LINWOOD AND AVONSIDE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12406, 26 August 1918, Page 6

LINWOOD AND AVONSIDE.

PROGRESSIVE SUBURBS. GOOD WORK DONE. . changes that, time has forked m a progressive direction are nowhere mo ™ api>sironfc<than in the eastern part of Christchurch, . extending over Linwood, LalJmgion and. Avonside. The days of borough council, county council or road board ■'administration in tins ftica novo passed, a ; nd thoro has boon a mergence into Greater Christchurch. h.ven so, the burgesses of Limvood and Avonsido aro not. content solelv with tlio ideas promulgated. ■ by' th e city lathers for the progress, municipally and socially, of their districts. Two burgesses’ associations aro in active existence, with representative member" ships, and although many of the members may not play a prominent part at the meetings, there arc some real live inre enthusiasts who concentrate all their spare forces in furtherance of schemes which they deem will benefit the community as a whole. ' “Little more than a decade ago/* said a prominent officer in the Linwood -burgesses- Association to a “Star” repo, ter this morning, ‘‘wo wero jogging almig in a sort of backwoods fasluon, with poorly-ht streets, ill-formed road's and apologies for footpaths.” But now the ebango has come and greatly instrumental in this have been tho 'arteries of the train service which have permitted quicker access to workers employed m the city, who hare been desirous of making their homes in this suburban part. The old Xow Brighton and Oity and Suburban services, with their two-horse, and • four-horse teams and hour timetables gave but little inducement to the city worker to go far afield, even though* by doing so he might, soouro, a ( * cabbage patch ” of more than ordinary size.

Hie Burgesses' Associations had done much, it was limited out, “ little; things; they might be,’.’ said We man. but it is the'.little things that count. They may, compared to th P bigger issues, seem parochial, but that “which needs attendance at your own front door has a way of looming large." Much of the prescribed policy work of the associations has been achieved, but thero are several big proposals still on the list, such as a’sewerage system and a. fire station, but these harp been temporarily placed on the shelf, the present war period not being deemed a fitting time for active propaganda, work in their prosecution.

Arouside and Linwood Burgesses’ Associations have much in common—it is a case of just across the border—and _ representatives of the two meet at times in conference for discussion on affairs of mutual benefit./ The right men in the right nlaciw nave enabled much to he gained, and, although to snnic ot ’be -inclusion in a. Greater Christchurch has.appeared to load to tlio drowning of their representatives voices hv a chorus concerning other affairs, still a constant tapping at the doors of authority and the presentation o*’ wdUMmule.fi requests have led to results. Tho burgesses do not confine thoir remits to tho City Council, but local body which lias charge of affairs touching their district bfrom them, ami ucrristomiv so. till the point of view that is sought to be enforced is recognised. In this direction the Tramway Board has been approached, and when the tramlines hare been regarded as dangerously close to the pathways at corners negotiations hare been carried on, and succcssfully 80. We arc getting more like London every day," was the reply of one resi-

dent, and ho began to recite where shops, in Linwood especially, had sprung into existence, and “the same price as in town ’ ruled. ' From small beginnings the post office lias grown till now it handles in its various bronchos a business that keeps the staff busy at the counter'm the receipt of custom. That indispensable adjunct to an up-to-date community, a, library, is possessed by Iniiwood, and at a recent meeting of a burgesses’ association in another part oi The city it was hold up as a. model, both from its collection of books and methods ot management, for other prospective library founders to copy. In primary education the district has greatly advanced, with its well-equipped schoolheuse at North Linwood.