A CIVIC VISIT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11029, 18 March 1914, Page 3

A CIVIC VISIT.

CITY COUNCIL AT TIMAKU. HOSPITABLY ENTERTAINED. The custom of municipalities paying official visits is of quite recent growth, but seems destined to remain for many years, forming as it does a pleasant interlude in the civic lifo of a community and enabling the city fatheis, of say Ghristchurch, to como into direct contact with the men who gu lc > e the destinies of other municipalities and vice versa. Two years ago tie Timaru Borough Council invited tn© Mayor and City Councillors of Christchurch to visit the southern ccntie. Tho invitation was accepted ana t visit proved both enjoyable and profitable. Last year Christchurch . rct " r "r the compliment and entertained visitors in a manner 'suitable to tne occasion. This year a second tiou camo from Timaru and an °PP i; tunity was afforded the general public to visit the town, for an train was arranged for. St Patnc Day was the date fixed for the - and accordingly a few minutes arte 8 o'clock yesterday morning a tiain left Christchurch conveying betweeA 200 and 300 people down to the boutn

Canterbury seaport. The official party was made up as follows:—The Mayor (Mr H. Holland , tho Town Clerk (Mr H. R. S™tli)r Councillors H. J. Otley, W. -Mil'' al * M'Cullough, H. B. Sorensen,. A. Wi - liams, F. Burgoyne, H. ' Hunter, U. Scott and W. H. Cooper awl.Mr A. D. Dobson (City Surveyor). Councilloi Owles, Deputy-Mayor of New Brignton, represented the seaside borough. On arriving at the Timaru railway station the party was met by Jhe Mayor, Mr W. Angland, Mr P. Virtue, Town Clerk, Mr J. Craigie, Al.i., members of the Council, Mr G.S. Cray, president of the - Caroline Bay Association and prominent local residents, and proceeded immediately to the Municipal Chambers. After a brier respite there an adjournment was made to the Grosvenor Hojiel where the party was entertained at a civic luncheon. Mr Angland presided, and had on his right hand the Mayor of Christchurch and on his left Mr J. Craigie. Representatives of local bodies u' e ' re . present at the luncheon, among them being Mr W. Black, Mayor of Waimate, Mr K. G. Turned, president of tho Chamber of Commerce, Mr J. X ■ I Rollestori, chairman of the Harbour I Board, Dr Gabites, Dr Thomas and 1 Messrs J. Hole, J. P. ..Newman and C.

East. , . , After the usual loyal toast liaa, been honoured the Mayor proposed the health of the Mayor and Councillors oi the city of Christchurch. He welcomed tho visitors very cordially and expresseel tho hope that 'their visit would be. enjoyable. The citizens trusted that in this, the second visit to_ South Canterbury and Timaru, the visitors would take away pleasant recollections of the town and district. bince the previous visit the town _had made considerable progress. Up-to-date municipal buildings had been erected and the business of the borough was now transacted under-favourable ditions. The Council had extended the underground drainage _ 6ystenv doing away with the septic tanks. Hie borough had acquired motor-'buses, a great convenience to both visitors ana residents. In addition to these municipal activities the Caroline Bay Association had erected and presented to the town a magnificent pavilion and had assisted in supplying the needs of bathers, with the te-sult that last year the revenue derived from this source totalled £6OO. The borough had spent something like £20,000 on extending and improving the water supply of" the town and had commenced the erection of a modern fire brigade station designed to meet all requirements. From these tilings it would be seen that Timaru,. municipally was progressing and compared more than favourably with other centres. Pie thanked the Mayor of Christchurch for so kindly welcoming Timaru's champion band on its arrival from the north. The kindly sentiments expressed on that occasion were fully appreciated by the citizens of Timaru. The Mayor congratulated Mr Holland on successfully carrying out negotiations connected with the Lake Coleridge power scheme and expressed the hope that the citizens would re-elect him so that he light carry the undertaking to a successful

