FIFTY YEARS AGO.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15899, 10 April 1912, Page 7

FIFTY YEARS AGO.

(From the “ Lyttelton Times ” of Wednesday, April 9, 1862.) Th’' census lately taken returns a population for Christchurch of 3200 souls, rein tiles being slightly in excess of males, and 640 inhabited houses. By the census of 1858 the population was returned at 1443, and the number of dwellings 254. Wo are informed that the Roman Catholics of Christchurch, under tho direction of the Bishop of the diocese, Mr W 7 eld and other influential members of their body, are taking active steps for the erection of a neat and commodious church near the Pottery on tho Ferry Road, the present building being much too small for their rapidly increasing numbers. An evil hangs over Christchurch at this moment to which we respectfully beg to draw the attention of the Town Council. There is a strange looking building, with excrescences like feelers stretching towards the road, on the Avon at the Hagley Park end of tho town. This is the new hospital, and it is said, by the bye, to bo curiously incommodious inside. But that is not tho present question. The drainage of this hospital is so arranged as to have an outfall into the river! Now, gentlemen' of Christchurch, is your time. Submit quietly to this and your beautiful river will soon become a filthy and poisonous open sewer. We canned believe that the Provincial Government have advisedly sanctioned this; but if they have we hope that tho Town Council will remonstrate at once.