The Globe. WEDNESDAY AUGUST 7, 1878.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1397, 7 August 1878, Page 2

The Globe. WEDNESDAY AUGUST 7, 1878.

During the recent stumping tour of the Preinior, one body in Christchurch made itself especially conspicuous by the effusive welcome accorded to the great pro-consul. Au address couched in the usual terms was duly presented by the Mayor, attended by his Council, and flanked by the town clerk. Tho Ministerial organs flaunted this noblo conduct on tho part of the newly-created Borough of Sydenham in the face of the City Council, who had declined to make up a portion of tho adulations of Sir George Grey. "Hero," cried our Gloucester streei contemporary, " is a body who have saved the honour of Canterbury, who have accorded to the great statesman, warrior, pro-consul, &c, etc., that welcome which the City Council, for party motives, declined to do." And no doubt our Sydenham friends, with all the newlyconferred honours of municipality blushing thick upon them, added to the cordial, nay affectionate way in which their little address was received by tho Premier, felt that they had done a good thing. They thought that by impressing in the most forcible manner upon the present dispenser of fat things—for which municipalities as well as men hunger—how very much more in favour of his policy Sydenham was than Christchurch, that in the scramble they would have an influential friend at Court who would look after tho destinies of Sydenham. In fact, they wished to convince Sir George that codlin, as represented by Sydenham, was his friend, and not short, represented by the City Council. It was hardly to bo expected that an astute diplomatist like Sir George Grey was to be blinded by so transparent a piece of work. But it suited his game to appear so. Ho was in a reputedly hostile country; henco it was to his interest to make peace aud friends wherever and however ho could. Those who were privileged to be present on tho occasion of the interview, will remember well tho effusiveness with which the wily Premier inquired of the Mayor if there was anything that the Borough required? What did they want ? Could ho do nothing for them ? Most boroughs wanted something, and he was surprised to riud that Sydenham was an exceptiou. His tone was almost that of entreaty, and there was positively an air of sadness as query after query Avas answered in the negative, and ho found himself unable to repay them for their noble vindication of the right of the great pro-consul to homage. Tho Mayor and Council wore quite satisfied, they said with beaming countenances, to trust the attention to the wants of tho borough to tho Ministry of which so estimable a gentleman was the head. The interview terminated most pleasantly, and the Sydenham Councillors awoke next morn. i ing to find themselves famous as tho chosen champions of a people's Minister against tho cabals of a purse-proud . City Council. They fondly dreamt that tho future of the borough was assured. !\ T o moro sending letter after letter to Welj lington and receiving no satisfaction. ! AH they had to do was to ask and to : receive. Such being tho case, one is .' rather At & IPW to AWQUHfc for tlw re»

markab change in the sentiments of the Sydenhai Borough Council towards the Govcrment as displayed at their last. meeting The urbane Premier, who was expectec to do such great things for Sydenhai, aided by "our" member, the Hon. J T. Fisher, is now accused of offering them a member to represent them asi sop for tho taking of their reserves. And hero, it appears, is where tho shoe pinches. Under the Municipal Corporai ons Act of last sossion, it is provided that tho Governor in Council may, on tho request of tho Council of any huaigh, reserve any waste lauds as an enloTment. Tho Sydenham Borough Council, strong in their faith in Sir Georga Grey and "our" Mr Fisher, apply for and select two thousand acres of lard,which is the utmost limit allowed by the ict. But mark how the Government—at the head of which is tho gentleman vJd wis so solicitous to do something :j Sydenham—deals with those who alovod themselves to bo made a connonien; peg whereon the Ministerial journas could blazon forth how the Premier met with a flattering reception at Chuachurch. This was part of the perfornmce iu which the great proconsul a:ted tho leading character; but tho Syleiharaites, who filled the subordinate ptrs, have been loft out in the cold. So far torn allowing them to havo the two thousand acres, tho Government — including "our" Mr. Fisher—--855. Bit that is not all. Tho cup of ingratitule filled by tho Government had yet a bitbrer drop for their cpiondam admirers. A portion of tho section thus selected ly Sydenham has been allotted by the Govenment to another borough, and that too, one that did not present an address to tho Premier. No wonder that at such reatment as this the Sydenham Council mould grow wrathful. But what a change was tho mooting of the 'ther evening from tho scone of a fov months back in tho Government Buildings. At tho latter all was wreatied smiles and halcyon content. The Council, flushed with the approval of our Gloucester street contemporaries, whatever hat might be worth, magnanimously declined to ask for anything. Was not Sir George tho man of tho people ? Had he not arisen to free them from tho fitters of a purse-proud aristocracy, in vhich they had so long lain, and —prospend ? His promise that he would seo their hterests attended to was all that was necesary. Hence they trusted, and how woefully they havo been deceived lot their own words show. One member was so overwhelmed with the conduct of tho Governmo.it, that ho declared ho could not trust himself to speak of it. The Mayor thought tho action of tho Government strange, whilst the terms " gross injustice' were embodied in tho resolution. Such was tho end of tho fair professions made by the Premier to Sydenham representatives. Like tho dog in the old spelling book fable, they forsook the substance for the shadow, aud the rosult is they havo got nothing—or next door to it. Wo sincerely sympathise with tho deluded ones of Sydenham under their heavy disappointment. It is hard to be suddenly and rudely awakened from a dream of commanding influence with the Government by a shock like this. It will however, wo hope, act as a strong inducement to the members of the Sydenham Borough Council to weigh well the words of the motto they have adopted, "Deeds not words," before they again dance to tho piping of Sir George Grey, or any of his friends.