The Globe. MONDAY, APRIL 3, 1876.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 559, 3 April 1876, Page 2

The Globe. MONDAY, APRIL 3, 1876.

It what is currently reported turns out to be true, and we have it on very good authority, it would seem that the Provincial Executive of Canterbury is determined to maintain its reputation for utter incapacity and obstructiveness to the last. Not content with proving to the public the uselessness of Provincial Government, those gentlemen are doing their best to illustrate their positive harm by opposing by every means in their power the welfare of the community. It was announced a short time ago, and the information was received with the utmost satisfaction, that arrangements had been made for the immediate erection of the much-needed public buildings in Cathedral square. Mr Richardson informed us that had it been decided to proceed with their erection on the site on the south-west side of the square, and that iu all probability they would be completed, and ready for use by the end of the present year. But we learn that the question has been again hung up, iu consequence of the pig-headedness of the Provincial Executive. It appears that it was found that the site——a quarter of an acre —was far too small for the building required, and that unless it could be enlarged, it would be waste of money to proceed with the building. Application was accordingly made for the site west of the Cathedral. This the Executive positively refused to grant. An effort was then made to induce them to purchase an additional quarter-acre adjoining the site originally proposed. This would have cost some four thousand pounds, and with the quarteracre already at disposal would have provided sufficient room for all requirements. But, true to their obstructive instincts, this was also refused. The public of Christchurch must therefore rest contented with the buildings they at present possess, at any rate till after the General Assembly meets. But if proof were wanting of the utter uselessness of provincialism to the wants of the colony, the facts we have above stated would be amply sufficient. We have the Colonial Government not only willing but anxious to spend some fourteen thousand pounds in providing suitable public buildings in Christchurch. They were prepared to commence the erection of buildings on the Godly Statue site, in thorough keeping with its surroundings, or to build elsewhere if a site were provided. Here was an excellent opportunity of showing that the Executive had some desire to forward the interests of a large section of the inhabitants of the province. Had it been some pet scheme of their own they would not have been so particular about a few thousand pounds unauthorised expenditure. But in this case they object. They are determined to exercise to the letter their little brief authority to the bitter end. They have a few more months of blundering and muddling left them yet. They may manage to get our railways into a still greater mess than they are at present, if that is possible. They may thwart the progress of education in the province for a short time yet, by petifogging and expensive economy, but such a state of affairs cannot be borne much longer. Were the Assembly not shortly about to put an end to their reign for ever, we feel sure that the very first act of the Provincial Council, were it permitted to meet, would be to dismiss them ignominiously from office. We hope, however, that the question of public buildings for Christchurch will not be allowed to rest in its present unsatisfactory state. The members of the Chamber of Commerce have from time to time had the matter before them, but it is a subject which concerns every one. The Assembly will soon be meeting again, and that body may not feel disposed to revote the fourteen thousand pounds granted last year. We would suggest that a petition be got up to his Worship the Mayor, urgiug him to call a public meeting in order to bring pressure to bear upon the Executive. It is true that such a course might have no effect, for we are afraid the members of the Executive possess the characteristics of a certain animal—in more ways than one; but such a meeting would show the Colonial Government at any rate that the people of Christchurch are in earnest in this matter.