GREATER CHRISTCHURCH.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11548, 2 April 1903, Page 4

GREATER CHRISTCHURCH.

A telegram from Wellington announces that the constitution both of Greater Christchurch and Greater Wellington has* been ratiS.d by a notice in tho Government Gazette. It is added that aoc-ording to the. estimated population on January Ist of this year, Wellington will now have a population of 49,424 residents, and church 46,630. At the last census the City of Wellington was returned as having a population of 43,638, while tliat of the City of Christchurch was given as 17,538. When Woolston and possib.y Spreydon are included in Greater Christchurch, as seems likedv to oo tho case at no distant date, it will equal, if it does not excel, the capital in the matter of population. It cannot, be too forcibly pointed out, however, that the amalgamation of the boroughs is of very liu.e value} unless it is to be. followed by improved administration. A great responsibility rests upon those who voted for Greater Christchurch. of seeing that the government of the city is so raised and strengthened that the diange shall be justified by its results. With this end in view they must keep up their interest in municipal politics. The first council of Greater Christ -church will be in some .sense an historic body, and it is the duty of the citizens to see that they axo worthily represented on this important board. We want an infusion of new blood in our munidpal life. We should like to see tho most capable business men in Greater (Ihxistoliurcli offering their services on this occasion, and steps should bo taken to induce -then, to come forward. The pi_cip<.e of municipal amalgamation is now on its trial, and the prosperity of Christohu.Tch and 1 the comfort and health of its inhabitants for years to come aro at stake. We trust that a consideration of these facts will cause tho citizens to awake out of their usual apathy in regard to munidpal matters, and show that they really have the interests and tho good name of the city at heart.