The Globe. TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 1874.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 56, 4 August 1874, Page 2

The Globe. TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 1874.

The Bill authorising the erection of a 'People's College, in the Domain in Christchurch, has successfully passed the House of Kepresentatives, thanks to the tactics pursued by the authors of this invasion of the rights of the population of Canterbury. It remains to be seen whether they will be defeated by the action of the Legislative we hope will, refuse to pass the Bill in question. Colonel Brett made an onslaught on the measure the moment it was brought forward by Mr Campbell, in the TJpjiier Chamber, and after he had spoken, various other members also addressed the House. The tone of one and all of them, who represented other provinces than Canterbury, was one of surprise at the interest taken in the Bill by the members from our province, and-they, we suppose, could not imagine why this interest had not been Equallynoticeable during the time the Bill was before the House of Eepresentatives. ■: They have probably by fttig time been enlightened by the gentlemen who have taken the trouble to leave Christchurch, and their business engagements here, and proceed to Wellington in order that they may, if possible, neutralise the mischief already accomplished by the promoters of phe measure. It is hardly to be expected that members, representing any other province than Canterbury, should take any very great interest in the question ; and as the measure is not a Government one, but merely has reference to a matter in which this province is concerned, its fate will probably be determined by fhe number of votes which can be obtained by a fair, and legitimate statement of the facts of the case, as hon. members will not be bound by any fealty to the Yogel Government in recording their opinions on the question. But we must not conceal from ourselves the fact, that at present it seems to honorable members from other parts of the colony, that the Bill having passed through the Lower House without opposition of any importance from the Canterbury members, it ought to be ratified by the acquiescence of the Legislative Council in the scheme. It appears from what we learn from Wellington, that Messrs Fitzgerald and Sewell are both ready to be examined before the Select Committee, which Col Brett moved for, and obtained, to report on the Bill, and we need hardly ask our readers, on which side the sympathies of these two old Hi*.: JJ-3

and distinguished residents of Canterbury will be enlisted. They certainly will give the committee some knowledge of the way in which the proposed measure is viewed by two men of education and intellect, who have both in their time done good service for Canterbury, and who still have its interests deeply at heart. The members of the House of Representatives, who are to be asked to give evidence on this important measure, are Messrs Rolleston, Eeeves, and Montgomery, and Sir J. C. Wilson. Of these, we shall probably hear of evidence in favor of the motion being ffiven by three, and the other gentleman we may fairly put on the side of resistance to the encroachment, and consequently the committee will have hefore them gentlemen of undoubted ability and integrity, whose views on the measure are diametrically opposite. Tt would appear that there can be no question about the petitions against the Bill, having been presented to the Legislative Council, as we notice that one report speaks of the table of the Chamber as being loaded, with these evidences of the public feeling in Christchurch, and its vicinity; and there can be no question about the vigour of the attacks to which the measure will be be subjected, as the gallant colonel who leads the onslaught, is not the man to go in for half measure in anything he undertakes. Altogether we think that there is a very fair chance', that the Domain will not be cut up in order to allow the " People's College " to be built thereon; and even if the House consider that the College should be built on that part of the people's property, that they will not allow the site which was chosen last to be the one which is to be used for the purpose. If the Legislative Council throws the Bill out for this session, we have no hesitation in saying, that the encroachers will find a regularly organised opposition to their scheme, the next time they bring a similar measure before the House of Kepresentatives.