The Star. FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 1868.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 32, 19 June 1868, Page 2

The Star. FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 1868.

Wk aro vory much avorflo to finding fault, oflpocially in tho oaso of a publio body which haa givon froquont proof of its dosiro to promote tho wolfaro of tho community, Hut, howovor muoh wo may disliko tho norformaneo of an nnplonsant duty, tlio publio intorosts aro of paramount importance. On a rocent occasion, wo pointod out that tho City Council— Borough Council now— had a strong tondonoy in tho direction of tho ornamontal to tho apparent oxclusion of tho usoful (md necessary, A, correspondent, with moro vigour than diflcrotion, took up tho oudgols on bohalf of tho Oounoil, and robulcod ua for ignorance whon knowlodgo was presumably unobtainable. Tho ornamontal lamps aro to bo paid for, chiofly if not wholly, by tho subscriptions of thoso who hnvo an interest in tho localities whoro thoy aro oreotod, "Wo aro glad to know thia in tho intorost of thoso outlying districts of tho city whoro tho luxury of a lamp of any description is unknown. Tho Borough Council, it appoars, is now infected with an ornamental mania in quito another diroction, A committee has boon requoatod to inquiro about tho dosirability and proliable cost of planting and laying down as a lawn Oranmor andLatimorsquaros. Wo sineoroly trust tho matter will procood no farthor than an inquiry, unless tho residents noar thoso squares two proparod to Htibsoribo tho funds, Tho equaros might, wo admit, bo moro croditnblo to tho city, and moro pleasant to look atj but wo cannot shut our eyes to tho fact that thoro aro othor mattors of far moro importance to bo dono boforo wo indulge in luxurios of this sort. Tho Oounoil must ho awaro that many streets remain in thoir natural , stato of nativo grass, that tho aurfaco drainago of tho city is far from what it ought to bo, and that moro lamps are urgontly ro* quirod in HOvoral directions, With thoso facts staring thorn in tho faco— if thoy ovor happen to walk beyond the control part of tho city, actually or in thought— and with othor facts of a similar mtturo, wo aro roally surpriaod and voxod to hoar tho Borough Oounoil talking of oxponding, as wo aro yet informed, tho ratopayors' money on moro ornamentation. Wo can como to no othor conclusion than this— that tho nowly acquired dignity of tlio Oounoil suggested a corresponding expansion in tho way of luxurios, Wo mistako vory muoh if tho ratopayora aro of tho samo mind as tho Council. Tho division of tho city into wards has boon frequently mootod, and always sot aside. Wo trust to soo tho quostion ngain brought forward, and urged most strenuously. Till this is dono, tho ratepayers whooo misfortuno it is to livo boyond a cortain distanco from Cathedral squaro may bo suro that thoir wants will bo grudgingly compliod with, if at all, Thoro is no roason why the oity should not bo divided into wards; thoro aro many good reasons why it should, Lot tlig.fio interested in thia matter boo to

it, "What part or parts of tlio city roturn tho prosonfc councillors ? A ! moro glanco afc tho Hat will show.