The Globe. WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 1877.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 896, 9 May 1877, Page 2

The Globe. WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 1877.

The Acclimatisation Society are again in trouble with their Curator, and this time they apparently have just cause for complaint. At a meeting held yesterday a letter was read from the Curator, tendering his resignation, in consequence of the action taken by the Council at its last meeting. This action, Mr. Hill explained, was simply asking him for an explanation on the subject of catching hares without authority from the Council. As the Chairman, the Hon. J. T. Peacock, put it, " the curator had invited a party of friends to see a coursing match with the hares. No permission or authority had been asked from the Council, and at the meeting next ensuing, when the matter came up, the curator used language such as should have never been used to the Council." At that meeting the principle was laid down that the curator should not dispose of the property of the Society without consulting the Council. He seems to have taken offence at this and tendered his resignation. His letter was discussed at some length at a meeting held yesterday, and ultimately it was decided that the matter should stand over until next meeting, it being understood that if Mr Beck withdrew his resignation without any conditions, matters should go on as before. " Matters should go on as before." Here is a pleasant prospect for those who subscribe their money for the purposes of acclimatisation. Instead of coming to some definite understanding on thesubject, matters are to be allowed to drifton as they have been doing. Indeed, one member of the garden committee said he should not work on it as it was probable that much squabbling would ensue. Of course it is not an easy matter to serve a dozen masters, each of whom have their own pet hobbies which they wish to see carried out; and judging from what has taken place in' former years, the curator has no doubt to put up with much unpleasantness. Those fussy old gentle -

men who devote their leisure to acclimatisation, know, we presume, all about the subject; and all the curator has to do is to obey their instructions implicitly. But it would save that gentleman a deal of worry and anxiety, if their contradictory orders were given in rotation. Let each one have a weekly or monthly turn all to himself. The result would be interesting from a scientific point of view, and might produce an improvement in the appearance of the grounds.

THE Christchurch district Drainage Board have an engineer to whom they pay a liberal salary. They have a consulting-engineer, who has been designing our drainage scheme, and receiving very liberal for his work. The duties of the engineer to the Drainage Board, have not consequently of late been of a very arduous nature. Mr Bell, has nevertheless got a holiday from his employers, and he is veiy wisely spending it in a very profitable manner. He is engaged, we understand, on some work at the railway, for which he ought to receive a handsome remuneration. We do not blame him for doing so. He has an excellent example in the Engineer-in-Chief of the colony, who appears to spend more than his holiday leisure in doing private work. We have heard a great deal of late about the economy of the Government, and of their refusal to compensate those officers who have recently been thrown out of employment. Surely among their ranks there are men competent to do the work Mr Bell is engaged upon. But then the G-overnment appear to go on the principle of giving to some that have, and in abundance, and taking from those that have not, even that which they should have.