The Globe. MONDAY, JUNE 18, 1877.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 930, 18 June 1877, Page 2

The Globe. MONDAY, JUNE 18, 1877.

A very salutary regulation has, for many years past, been laid down by the Government, forbidding Civil Servants from taking part in politics, beyond the exercise of their rights as voters. If we remember correctly, the attention of the persons above referred to was specially called to this rule by a notice in the Government Gazette at the time when Provincialism was abolished. Be this as it may, however, the rule has hitherto been scrupulously observed in Christchurch; and, we greatly regret that, at Mr, Eichardson’s meeting on Priday evening last, this very necessary restriction was disregarded. It was well known sometime before the meeting took place, that questions would be asked of the Hon. E. Eichardson, who had for some years been engaged in the administration of the Public Works policy, respecting

the conduct of tlie Railways in the Provincial District of Canterbury. No possible doubt could have existed on this point, seeing that the public prints have been largely made use of, for some time past, in ventilating the alleged faults and grievances of Railway officials. The rule we have referred to applies, of course, with equal force to officers of all grades ; and we were sorry to observe persons in the Oddfellows’ Hall who rank as Railway employees in various positions —in fact, from the Superintending Engineer down to guards and porters. It is not our present purpose to enlarge upon the want of good taste which allowed the less prominent members of the Railway staff to attend Mr. Richardson’s meeting; no doubt their better judgment was overcome to some extent by the changes which have already been notified, and others now rumoured. No excuse can, however, in our opinion he made for such a gross breach of say —decency—let alone G-overnment regulation—as that committed by Messrs Conyers, Lawson, Passmore, and Allison Smith, in being prominently present |at the meeting we have referred to. Commencing with the latter gentleman, some palliation of his offence may perhaps be allowed by attributing his fault to youth and inexperience. In Mr. Passmore’s case it might he said that, not being connected with Railway matters in this Island, he attended the meeting simply through curiosity. But what excuse can be found for Mr. . Lawson, and his superior, Mr. Conyers, attending a meeting of such a nature ? Without wishing to ascribe motives, what is more reasonable to suppose than that the junior officers of the service left the Hall under the impression that their actions had been closely watched by their superiors—in fact that any little exuberance of feeling had, in Colonial parlance, been “ spotted,” presumably with the object of being remembered in the future ? We should be sorry to place such a construction as is suggested in the foregoing paragraph upon the action of any gentlemen holding such high appointments in the Colonial service; but we cannot characterise the conduct of the officials alluded to as otherwise than ill-judged and unseemly.

The fire in Lyttelton, on Sunday morning, shows the necessity for better measures being taken for fire prevention in port. Not only were the means of communication with Christchurch defective, but the arrangements on the spot for the putting out of fire were very unsatisfactory. It was only after sending messengers througli the tunnel that the authorities at head quarters were made aware of the fire, and assistance sent. But here again delays interposed. The keys of the engine-house at the Christchurch railway station could not at first, it is said, be found, and more precious time was lost. At present the appliances in Lyttelton for tire prevention are of a somewhat primitive nature. But, while this is so, the amount of valuable property there has greatly increased during the last few years. In addition to the large buildings belonging to the Government, there is always a considerable quantity of goods awaiting shipment, or being landed at the various wharves. A large fire must, consequently, be very disastrous in its consequences. Yet the experience of Sunday morning went to show that the Government were practically helpless. Although they have a powerful fire-engine at the Christchurch station, it was rendered comparatively useless from want of means of easy and rapid communication between Christchurch and Lyttelton. There ought to be no difficulty in providing this. What particular plan should be adopted, it is not for us to say ; this is a practical question. But it’ is simply monstrous that it should have taken five hours to get the railway fire-engine sent from Christchurch to Lyttelton, a distance of seven miles.