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Lyttelton Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1266, 21 July 1864, Page 3

The rapid progress of a prosperous colony, while inviting the admiration of the observer in many respects, is not without its attendant di awbacks. The very speed with which results produced creates an impatience of delay which indisposes the minds of men for the sustained efforts necessary for the effectual completion of any great or lasti n gworlc. In countries where the growth of cities is the work of one or two decades only, and where men change their calling every few years, and often rise to positions of wealth and honour while their brethren at home are serving an apprenticeship, it is, perhaps, not to be wondered'at that impatience should be a pre J vailing fault. In public as well as private affairs the baneful effects of this ruling vice may everywhere be traced in the want of that concentration of purpose which is' necessary to. carry out a great design to its; fitting end. Hence the characteristic of .a; large class of persons in a colony is a restless, love of change. ;

A notable example of this mischievous; habit of thought may be found in the columns; of our contemporaries of Tuesday last. Under; the title of " A Subscriber," and " A Spec-j tator," the writer, addresses a, letter to tbej Press and the Standard on the subject of the Cathedral. We say the writer, because we I are justified in presuming that no two persons could have happened to indite epistles | so exactly similar in their,contents at one and; the same time, even if there is another person, in Christchurch who holds similar opinions , to " A Subscriber " on the subject in question. For the information of those who have not : readtbe letters in question, we may briefly state that their purport is to endeavour, at the last moment, to reverse the decision arrived at after years of patient discussion as to the site of the Cathedral. " A Subscriber " re-opens the question, and broadly proposes that the Commission should sell the present, centre of the.City, and erect.the Cathedral upon a spot indicated, near the College ; or, as there seems some; uncertainty about this being available —somewhere else. We'have no hesitation in characterising these letters as a mischievous abuse of the privilege of free discussion. The writer expresses full confidence that there are many people who entertain his views on the subject. This we are prepared as confidently to deny. The, only person .whomever publicly supported this view was Mr. C. 0. Torlesse, for reasons totally different from those now urged, and connected with the convenience of the parish. Ample opportunity has been given to the public to form an opinion, on the question of the site; and that opinion was unequivocally expressed by the petition presented to tho Provincial Council in favour of the divertion in Colombo street, and the enclosure of the garden within the precincts of the future Cathedral.

It is to be regretted that any one should have chosen the present time to. force a discussion on a subject which is virtually disposed of. The writer of the letters before us must be as well aware as ourselves that his object is not the least likely to be attained. But. there is another end which may be gained, and which we are pained to say we believe would please "A Subscriber" even better than the change of site, and that is.the total break down of the Cathedral scheme. In discussing Mr. Torlesse's letter on a former occasion we deprecated all interference with the Cathedral, and shewed that the same restlessness which then suggested an alteration of site, on the ground of the convenience of the parish, would hereafter propose alterations of the plan, first in one item, then in another, and so divert the mind of the public from the obligation of carcying out the original enterprise* At the time, we certainly did not expect that the restlessness of .disposition would suggest an alteration of the site on entirely different grounds. We might then have added that the needless discussion of improbable changes, at a time when the Commission Avas in a state of forced inaction, would have the inevitable effect of disheartening the public ancl cooling that i ardour which gave birth to their first _ great effort. We say this now most distinctly. If "A Subscriber" really wishes to see "our great undertaking with its Heaven-pointing-spire" become a fact, he had better drop any further mischievous interference with the site, as it can lead to but one conclusion. If that be his real object, it would be more straightforward boldly to avow it. lhe public would then know against what they have to guard, and with whom to deal. We have before stated the reasons which suggest themselves in favour of preserving

the original site : but they will bear repetition. The Cathedral will be the work of the province, not of any one parish; and therefore ail considerations of ; local convenience should be of but secondary value in fixing upon the site. That site should be as central as possible; and a glance at tho map will flhew the stranger that in Christchurch there is no position to compare with Cathedral Square for such a purpose. The objection made to the noise of a busy thoroughfare is one which may, if valid at all, this growing town require the removal oi the building oiice every ten years, place it where we may. If the alteration of the roadway :in the Square is carried olit, the Cathedral : will present an object,of groat beauty, vißip o from nearly every quarter of the town; whereas, if it is erected where .'A Subscriber ; proposes, the handsome front of the buudmg would be turned away from the town, and : the Government Buildings will act as an effectual screen to the whole. Against these manifest.. advantages, all that can really be j urged is that the; other side of the river is<a : few feet higher and a great deal more out w the way. If this be a valid ground tor change, we can see as good reason why ' Another Subscriber,' should suggest the neighbourhood of the .Railway Station, on,' account of: the great convenience for travellers coming from Timaru to early morning service.