The Globe. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25, 1875.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 375, 25 August 1875, Page 2

The Globe. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25, 1875.

The City Council to-day loses three of its members. Messrs Hart, Calvert, and Bishop retire, and of these only Mr Hart wishes again to occupy a seat in the Chamber. The deputation which waited upon Councillor Bishop failed to induce that gentleman to suffer himself to be put in nomination again, and though we regret his decision, yet we cannot wonder at it. Though seldom agreeing with Councillor Bishop, and believing that in the matter of the Drainage Conference his action was highly injurious to the beat interests of the citizens of Christchurcb, yet the Council, as it has been constituted for some time past, can ill spare a member of unimpeachable integrity, and whose conduct in the Chamber might with advantage be copied by other members.. In the scenes which have for the last few months disgraced the weekly meetings of the Council, Or Bishop has always been on the side of order, but we cannot wonder at his determination to retire from a body the members of which must contrast unfavourably with those whom he remembers as his colleagues some few years ago. With regard to Councillor Calvert, we cannot say that we think he will be missed, as we are not aware that he has ever rendered any particular service to the City. With regard to Councillor Hart, who has served the City both as Councillor and Mayor, we believe that though his energy is undoubted, yet in almost every instance it is misdirected. As Mayor he distinguished himself by the splendour of bis robes, and the magnificence of his luncheons, but his latest actions in the Council Chamber appear to show that the ex-Mayor has a temper and a tongue, and that he cannot keep either io order. The private quarrels and jealousies of different Councillors, though they afford amusement to the readers of the papers, do not advance City business, and, iu spite of the praiseworthy efforts of the present Mayor the Council Chamber has of late been turned into a bear-garden. We do not, of course, mean to say that Councillor Hart has been the only cause of this, as it would be too much to expect that he should sit tamely down under the imputations that have been flung on him by other members of the Council; but there are different ways of answering such attacks, and Mr Hart has not been judicious in his retaliation. Some of the numerous names that we hear mentioned in connection with the vacancies to be filled in the Council, we cannot hope to see in the nomination list. It would be good news indeed if such a gentleman as Mr L. E. JNathan would allow himself to be nominated as a Councillor. The late chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, who did so much useful work in that capacity, would be the very man to whom the citizens would look for the production of useful and energetic measures; but we are afraid that he will not consent to becoming a Councillor. The names of various other citizens are mentioned, but the plea of ' private business " seems to be a very general one; and the apathy displayed by the majority of the ratepayers appears unaccountable. It is to be hoped that, even at the last moment, gentlemen who could command the respect and support of the intelligent portion of the community, may be found willing, in spite of private business, to devote some portion of their time and trouble to perform the onerous duties of City Councillors.