THE KATAPOI COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2100, 16 November 1880, Page 3

THE KATAPOI COUNCIL.

To the Editor of the Globe. _ g lß> —A. few evenings ago I noticed in your columns a statement to the effect that our present Mayor was requested to consent to stand for re-election, and he agreed to do so J if no better man came forward. Now, Sir, I think it is high time we did find a bettor man for nomination on Thursday. Our Mayor, who has now held office two years, and the Council have, I am sorry to say, fallen into a common groove, from which only the infusion of new blood will impart to them now life and new energies. While it

may bo volumes of praise in favor of Mr Blackwell that be can command a third election as Mayor, it is greatly to the discredit of the burgesses that they cannot find a second man within the borough to take his turn at the office, and a sad reflection on the Councillors. that none of them can aspire to fill the chair by way of a change. ... _ While writing on our municipal matters J. should, and so would many others, wish to see a better state of affairs preTail in the Council. Bor instance, its members ought to he able to conceive various plans for improvements, instead of worrying over little jobs of tinkering a kerb here, and a floodgate there. Many of them would wish them_ to develop a scheme for completing the siding to the river, the erection of a new traffic bridge, and ths promotion of a tramway through the horongh to the brewery, woollen factory, &c. We should like to see them practice economy in the salaries of their servants, as well as the expensive work of lighting the public lamps, and management of the fire brigade, and invite tenders when required for iron work, timber, concrete, charitable aid supplies, kerosene, and the sale of soil from the sides of streets undergoing formation. While the members of tho Council may consider the disqualification of section G 1 in reference to participation in any contract or work to bo done does not apply to them, iE it is arranged to obtain supplies or work through the town clerk, [the public would be better pleased to see tenders invited in tho most open way, and not by three or four badly-written notices stuck up in tho bars of three or four hotels, which are places into which I and a largo number of others never enter in the course of a year. Trusting you will find space for these opinions, 1 am, &c., UNEMPLOYED BURGESS.

The following letters appear in this morning’s issue of the “Press”: — TREE PLANTING, Sib, —May I be allowed to make a few JCQWEktf jo regard tv (he planting and growing

of trees in and surrounding the city of Christchurch, and principally in the park and plantation ? Going along the river Avon 1 noticed that most of the ■willows are crooked, and bent in every conceivable direction and shape, in fact quite distorted. I had also a goad look around in the plantation, where trees are in my opinion in some places planted too thickly (balf the number would suffice), and generally scrubby. Trees in private grounds are just the same. Well, sir, I Junk it a pity that trees are allowed to grow up, without any or very little care being taken ot them, after the [expense they have incurred in the planting and purchasing, whereas the trimming would be a mere _ trifle compared to the rest. If they are trimmed when young they will grow straight and strong and more beautiful. All trees should be trimmed from the ground, to about from six to taelve feet, according to the kind. Looking at the varieties of trees, I was somewhat surprised that I did net come across some mulberry trees. In the whole of the surroundings of the city I saw but two. I cannot account for the reason that they are not given more attention to than other trees, considering their value, reproductiveness, and beauty. If they were planted instead of the bush trees in various private grounds at present, we could cultivate silkworms to produce many thousands of pounds worth of silk, and still they would be ornamental to the place. Hoping that in future people will give more attention, and purchase a few ounces of mulberry seed to put in their ground* B a *‘ dons, and in proper time to place them instead of useless trees, —I am, &c., Old Stump. Victoria street, Nov. loth, 1880.