigua street during the whole of the winter. This, it will bo seen, involved no trifling expense, and was incurred entirely and solely through tho fault of tho Drainage Board, which, hy tho way, appears to have been tho principal offender. Why the city should he mulcted in a heavy expenditure through tho opera!ions of another public body we are unablo to see. Tho Legislature, iu giving powers to break up streets for tho purposes of drainage, certainly never contemplated tho Drainage Board making tho city pay heavily for repairs of damage caused by their operations. Wo trust that Councillor Taylor will move further in this matter, and that, if tho Drainage Board does not moot the Council in a fair spirit with reference to compensation, that the Council should he asked to carry a resolution appealing to tho Legislature for powers to compel restitution to be xuado. As it is now, tho city

finances are in no flourishing condition. By the statement of the Finance Committee, we shall be some £SOOO to the had at the end of the municipal financial year, even supposing everything due to the Council is received, concerning which there is considerable doubt. Many important and necessary works for the comfort and health of the city have had to stand over for want of funds, and yet wo find that a largo expenditure has had to be made to repair damages done to streets by another public body. Such a state of things cannot bo allowed to continue, and Councillor Taylor, as we have said, certainly deserves very groat credit for having brought tho matter prominently before tho ratepayers.

Like many other institutions of a kindred nature, tho Lyttelton Colonists’ Society is suffering from tho bad times. Tho report brought up at the meeting on Wednesday night certainly shows a very gloomy outlook for the future; a state of things which is bo he greatly regretted on public grounds. For some time past, by a liberal provision of tho committee, the reading room of tho institution has been open free from charge to all persons visiting Lyttelton. To tho seafaring men—sailors of vessels visiting tho port —this has been a very great boon, audits withdrawal would he a thing much to be deplored. In a place like Lyttelton, where tho temptations to drink are very many, such an institution can only be regarded in tho light of a great public benefit, affording as it does a counter attraction—and a powerful one too—to the drinking shops which abound. This being so, it has a strong claim on the sympathies of the people and to the consideration of tho Borough Council in the matter of pecuniary assistance, for it in reality takes tho place of a public library. However, it is impossible to pass over, without comment, the scanty measure of support afforded to the institution by tho people themselves. That only ninety subscribers should ho found to an institution of this character, out of a population of nearly four thousand, is scarcely creditable to a place like Lyttelton. The library is a good one, comprising some 4000 volumes, and tho revenue from so small a number of subscribers as that referred to is quite insufficient to allow of it doing tlio good it would under more favourable circumstances bo enable to do. Were it exclusively a private institution it could hardly have a claim on the funds of tho Government or the Borough, but under the circumstances wo have referred to it seems that it is entitled to consideration. It holds a peculiar position, is a great public benefit, and it seems fair that its position of public utility should ho recognized.