THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 1880.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1889, 13 March 1880, Page 2

THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 1880.

The vexed question of the formation of the South Town Belt has once more been raised, by the Sydenham Borough Council making the inquiry whether anything is going to be done to the South Town Belt in view of the approaching winter season. The history of the South Town Belt difficulty—for it has now assumed that phase —is somewhat interesting. At the first conference of the united councils the proposition was made that the formation, &c, should be done by the two councils unitedly, each doing their own portion. But this amicable method of settling the differences was rendered abortive by the City Council declining to agree unless the Sydenham Council carried out an expensive system of channelling at once. The latter agreed to do all that was necessary to keep the side channels clean, and to prevent the nuisances which now exist, leaving the work of side channelling to be carried out at an early date. As we pointed out at the time the request of the City Council was somewhat unreasonable. A means of solving what had proved a difficulty for many years, and of putting in repair a part which has been for some years past a nuisance, was presented, and therefore the City Council should not havo sought to impose conditions which were rather harsh. For this reason the conference ended in nothing, and the bad state of a portion of the South Town Belt continued. At the next conference, which was sought by the Sydenham Council, a new point was raised, viz., that both Councils should unite in obtaining an amendment in the Municipal Corporations' Act, so'that the Sydenham borough might be brought into the some position as the Road Boards with regard to boundary roads—the Belt joining the boundary of Sydenham—and that they should thus contribute a share of the cost of formation, &c. The Mayorof Christchurch at this meeting also proposed that the Borough of Sydenham should merge into the city. Neither proposition fouad any favor with the conference, and the meeting then adjourned for a week without any result being arrived at. On the reassembling of the conference, three resolutions were brought forward. The two by the Sydenham Council were as follows: —(1) " That the boundary of the Sydenham borough be the centre of the South Town Belt;" and (2) " That the boundary of Sydenham on the north be the north side of the side channel, on the south side of the Christchurch Town Belt." The one by the City Council was:— ," That the Municipal Corporations Act be altered as follows -.—' The Council of the borough may recover from the Road Board of the road district, borough, or municipality of which any such road is also a boundary a half-share of the cost of forming, shingling, or metalling, channelling, asphalting, and maintenance of such road, where such or any part are necessary." These propositions were discussed, but no result followed, and the conference broke up abruptly. Such are the salient points of the history of the South Town Belt matter. There can be no doubt of this—indeed, it is allowed by both sides—that the present state of the south portion of the Town Belt is a disgrace not only from a sanitary point of view, but also from, the risk which exists of accident from the unformed state of the road. The question now is, what is to be done. So far as we can see, the most feasible proposition is that to have the Act altered, so as to put the Borough Council in the same position as Road Boards are with regard to boundary roads. The Sydenham Council would then contribute a fair share towards the cost of putting the road in order, and the slightest alteration in the wording of the Act would do the business. Moreover all similar cases would then be met. The proposition of the Mayor of Christchurch to make one municipality of the two districts, though good enough in its way, would not, it is easy to see, be at all likely to be accepted by Sydenham. It would appear indeed that in every way the means we have alluded to is by far the easiest way out of the difficulty. If it were accepted, means would be taken to introduce an amending Bill early in the coming session, and should it pass, as there is every probability it would without opposition, the work could be proceeded with sufficiently early in the winter to prevent many of the evils which have existed in the past. To adopt this course involves no sacrifice of opinions on either side, and is the most equitable settlement which can be come to. Both bodies would be equally benefitted by the completion of this work, and therefore should be entitled to contribute towards its cost. Nor would the proposed amendment interfere with the present status of either Council, whilst, on the other hand, it would afford the machinery for settling any similar questions without the vexatious delay which has already taken place. We hope, in view of the public inconvenience which is caused by the Belt remaining in its present neglected state, the members of both Councils will agree to sink their differences and adopt what seems to be the most rational and by far the most simple solution of the question.