The Globe. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1878.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1483, 16 November 1878, Page 2

The Globe. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1878.

Some littlo time ago a movement was made in tlio City Council in the direction of the reorganisation of the staff. Those who know anything of the working of municipal matters will at once agree that no more desirable step could bo taken in the interests of the ratepayers. The matter was brought before the late Council by one of its then members, and received at the time of its being discussed the support of one of those now remaining. Since the election, however, matters have gone back into the old channel, and the Council appears entirely to have lost sight of the whole affair. The matter has been referred to a committee, but no further action has been taken, and the reorganisation, admitted on all hands so absolutely necessary, appears to be as far off as over. It may, perhaps, only be an omission on the part of the present Council, because of the peculiar jrosition in which the election left the whole matter; but even so, the solo remaining member of the old Council might have brought the question forward. It was allowed by nearly all who took part in the discussion of the motion, that a reorganisation was necessary why therefore it is allowed thus to drop through. Though it may seem a very small matter, yet in reality it has an important bearing upon the conduct of the affairs of the city. The carrying through of the details of the city business lies in the hands of the staff. The Mayor is of course the head, but it can hardly be expected that any gentleman who takes the position can devote the whole of his time to seeing that the subordinates carry out their duty. Therefore it is the more incumbent on the citizens to see that the work is properly done. The re-organisation has been decided to be necessary, and now that attention has been called to it wo hope that the Council will take some stops to carry out the intention of the late Council in a matter which will be for the benefit of the city. Colonel Whitmore is one of those patriots who would shed the last drop of Ids brother’s blood in the defence of his country. The hon. and gallant gentleman, {speaking in Dunedin on Saturday night last-after dinner, of courge _wanted to know whether his auditory “ meant to tell him that if a Russian gunboat were to drop its anchor in the bay that night, he could not, by sending round a bugler, have every one of the Russians on board of her safely locked up by the morning.” The reporter describes this burst as a u brief but truly warlike speech,” and so it was, but it would not be impertinent to enquire whether or not it was the product of that effervescence of spirits, so natural and so excusable, at the time and under the circumstances. L: t that for the present pass. What we have to think about now are the hundred or so of shells that even (ho gallant Colouel is free to admit yiuy, some day, bo thrown into Christchurch or Lyttelton by some dirty Ijttle cruiser belonging to an enemy. It is

gratifying to learn that beyond setting on fire a portion of the city, and knocking a few of our steeples about our ears, not much damage from the missiles is to be apprehended. Nay, in his own jaunty way the fearless soldier assures us that after the first few volleys, he has no doubt, even our women would think no more of a shower of bombs than of hailstones ; and finally, such is the force of habit, they would rather enjoy the entertainment so provided for them. There is a difference, certainly, between croquet and cannonading, and without consulting their wives and children, our readers will, probably, be unable to give complete belief to Colonel Whitmore’s statement, still, we have no doubt, after a trial, he will be found to be right, especially if he is on the spot and survives to tell the tale.

What has become of the Corner’s bye-law ? Day after day serious accidents are only escaped by a miracle. Vehicles are driven round corners at a pane which seriously endangers the lives and limbs of foot passengers, and yet no steps are taken to protect the citizens. It is scarcely creditable to a city of such pretensions as Christchurch that this state of things should exist, and though some people may raise the cry of oppression, every days experience shows us that such a bye-law is necessary. Cr. Ick was one of the first to move in this direction, and we trust that he will now see his way clear to bring the matter under the notice of the Council, so that what appears to be a serious omission may be rectified. If the bye-law is good let it be enforced —not in such a way as to make it oppressive—and if it is defective, it is time that steps were taken to make an ordinance that will bear the brunt of legal proceedings. Any byelaw, however good its purport may be, is undesirable and impolitic if its execution cannot be carried out without rendering it obnoxious. If the bye-law to which we have been referring is carried out to prevent the possibility of accidents occurring, and not made an engine for a kind of political jobbing, we venture to say that the present danger of pedestrians being run down will be done away with.

The “Star,” being thankful for small mercies, finds considerable amusement in the fact of the “Press” having the other dayhauled up and down a “ ship from the South.” We have no doubt the “Press ”is quite able to take care of itself, and if it is explained to the critic how far a ship maybe hauled up to the wind without being taken aback, how a well-built, well rigged vessel may be steered so as to lie very nearly in the wind’s eye, the “Star” will perhaps profit by the lesson, and, belaying its jawing tackle, alter its course. What connection exists between any of our notes on passing events and this tremendous affair we do not quite see. If the remarks in the “ S*ar ” a-e prompted by envy, we say at once—stop it! To ere is no nerd for ill-feeling. We have whole stacks of witticisms rejected by us as not up to our mark. They are, however the m ist of them, good enough for the “Star.” whiffi journal can have them on application, at a reduced price.