The Globe. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1878.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1439, 26 September 1878, Page 2

The Globe. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1878.

The first act in the Municipal comedy has been brought to a successful conclusion. By dint of great exertion and persuasion on the part of the management, the respective characters have been engaged, and the curtain is ready to ascend on the socond and final act. In other words, after a great deal of trouble and caucuses innumerable, candidates have been induced to come forward to fill the vacant seats in the City Council. The task of selection has fallen to that influential body, Mr. Wilson's committee. But this selection, to say the least of it, is a peculiar one. As only one is to be rejected from the number, the probability is that the Council Chamber will witness the Millennium on a small scale in the shape of the lion and the lamb peacefully reposing together under the bland and mellifluous sway of Mayor Wilson. It will be quite refreshing to see the Councillor, who erstwhile occupied the position of head of a powerful political organisation, sinking all little differences of opinion in the laudable desire to do honour to the man of the people's choice. It will also probably be possible for the Council, as a relief to the monotony of debate, to be favoured with a learned disquisition on the shape of the earth from one of their body, with a view to proving that science is utterly and entirely at fault. As regards oratorical power, the prospective Mayor will have to look to his laurels in this respect, if the candidates who have weekly opportunities of practice are selected. Indeed it is more than probable, judging from the specimens we have had of the powers of these gentlemen in this respect, that the Council meetings in future will have, like "London Journal" stories, to be continued. The addition to the present talking power of three such practised orators can hardly be contemplated without alarm for the health of the present Mayor during the remainder of his term of office. The inclusion in the team of a gentleman representing the licensed victuallers' interest gives variety to the company, and induces a belief that there will be no more wild scenes of revelry enacted such as the Geraldine land-pur-chase trip, as described in eloquent terms and well-rounded periods by Cr. Wilson. As, however, it is more than probable that our next Mayor, like his brother of Sydenham, will introduce strictly Good Templar principles into municipal feastings, it will be somewhat hard upon the only representative of the publicans to partake of what will be Barmecidal feasts to him. Taken as a whole, the team is a most peculiar and incongruous one. There is one member of it who must certainly wonder to find himself there. Though a thoroughly excellent man, and one who will do good service if elected, yet it would be a pity to spoil so harmonious a quintette as those remaining. Their election would be so apropos, and so consistent with events which have preceded it, that to separate any one of them, and place him in the outer darkness of rejection would be indeed cruel. Think how it would wound the sensitive heart of that great man who has been the moving spirit of the selection of this united and happy family of five, if one of its members were not permitted to swell the triumphal ranks of his followers as a councillor. Let the ratepayers remember with gratitude that Cr. Wilson has relieved them of the onerous task of selecting candidates to represent them by doing so himself, with the aid of his committee, and that he has taken every care that the now pervading high tone of the Council shall be rigidly preserved by those who have been brought forward. It has been boastingly said by former councillors that the City Council of Christchurch was a model for the other Councils in New Zealand to look up to and, if possible, imitate. When, however, the consumation of the wishes of the committee is reached, and the quintette spoken of duly elected, this will have a wider application. The Australian colonies —nay, the mother country itself, may cast eyes of envy o'er the sea to the Christchurch City Council, and deplore the fate which deprived them of the services of such patriots. It can be said with truth that should the numistte, put forward under the auspices of the committee referred to, bo elected, Christchurch will neyer have had such a Council sinco ihe formation of the municipality, it will etand unique in the annals of

the city, and generations yet unborn will look with wonder upon the constitution of the ruling municipal body o£ this city in 1878. The only fear is that in the present degenerate age we possess no poet or historian, whose genius would be equal to the task of recording the manifold virtues and accomplishments of the municipal sages. However, that is our misfortune not our fault, and we must give our humble tribute to the glories of a Council which bids fair to shine with such lustre as to eclipse all that have preceded it.