The Globe. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1877.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1004, 13 September 1877, Page 2

The Globe. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1877.

Th e result of the meeting of citizens last evening proves most conclusively —if such proof were wanting —the absurdity of calling people together ostensibly for business but really for broad chaff. So far as any idea of the opinions of the different candidates is concerned, we venture to say that hardly one out of the assemblage last night left the Hall wiser than when be entered it. That the citizens have anything like a notion of what was said is due to the patience of the reporters who managed to glean up, amidst the uproar which raged, some small modicum of information. The fact is the whole thing was a farce, and the sooner we put an end to it the better. If any good end was served by these free and remarkably easy entertainments we should not advocate their being done away with, but the contrary is the ease. Beyond affording amusement to a number of persons, nothing comes of them. The business for which the meeting is called is altogether ignored, and the candidates compelled to submit to have the most absurd questions asked and all sorts of practical jokes played at their expense. If the ratepayers desire broad farce and are willing to pay for it let them have it, but do not let there be any mistake about it. Let it be thoroughly understood that it is so, and not get a number of gentlemen to come on to a platform to explain their views to bo hooted and groaned at to provide amusement for a crowd of people. The time has now come when candidates should firmly set their faces against being baited in this manner. Unless the meetings can be conducted in an orderly manner and a fair hearing given to all of them we say the candidates should decline to attend them, and take other means to make their views known, if they desire to do so.

Tx making the presentation to Councillor Hobbs on the occasion of his retirement from the Council, the citizens only recognised a just claim. During the career of Mr. Hobbs in civic matters, his actions —though not always perhaps judicious —have been prompted by a sincere desire to advance the city. It is therefore gratifying to find that the ratepayers are not unmindful of services rendered to them. We have had occasion at times to differ with Mr. Hobbs as ! to various matters in connection with the but still we cannot but that the testimonial was most°worthily stowed Mr,, H “ bbs lias devoted fiimseu +0 J' s »harge of his duties, whether as a... Councillor, with a zeal and honesty purpose which has won for him not alone the respect and esteem of his friends but also of those who differed from him. He has so filled the high and responsible office of Mayor for two years as to reflect credit upon the city and do honour to himself. It is, therefore, with regret that we miss him from the City Council, and can only express a hope that ere long circumstances will again permit of his offering his services to the citizens. There is one part of Mr. Hobbs’s address on the occasion of the presentation to which reference may be made. That is the figures showing the receipts and expenditure of tlie Municipality from 1869 to 1877. Nothing could show more conclusively the rapid strides made by the city than these figures. In 1869 we find the receipts were £6770 6s sd, and the expenditure £6769 13s Id. Now compare that with the return for 1876. In that year the receipts were £61,010, and the expenditure £56,108. It is true that some proportion of this amount arises from loan, but still a very large amount is from rates, &c., and shows that the city has made rapid progress. This being the case, and Municipal government having thus assumed here a more important character, it behoves the ratepayers to be very careful as to whom they select for their representatives. We hope that to-day the decision of the ratepayers will _be such as to reflect credit on the city, and that the gentleman composing the new Council will be men Avho will brini, r to bear sound practical sense upon the questions brought before them,