The Globe. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 1874.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 21, 24 June 1874, Page 2

The Globe. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 1874.

About a fortnight ago there was a motion carried by a majority in the Christchurch City Council which is deserving of more than a passing notice. It was to the effect that Dr Foster, the City Solicitor, be instructed to prepare p Bill lor the next session of »*fSJ general Aeßeiably in order to

legalise a bye-law pasised by the City Council, on the 29th day v of December last£ relating to hackney carriages and Borough stage carriages plying for hire within the City of Christchurch. This inotipn is, to say the least of it, a strange one, because as our readers and the public are generally aware, a case is now pending in the Supreme Court, in which the City Cabmen are appellants, and the City Council are repondents, which will test the legality of the bye-law in question. If the City Council aro so confident their bye-law is legal, and we take it that they must be so, or they would not risk the cost of an appeal, then why havo recourse.to the General Assembly to legalise what is already legal ? j If on the other hand they feel shaky as to the. legality of their bye-law ft is hardly fair that they should rush to the General Assembly to protect them for their illegal acts, and thus put it out of the power of the cab proprietors of Christchurch to obtain their object, viz., a modification of the bye-law.. We take it however that the General Assembly will pauso before they pass the Act in question, for two reasons, viz., Ist, Ample powers are given to any corporation under "The Municipal Corporations Act, of 1867,'? to pass bye-laws, if they do so in legal form, and as required by the Act, a fact which is disputed in reference to the bye-law in question; and second the Gase being sub judice, they will not consider it advisable, to intorfere.