THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1879.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1795, 21 November 1879, Page 2

THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1879.

The City Council has now before it a proposition as to the disposition of the clock tower presented hy the Government. Cr. King at the last meeting tabled the following notice of motion for discussion on Monday next: —“ That this Council take immediate steps to lay out Latimer Square in an ornamental way, and to plant trees and shrubs of a suitable kind. Also, to have the clock tower presented by the General Government to the City of Christchurch, erected in the centre, and in connection with the same to have attached the fireball presented hy the Union Insurance Company.” It will be seen that the motion contains two propositions, viz., the planting of Latimer Square, and the erection of the tower with firo-holl attached. Wo will deal with the latter proposition first. For some time past it has been evident that both in the matter of alarms of fire and in the benefit received from the public clocks the residents in the eastern and north and north-eastern portions of the city—a very considerable portion of the whole population—have been at a great disadvantage. The central portion has had the advantage of the two fire alarms and at least throe clocks. In view, therefore, of a number of the members of the Fire Brigade who live in the parts of the city referred to, an alarm further east than now exists is very necessary. As will be recollected, an effort was made to place the clock tower in the grounds of the East Christchurch School Committee. Though the position would have been an improvement on the one now proposed, there is the insuperable difficulty of the city having no title to the land upon which the clock would bo erected. There is no other suitable site except the one proposed by Councillor King, and, therefore, it would seem as if the proposal were a reasonable one, faute de mieux. For if the square is to be laid out, the clock may as well bo there as anywhere else, seeing that it cannot go further east. If the square is not to be laid out, thou wo presume the motion for moving the clock tower there would drop. As stated by Councillor King, the residents are willing to subscribe towards the cost of the erection, and, no doubt, not only they but many others will contribute their share towards what they consider would prove an ornament to the city and an affair of practical utility. Wo now come to the second point, namely, the planting of Latimer Square. This matter requires a great deal of consideration. The consent to this work should, wo conceive, only bo given under certain conditions. If these are complied with then the proposed work will not only bo a benefit to the city, but will add greatly to its ornamentation, On the other hand, if these conditions are net rigidly enforced and carried out the planting will simply I be a waste of time and money, and the square had far bettor remain in its present condition. In the first place, the charac- 1

ter of tbo shrubs, &c., must be distinctly laid down. To have a number of large trees growing there would simply bo to pervert the intention of the reserve. Instead of being one of the lungs of the city it would bo a forest. Besides, all round it are largo plantations of trees, and what is wanted in the square are shrubs and not trees of any height. Next, if the work is decided to bo done then there must bo a provision not only for careful supervision of the garden, but also, if possible, for preventing the whole affair from being swept away next year by a Council whose notions of life may not perhaps soar higher than the accumulation of money. Wo have had sad experience of this sort of thing in the vandalism which led to the destruction of the 'plantations on the North belt, and turned what was an ornament into a wilderness. Unless care is taken to keep tho proposed garden in perfect order it will become a mere receptacle for rubbish and a complete eyesore, and tho square would bo far bettor left in its present condition. It is one of those things that, if it is to bo done at all, must be done really well. But if the City Council, on deciding to do tho work, take moans for providing that tho ornamental square, when formed, shall bo kept in order, and also, if possible, that, once established, the improvements shall not bo swept away, then wo say by all means do the work. There is no doubt but that the keeping tho square in really good order will cost a good deal of money annually, but tho proposition provides for tho utilisation of the tower, which was regarded somewhat as a white elephant; it adds another to our moans of fire alarm ; and, lastly, it provides for the decided ornamentation and improvement of tho city. This being so, and seeing that the people themselves are willing to pay privately a part of tho cost, wo cannot see that tho Council would go very far wrong in carrying the project into effect, always provided that the conditions we have referred to are strictly observed.