The Globe. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1875.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 202, 1 February 1875, Page 2

The Globe. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1875.

The quarrel between the City Council and the cabmen has culminated at last, and we may now look forward to a quantity of litigation between the opposing parties. The Council, apparently determined to bring matters to a crisis, have fenced in the stands in various parts of the city, and the cabmen, we presume acting under advice, had recourse to physical force in order to obtain possession of these stands again. This, of course, caused the intervention of the strong arm of the law, and one cabman has been arrested and brought before the Resident Magistrate. As the case is not yet concluded we refrain from making any comments on it. But we at liberty to remark on the course which it has been deemed necessary to pursue in order to prevent any further breach of the peace. Acting upon a communication addressed to him by Mr Commissioner Shearman, the Mayor has sworn in no less than forty persons as Special Constables to assist the police should it be found necessary, and his Worship is also prepared to read the Riot Act at the shortest notice, should the recalcitrant cabmen attempt to take possession of the stands again. Not satisfied even with these precautions, we are informed that a further number of special constables are to be sworn, in to-day. Verily, the cabmen and the Council are causing a ferment in this usually quiet city. We only trust that there may be no occasion for the services of the citizens who bave joined the constabulary for a time, and that the question may now be settled, once and for ever, by the aid of the various legal dignitaries who live and flourish in this city. That this course will entail expense upon the ratepayers is unavoidable, as it is evident that the Council will have a legal bill to pay, even if they are declared winners in the contest. It is, however, to be devoutly hoped, that this expense will be the last that will will have to be incurred on this much vexed question, and that both Council aud cabmen may see the adviseableness of settling their differences, if it be possible, and thus prevent more money finding its way from the pockets of either side, into the lawyers’ hands. We fancy that these gentlemen will be the chief gainers by the disputes between the Council and the cabmen, and of course they will not care if litigation between the parties prevail for an indefinite time. If there are any reasonable men on either side, now is the time at which their counsels may be of good service to those most interested in this matter, viz.—the public of Christchurch, who are the sufferers during the quarrels now going on.