The Globe. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1878.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1230, 12 February 1878, Page 2

The Globe. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1878.

Were it not that men's minds are deeplyoccupied with the stirring events which are taking place in Eastern Europe, the announcement of the death of Pius the IX. would cause some anxiety. Who is to be his successor, and what influences will there bo at work to control the choice ? These are momentous questions even in tho nineteenth century to many of the nations of Europe. To the Italian Government especially it will bo a matter of deep interest whether the new Pope, will be one likely to come to some understanding with it, or continue the policy of Pius IX., and refuse all reconciliation. During the interregnum, till a new Pope is elected, the affairs of the church are administered by a Cardinal, called the Oamerlengo. He presides over the election, and it is his duty to stop all irregular practices. The present holder of the office, Cardinal Pecci, is said to have a deep knowledge of the world, and great dexterity in the management of its affairs. According to report, the Camerlengo is provided with ample instructions as to how to act on every emergency. "He may produce plenary instructions which will over-rule all the rules he is created to enforce; he may do in one act all the violence he has to secure against, and proceed, according to circumstances, to an immediate election Avith such Cardinals as ho may find about him." What course will bo taken we do not know. We observe, however, that the Cardinals have been summoned to Rome to proceed with the election. As to the mode of proceduro to be followed, the world is practically in the dark. In former days these regulations we?", always carefully made public. But in the case of the late Pope it is believod that he has issued a set of secret rules which will not be made public till acted upon. Hitherto certain of the nations of Europe liave had a voice in the selection of a Pope. They could exercise the right of exclusion. Austria, Spain, and Naples had that power, and although rarely exercised, their wishes were generally considered in the election. It is now said that tho Cardinals are of opinion that this right has disappeared with the Temporal power, and the College may choose to act upon this opinion. Should this be determined on, the isolation of the Papacy will be completo, " and the last link connecting her with tho Temporal power cast off, and we shall be a witness of a change scarcely less interesting, historically, than the destruction of the Temporal power." On whom tho choice will fall it is impossible to predict. The Cardinal most spoken of is Panebianco. Ho is a Sicilian, sixty-nine years of age, and an old Franciscan monk. Since Rome ceased to be the city of the Pope, but little is now seen of the Cardinals, and consequently but little is known of them. Panebianco is said, however, to be very truculent, bent on carrying out the ideas of the late Pope, and on perpetuating the war between the Church and civil society.

Wjb hope that the steps which are being taken by the City Council in connection with the question of new Municipal offices, will result before long in the erection of a building more in keeping with the growing importance of the municipality, than the miserable erection which at present does duty in this respect. At the meeting last night it was resolved to invite competitive designs for a building on tho present site, unless a more eligible ono can be obtained. Tho Council aro very moderate indeed in their desires. They resolved that tho cost is not to exceed £SOOO. Were this borrowed the interest and sinking fund thereon would be but a small burden upon the ratepayers. In Dunedin they propose to spend £'30,000 in the Municipal buildings, so that compared with other City Councils that of Christchurch is most modest in their request. There ought to bo no difficulty in procuring the consent of tho ratepayers to tho borrowing of this sum. It is absolutely impossible that we cau go on much longer as wo are. The present offices are a disgrace to tho city, and must be replaced by better buildings of some kind. In tho course of the discussion on tho report the question of site was raised. From what we can gather from the report, tho majority of the Councillors aro in favor of the present one. Councillor Jameson said lie had been informed by a person in authority that a larger site could be obtained by the Council opposite the Supreme Court in exchange for their present one, provided they cleared away all the obstructions thereon. Of course, it would bo a very desirable thing that tho banks of tho river should bo kept perfectly opon, and laid out as recreation ground for the city for ever. By tho provisions of tbo Christchurch City Reserves Ast, passed last session,

any future encroachment upon the banks of the river is provided against. But the sites of the present City Council Chambers, and a part of the yard, are freehold. The question is, would the Council be consulting the best interests of the city by parting with these sections, in order to have them laid out as a reserve, or by utilising them for their present purposes ? Unless a very eligible site indeed is obtained in exchange, wo think the present one should be retained. Tho situation is very convenient. It is near tho centre of the city, closo to tho new Government Buildings, and not far from the principal business houses. The neighbourhood of tho Supreme Court, on the other hand, is destitute of all these qualifications, and therefore, unless some strong inducement is offered, we think the Council will act wisely in holding to the present site.