THE GLOBE. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1880. THE NEW MAYOR.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2124, 14 December 1880, Page 2

THE GLOBE. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1880. THE NEW MAYOR.

To morrow, in accordance with usual custom, the new Mayor of Christchurch will assume office for the ensuing year. On such occasions it is usual for his Worship to give soma slight indication of tho municipal policy he intends, so far as he can, to pursue. No douht Mr. Gapes will not neglect this opportunity, and should ho speak, wo hope to hear his views upon one or two points of municipal and general interest, which are likely to he agitated during his year of office. Firstly, as to the continuation of the channelling of the streets of the city. On this point Mr. Gapes, whilst a candidate, spoke strongly in favor: now that he is safely seated in the chair wo hope to hear him reiterate his views. There can be no douht that the construction of these side channels is one of the greatest preservatives of health we have had in the city, and, therefore, we hope to seo tho system extended, as far as possible, consistently with prudence. Then there is the question of the parks, about which Mr. Gapes had not made up his mind whilst before the ratepayers. This is an all important point, and we trust the Mayor elect has now come to some definite conclusion, either one way or the other. The matter is one upon which there can he no middle course, and we hope to hear a straightforward declaration as to which side the Mayor will be found on should the question arise. Then there is the very important subject of a permanent market for Christchurch. Mr. Gapes has striven strenuously for the conservation of tho market place for city use, and, therefore, wo feel certain his sympathies will he with any movement tending to remove from one of the most prominent and valuable sites in the city what cannot but ho regarded as a blot. A commendable example has been shown to the City Council by the erection of the New Broadway Market, and if they do not feel disposed to go into the matter, private enterprise will soon, if allowed, step in and reap the benefit which should accrue to tho city. We cannot close these few remarks without a word of praise to the outgoing Mayor. The duties of his office—onerous, and in many cases to a man of business exceedingly irksome—have been discharged by him with a zeal and efficiency which have done credit to himself, and have reflected honor on the city. No man has worked harder or more zealously than the retiring Mayor for the city interests, and we feel sure he takes with him into his well-earned retirement the respect and esteem of all the citizens.