THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam aut faciam." [Established November 15, 1861.] DUNEDIN, FRIDAY, DEC. 28, 1866.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23385, 28 December 1937, Page 3

THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam aut faciam." [Established November 15, 1861.] DUNEDIN, FRIDAY, DEC. 28, 1866.

SEVENTY-ONE YEARS AGO

We have already pointed out that the conditions of the leases of the Town Belt proposed by the City Council are inadmissible, due regard being had to the 1 primary purposes for which the land has been reserved. We have shown that, with such leases, the land' WCUId" become more and more permanently, alienated, and that entire possession by the lessees Would sooner or later oe the result. But it is noi; to be contemplated that the Belt should continue as at present; a no-man’s land, which anyone can use, and which promises to become a public nuisance. The experience of older cities teaches the value of parks for the people, when, in course of time, the population becomes, densely packed. . , It is certainVthat it will be a very long time before the citizens will be able to convert into a park the entire Belt. The most they can do is gradually to cut paths through, and render subservient to a general plan, portions of the Belt; regard being had, throughout to the fact that the natural features are so pleasing that artificial means are required only to supplement them

... As we have;:- previously remarked, there is not; a shadow of room for supposing that the, Council have erred ; in anything but judgment. The accusations as to motives have entirely failed, and there remains what the citizens are generally willing!-to admit, the consideration due to a hard-working, respect-ably-constituted, and generally popular body. There will be an end to Municipal Government if those who are appointed to administer it are to receive no measure of support from the persons whom they represent. Disapproval of A particular act should not be converted into injurious suspicions,, Which would make not only those who are now in office, but others, dread to accept responsibilities: and- duties the rewards for which are so uncongenial.

A special meeting of the shareholders of the Dunedin Water Works Company was held yesterday afternoon at Farley's Hall, at which resolutions authorising the directors to borrow £15,000 upon mortgage bonds, and to makd arrangements with the Superintendent to obtain a guarantee of eight per, cent, upon the money so borrowed,' were unanimously adopted. , The “ Bruce Herald,” referring to the progress of the bridge over the Clutha, says:—"We regret to learn that the contractor for the Clutha bridge _ is experiencing great difficulty in driving the piles in the bed of the river, some of the largest and strongest of the piles splitting under the pressure of the heavy ‘Monkey,’ and as all split at the top are ordered to be drawn and rejected by the Inspector, it is to be hoped such an obstacle may not exist across the whole breadth of the river ” A meeting of the Dunedin Scottish Volunter Company (No. 2) was held last,evening at the Otago Hotel, when arrangements were made having reference to the forthcoming Encampment. The corps will muster at the Custom House at half-past five on Saturday evening, and , march out to the Kaikorai, A transport waggon will be provided for the conveyance of the baggage. The Artillery will start half an hour earlier, as the guns will have to bo taken to the field by the Halfway Bush road.