The Globe. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1876.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 689, 4 September 1876, Page 2

The Globe. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1876.

Some few days back we commented on the difficulty experienced in inducing suitable candidates to come forward to represent the ratepayers in the City Council. Since the article alluded to was written, we are glad to learn that there is a probability of two, if not more, gentlemen consenting to be nominated who will in every way reflect credit on the city. It is now said that Messrs C. Clark and E. Strange will agree to be nominated, and also that His Worship the Mayor is likely to reconsider his determination to retire. We hope that in this case popular rumour will for once turn out to be correct. The two gentlemen named will bring to the Council both standing in the city and business experience, aud as such their probable accession as members cannot but be regarded with satisfaction. Of the services rendered to the city by the Mayor we have already spoken. On every occasion when it was necessary for the interests of the ratepayers as a body, he spared neither time nor trouble. In his official relations with the General and Provincial Governments in business matters, he has shown himself thoroughly competent to put matters clearly and concisely, and has secured for us many substantial benefits. It is of course somewhat hard to ask him now to sacrifice to some extent his private interests for the good of the public, but still we have that confidence in hid desire to advance the interests of the city, to feel that if necessary the sacrifice will be made. The day is fast approaching when municipalities will have to undertake increased duties, and to accept larger responsibilities. Therefore it is of the highest importance to the future welfare of Christchurch that the duty of carrying out the various measures necessarily arising from these largely increased powers should be in the bands of the very best men. It is with great pleasure that we hear that gentlemen worthy of the confidence of the citizens are likely to come forward, and we trust that on the day of election the ratepayers will select the best men. The choice rests with them, and should be exercised with care and discretion. In the future the municipalities of the colony are bound to become a power in the state. In will not only be as regards the making of streets, or the general improvement of the city; they will have to deal with many subjects intimately connected with the health and welfare of the citizens, and the way in which (in (-e duties are discharged will materiady affect the future standing of Oliristchurch as a city. In the past wo have been fortunate in receiving,

for the laying of the foundation as it were of municipal government, the services of public men who in wider spheres have made their mark. To this in a great measure is to be attributed the deservedly high position our City Council holds amongst kindred institutions in New Zealand. It should be the aim of the ratepayers, in deciding from the list of names likely to be submitted for their choice, to return men who will keep up the standard of intelligence and business aptitude. If they do this, we have no fear of the future of the city, and we shall hear no more of the office of City Councillor going begging, as has been the case too often of late years. On the contrary, we shall be able to select from the ablest and worthiest of our citizens, and thus ensure the highest success for the working of the system of municipal government amongst us.

The elements of power contained in the newly-formed Administration are certainly of unusual strength. As far as ability and experience of public affairs are concerned, the Ministry may be congratulated upon being unexceptionally well formed. The representation of the various portions of the colony is also fairly matched. It is a noticeable fact, that, while adopting the general scheme of doing away with Provincialism, the new team do not intend to be fettered by matters of detail in the work of reconstructing the Constitution which were brought forth by the Vogel Ministry. The blending process, which has brought together political units, thought by some people to possess no cohesive materials,' appears to have been a happy one. Considerable difficulty will no doubt be experienced by the new Ministers in placing before the country, at so short a notice, a comprehensive bill of fare. The session has already tired out many members, and, all things considered, it is absolutely on the cards, that the House may be prorogued very soon, with a view of allowing the new Government reasonable time to mature new measures. Of course, if such things should happen, Provincialism must necessarily receive another short lease of life. To expect a new constitutional structure to be erected in a day, is simply out of the question. The fact of the Vogel measures having met with so keen and varied an opposition, was caused by the half crude manner in which they were digested, consequent upon the necessary haste with which they had to be passed. We await the statement by the new Premier with considerable interest.