THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1881. THE PARK ROADS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2342, 5 October 1881, Page 3

THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1881. THE PARK ROADS.

It seems probable that the long-vexed question of tho maintenance of the Park roads will be settled at last. As our readers are probably aware, this has been a bone of contention for some time past between tho various local bodies. These roads have, so to speak, been a kind of no man’s land, and each of the local bodies in turn have declined to take any responsibility in connection Jwith them. To say this is a very unsatisfactory state of things is to put the case mildly. It may be that one of the principal thoroughfares of traffic from the suburbs to the city will be allowed to fall into disrepair, simply because the local bodies arc unable to agree who is to maintain it. There can bo no doubt of this, that somebody has to do it. The road after so many years of care and so much money expended on it cannot be allowed to go nncared for. Looking at all the circumstances of the case, we incline to the belief that the offer made by the County Council some time back to pay one half of the total cost, dividing the remainder between the City Council and the Riccarton Road Board, was a very fair and equitable proposal. Tho case put by the members of the County Council is to a large extent one with which we can sympathise and agree. They say we are for the most part representatives of tho country residents, to whom, except at rare intervals, tho Park and Domain is a terra incognita. On the other hand, it is the resort of the citizens, where they are free to enter at all times, and is a means of health and enjoyment to them. Therefore it is only right to argue that the city should bear the cost of the maintenance of the roads running through the Park. As we have said, there is much in this argument with which wo agree, hut at the same time it is, wo think, straining it rather far to say that the City shall bear the whole cost. This, however, is not the proposition. So far as can he ascertained, the total cost of the maintenance of these roads is under £4OO per annum. Of this the Selwyn County Council, under one of their proposals, agrees to pay half, Christchurch being assessed at one-third and Riccarton at one-sixth. There is an alternative proposal, and it is the one which we think is most advantageous for the city, besides having the merit of easy adjustment. That is for the city to have the maintenance of the Lincoln road, the County Council of the Ricarton road, and conjointly with the Riccarton Road Board of the boundary roads skirting the Park. If this proposal were adopted, the matter would be greatly simplified. Each body would know exactly the amount of its responsibilities, and there would he no necessity for an elaborate system of accounting so as to apportion truly tho share of each. We hope that the bodies interested will come to some amicable and speedy arrangement. At present, what is everybody’s business appears to he nobody’s business, and tho roads will rapidly fall into disrepair if not looked after. THE OPENING GUN OF THE CAMPAIGN. To-morrow evening the first note will be sounded of the electoral battle which, no doubt, will shortly rage thick and fast around ; ns. The Hon. E. Richardson, than whom no man in public life has served his fellow-colonists more faithfully or effectively, has selected Lyttelton as his battle ground, and opens the campaign to-morrow evening. Some little fault has been found with Mr. Richardson for selecting Lyttelton, after his having represented Christchurch so well. But we do not agree with those who take this •view. There is, to our mind, a fitness in Mr. Richardson representing the chief port of the district. Not only as Chairman of the Harbor Board, but in the position of Minister for Public Works, Mr. Richardson has spared neither time nor trouble to achieve what to him has been a labour of love, viz., making Lyttelton one of the best ports, if not the best, in the colony. In this work he has been ably seconded by his colleagues on the Board, hut the people are indebted in a large measure to tho unwearying zeal and activity of Mr. Richardson in his position as Chairman of the Harbour Board for tho vast improvement effected in the harbour of Lyttelton. Therefore we think that, seeing the claim ho undoubtedly has upon the people of Lyttelton, Mr. Richardson was quite right in asking them to place in his hands tho power to do them still more service as their representative. Looking beyond this, it mnst not he forgotten that services such as Mr. Richardson has rendered are not only confined in their good effects to the port. It is the inlet and outlet for the wealth and produce of the country. Anything, therefore, which tends to improve it, and to afford greater facilities for the development of commerce, is felt by all par 1 s of the district. Therefore, in serving Lyttelton Mr. Richardson has also done yeoman’s service to tho whole provincial district. The Lyttelton elector# have now three candidates before them, but there should not be very much difficulty in selecting tho one out of these who is most entitled to their confidence and esteem.