THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 1880.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1933, 5 May 1880, Page 2

THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 1880.

The question of the formation of the South Town Belt, which has so long occupied the attention of the two Councils appears likely now to he settled satisfactorily. At the conference recently held, where the three members of the Assembly appeared in the role of mediators between the two parties, it was agreed to apply to the Parliament for an Act placing the Sydenham Council in the same position as the Road Boards occupy with regard to boundary roads. As we have urged in former articles on this subject, it is imperative, before the winter sets in, that some steps should be taken to avoid the really wretched state in which the Belt was kept last year. Therefore almost any solution of the difficulty would meet with general approval. And with regard to what has been done, it seems te us to be the most equitable method of settling the difficulty. It would be manifestly unfair to the ratepayers of Christchurch to make them pay the whole cost of a work the benefit of which, to a large extent, would be reaped by an adjoining borough, and the same argument applies with equal force to Sydenham, Under the arrangement now proposed each party will bo able to contribute its fair share of the cost, and the general public will benefit by a work of great necessity being carried out. It is somewhat strange, however, that so much time should have been wasted, and that, after all, the very proposals made at a conference held some months ago, should at last have boon adopted. The same method of settling the difficulty was mooted at a joint conference of the Councils, and at one time seemed to find favour, but for some reason or other it was shelved and a good deal of precious time unnecessarily wasted. The conditions have not in the least altered, and yet wo now find the joint committees of both bodies agreeing to a proposition which some time back they declined to entertain. We trust that, having agreed upon a basis, no untoward circumstance will prevent the carrying to a successful issue of the means proposed to solve what has long been a difficulty between the two bodies. Once legislative powers are obtained, wo hope that both Councils will energetically apply themselves to the work of placing the belt in at least tolerable order, and that wo shall hoar no more of the well founded complaints which last season wore so rife.

Wi; fancy tho statement made by the chairman of the Canterbury Tramway Company during his interview with the City Council on Monday evening, must have taken tho public by surprise. Taken in its fullest sense, it practically moans that the company have tho right almost entirely to thouopoliso the public thoroughfaro through Cathedral square. Any one

who has taken the trouble to observe the very large amount of traffic passing along the particular locality referred to, will at once see that, should the company—as we gather they propose to do—lay down four lines of tram rails for their cars, and use the street for shunting purposes, the public use of the thoroughfare will most materially be restricted. The chairman stated that in three months’ time there would bo no loss than 242 trains arriving and departing daily. When wo remember that the present occupation of the street by the cars—which is infinitesimal when compared with what this will be—is inconvenient to the public, it becomes rather a serious matter to contemplate the state of matters as sketched by the chairman. But so far as wo can learn this is not all. Under the concession granted to the company they have the right, should they desire to do so, to glass over the footpath on the western side of the square for the purpose of waiting rooms ! "Wo do not suppose that they will, Shylock like, exact their full pound of flesh, but they have the power, inconceivable as it may appear, of closing up the public footpath for the purposes of a private company. Wo say have the power, that is the concession granted by the Council gives them so much, but wo question whether in doing so the Council did not act ultra vires. This a point we hope to see raised in obtaining the legal advice about to be sought, because, without venturing a decided opinion, we verymuch doubt if the Council can divest the public of the right to the footpath in the manner proposed. Of the good that the tramways will do in bringing the various suburbs into closer connection with the city, and affording a cheap and expeditious method of transit, there can be no doubt. But this must not be obtained through any sacrifice of the public rights, and therefore the present City Council, as the conservators of those rights, are bound to obtain advice as to how far their predecessors were justified in signing them away. There is one other little matter in connection with the tramway and the City Council which deserves notice. It is stated on good authority that all the members of the City Council, the Mayor included, have received from the company a free pass over the lines. Without for one moment wishing to impute unworthy motives either to the City Council or the company, and simply looking upon the presentation as an expression of gratitude, which is defined as a lively sense of favors to come, we cannot help thinking that it is unadvisable that any public body, situated as the Council is with regard to the Tramway Company, should accept such a present. It affords ill-natured people—quite groundlessly we admit—an opportunity of reflecting upon the Council which should never be afforded them. The Council are acting as the representatives of the citizens, as between them «r d a private company, and they should be 'aroful to avoid even the slightest son,£uanco of a bias in favour of the company, Like Ccesar’s wife, Councils should be above suspicion. We are glad to find to some extent, at least, our views on this subject are shared by one member of the Council who has declined to avail himself of| the privilege of “ dead heading,” so well understood and extensively practised in the country from which the astute chairman of the company hails. It is to be hoped that other members, including His Worship the Mayor, whose rigid views on the matter of influence, are so well known, will feel it their duty to decline the offered privilege of free tram car rides with thanks.

We are glad to be able to state that Christchurch has a good chance of obtaining what it has long wanted, namely, a thoroughly efficient representative as a candidate for Mayoral honors. Mr. John Ollivier has, we are informed, signified his willingness to stand at the next election, should his holding of the office of Mayor he found to be not incompatible with his tenure of the post ho at present occupies as auditor for the General Government.