THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 1881 THE SOUTH TOWN BELT.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2219, 6 April 1881, Page 2

THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 1881 THE SOUTH TOWN BELT.

The interminable and much vexed question of the formation of the South Town Belt seems now as far off settlement as ever. The Sydenham Borough Council appear to be imbued with that spirit of opposition which has been manifested by them throughout the whole of the very protracted negotiations on the subject, and though the winter season is rapidly approaching, nothing seems likely to be done towards making the belt tolerably passable. That this is so is much to be regretted, and wo are bound to say that the responsibility, to a large extent, of the dead-lock rests on the Council of the Borough. They agreed to certain terms which the City Council on their part are prepared to carry out, but the “ bush lawyer” element which apparently predominates in the counsels of the neighbouring municipality stands in the way of the termination to a most unfortunate dispute. It is only fair that those residents in the Sydenham borough who will most probably be inconvenienced by the delay which must now take place, should know that the City Council are not to blame in the matter. They take up the position that the work proposed to be carried out would practically be of little or no use unless channelling is put down. This is a part of the matter which the Sydenham Council want to get out of. Hence the difficulty. That which the City Council are contending for, is, according to the joint act agreed to by both, as stated by the City Solicitor. Therefore we are unable to see how the Sydenham Council can now wish something different. We trust that wiser counsels will prevail with our neighbours, and that if possible some mutual concessions may be made, so as to allow this very necessary work to be proceeded with at once. RECREATION GROUNDS. A somewhat startling and very important point in connection with the powers of the Selwyn County Council to expend money in the purchase of recreation reserves has been mooted which deserves attention. Some time back, out of the funds accruing to the Avon district, votes were passed by the Council for the purpose of acquiring by purchase recreation reserves at Papanui and St. Albans. The same process has been gone through as regards Bingsland, but some of the ratepayers raise the question as to the legality of the proceedings. Without in any way presuming to give a legal opinion on the point it may be said that at first sight, and taking a layman’s view of the Act, the point appears to be a good one. One section alone of the Counties Act deals with recreation reserves, and in it power is only given to the Governor in Council to vest the management of reserves for recreation purposes in the County Council. In the clauses referring to the works upon which money coming to the County Council is to be expended, there is not one single word as to the purchase of laud for recreation reserves. The vs bole and solo powers of the Council in this direction are bounded by expenditure on public works— i.e., arterial roads and bridges, drains, &e. Had the Legislature intended the funds of the county also to be expended in purchasing laud for recreation reserves, it would decidedly have said so. But throughout tho whole Act there is not a single clause which can be construed into a permission to thus use the funds of any district, oven though all be willing. Without, therefore, giving any opinion upon tho subject, and merely stating the facts, wo hope that some steps will be taken at no distant date to obtain a legal opinion as to tho powers of the Council in this direction, and so sot at I rest all doubts on the subject.