issue. . . Mr J- Craigie, M.P., in endorsing the Mayor's remarks, expressed great, pleasure at again welcoming the Mayor and city fathers of Ghristchurch. Such visits did great good, and Timaru was desirous of living on the best of terms with Ghristchurch They all had pleasant recollections of their visit to Christchurch last year. Other cities envied Christchurck its supply of electricity. Might it be of advantage to the city and spread all over the province. Indeed it did not need any prophet to see that in time the trains from Lyttelton to Oamaru, and perhaps further, . would be driven by electric power and i that agriculture, industry and commerce would ajl benefit materially. Christchureh would be not only _the o-reat manufacturing centre of Isew ' Zealand, but one of the greatest in - | Australasia. The public money had , ! been freely spent and would benefat Canterbury. The Ministers had proved him, ivhen the Bill was intro- . duced, and had repeated the promise since, that electric power would be supplied' to Timaru soon after it was available in Christchureh. He congratu- ■ lated the city on the whole-hearted manner in which it had canied thiough

the undertaking. . . Mentioning the cordial welcome [ Christchureh had to Timaru s successful band, Mr Craigie said that it was the duty of the municipality not only to look after the health of the community, but to provide proper amusement and entertainment such as proper band music. The time had come for borough councils to recognise that outdoor amusements shoijld be placed on a proper basis. No band should be dependent upon private doles. One matter connected with municipal Jixe appealed to him very strongly, and that was the need for scientific town planning. In the past they had allowed men to cut up land to suit themselves and make money. The citizens or Timaru, as a consequence, had a great legacy which it would cost a great deal to P\'t_ _ right. A Bill should be passed prohibiting the construction of any road or the making of any division until the schemes had been submitted to experts. The_ borough already made certain provisions governing building, and it was more important that it should have powers over these roads, which were permanent things. He complimented Ghristi church on the fact that its founders were men of foresight and put aside areas for parks, but town planning was not thought of in those days. -tie hoped that a Town Planning Bill would soon be passed, and that it would nave the united support of Christchureh ana Timaru. . . , Mr Holland, who was received witn. applause, said that, on behalf _ of. his colleagues aud himself, he desired to thank the Timaru Borough Council tor its hospitality. They were delighted to be present, for many of them remembered the pleasant visit paid two years ago. He would say confidently that they had all been impressed with the progress made by the borough. Indeed, Christchureh' would have to to her laurels. Timaru enteieu into practically every phase or municipal activity found in tha larger centres. Personally he was delighted to see the improvements made in Caroline Bay. Two years ago the bay was delightful : to-day it was charming, and au undoubted asset to the town. While grateful for the kind references made to the Lake Coleridge scheme and the part he had taken in the negotiations, lie would like them to know. that right- through ho had en-

joyed the support of a progressive, hard-working Council. Being first in the field war* not always an advantage, liowover, and it might pay Timaru to wait and see if any defects developed in Christchurch before going on with thoir scheme. The City Council had. striven to make the scheme the best in the southern hemisphere, .and the Councillors had handled it as carefully as if it was their own property. Mr Holland dealt briefly with various aspects in the scheme, and acknowledged the indebtedness of the city to Mr Craigie for his valuable assistance in securing from Parliament power to advance money to householders for the installation of electric light- Christchurch was moving ahead, and in the near future he felt sure would have a town hall worthy of it. He endorsed all 1 that had been said regarding town planning. The time had gone by when greedy landlords should be allowed to cut up land as they liked. Christchurch knew the_ curse of_ narrow streets. In conclusion, he again thanked the Mayor and Councillors for their kindness, and expressed pleasure in proposing the toast of their health. After the luncheon the party found motor-cars awaiting, and enjoyed a splendid run round the town and its environs, seeing, by the way, Caroline Bay, the Roman Cathjolic Basilica, the gardens and the waterworks. On returning to the Municipal Chambers, afternoon tea was served, and the party returned to Christchurch by the excursion train, reaching the city about 9.15 o'clock.