MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10535, 9 August 1912, Page 1

MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.

The Mayor does not intend to take any action at present in response to the suggestion made by Mr Elliot, president of the Auckland Exhibition, that Christ-church and other southern cities should talco advantage of the Exhibition to bring themselves more prominently under the notice of the northern city and its visitors. Speaking on the subject yesterday, Mr Holland said that if there was a wish amongst manufacturers and others interested to take public action, he would be pleased to call a meeting to discuss the subject, but he thondit that the proposal should bo dealt with by the Chamber of Commerce and the Industrial Association rather than by the Mayor. In a paragraph in yesterday's " Lyttelton Times," a resident of Becken'ham stated that the City Council has contributed only £250 to Becken-, ham Park, which cost £ISOO, and that the Council gave the sum on condition that it should not be required to spend any more money on the Park for five years, " a contract that has been scrupulously carried out by the Council." the Mayor stated yesterday that this w;ts very misleading. He said that the Council gave £250 in cash, < and Government gave £SOO, making £750. The Council became liable for the whole of the balance of £750, although the interest was paid by residents of the districts affected, and that liability was against the whol« city. Besides that, the Council had the ground ploughed, and incurred other expenses in connection with the Park. Tl:o_ Council's undertaking not to be required to jspend more would not expire until 1915, but it was continually being pressed to spend money on the Park. In that respect it had gone a good deal out of its "way to improve the grounds. At the meeting of the City Council on Monday a membei; of the Council stated that it was not advisable to tar and macadam roads while they were wet. The Mayor has consulted the City Engineer on this point, and has ascertained that wet roads, so far from having disadvantages, are better than dry ones for the purpose. The City Engineer, indeed, told him that it would be better to sweep the water out '■of the holes with a broom and to then .put down the tar and macadam than to wait until the surface was dry. The Mayor's own observations, especially in regard to footpaths in Lichfield'Street, Durham Street and St. Asaph Street, confirm Mr Dobson's statements.