The Globe. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1878.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1492, 27 November 1878, Page 2

The Globe. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1878.

THE battle is over. The Mayor is dead, long live the Mayor! The petty intrigues, the local jealousies, aud the small cabals which have boon agitatiug our little world for the last week or two now find no occupation, and the usual calm or stagnation in city matters will soon resume its sway. The only remarkable feature presented by the late contest is that it was essentially one-sided. Bo(h of the candidates were gentlemen wellknown aud equally respected. Both, according to their lights, had done good service for the city, and it is gratifying to remember that, as is not always the case, nothing reflecting on the personal character of either was ever, throughout the struggle, even hinted it. Mr. Thomson based Ids claims for re-election on the fact of his past administration being, as ho and Ids friends said, all that could bo desired. He said in point of fact, " A ou have tried me, you know perfectly well whether or not T am fitted to retain the oliice 1 have filled so long with such credit to myself and yourselves, and I confidently rely on the experience of the past to point out to you the only proper course you can pursue, namely, the re-election of myself as your Mayor.” This is, in a few words, what is found after boiling down the flood of talk that has mot us on every side, and the reams of nonsense that have been written by his, not always

judicious, friends. At an early period of his canvass, indeed, a too enthusiastic and perhaps unscrupulous retainer attempted to find a short cut to success for his patron by putting in practice one of those ruses that electioneering agents seem always to consider as excusable if not commendable. Mr. M‘lvoy Baird however was quickly sat upon, and it is amusing to note how religiously, since ho has not made his appearance. With this exception, and perhaps a strong underhand pulling of the strings by paid officials of the Council that has not escaped tho attention of the observer, the struggle for place lias been carried on in an orthodox manner. It was onesided in this way —Councillor Ick from the first was put, and has been kept upon his defence, and if before, wo had been unacquainted with tho merits or pretensions of tho candidates, wo cannot now plead ignorance as to what they have done or what they intended to do in tho past. These particulars have been fully brought out in the attacks which have been made on Councillor Ick, and in the rebutting testimony ho has brought forward. The tactics and failures of an evening contemporary in this matter are instructive if not profitable to review. With an acrimony, surprising when compared with tho triviality of the subject dealt with, he attacked Mr Ick about tho Carter’s lane job, a scout upon which wo laid him, and ho did not work very cleverly indeed, but when all too late ho discovered the trap into which he had fallen, his ignominious back-out betrayed his knowledge of tho plan and his discomfiture thereat. In very truth ho has shown every impartial inquirer how clean Mr Ick’s hands are with regard to this affair, and who is really to blame. Under the excitement of tho chase, he also rooted up some transaction about a horse which at the first rush he evidently thought fit to carry Mr Thomson into the chair. Tho animal proved unsound and, vide last night’s Star, was incontinently abandoned. Badinage aside, the whole of the reflections cast upon the conduct of Councillor Ick as chairman of tho works committee may be sot down as emanating, as they undoubtedly did, from an electioneering committee, and without loss to any one may be allowed to sink into the oblivion from which they have been dragged. From this it will bo seen our opinion is that, as regards the candidates themselves the various controversies brought forward to suit electioneering exigencies began in nothing and have ended in nothing. So let the dead bury their dead, the people of Christchurch have now uumistakeably shown that something more than mere backstairs influence is required to sway them one way or the other. One impression that has boon made by the late investigations may bo productive of benefit to the Council itself particularly, and to the public generally. Which is, it has been abundantly proved that there is in the present Council an imperiuvi in imperio, which seeks to override tho decisions of Councillors and to regulate the motions of the Mayor himself. It is convenient, if not wise, to have at hand an advisor ready to undertake the work of tho Mayor and others, leaving the responsibility where it belongs, and so long as tho position is occupied by a competent and diligent person, no doubt things will work smoothly enough. But, directly a hitch takes place, it is the person in whom responsibility is lodged, who must bear the brunt of public opinion, and answer the criticism evoked by the neglect or malice of his substitute. Therefore, if the events of the past few days have the effect of promoting the reformation of the permanent staff, they will not have occurred in vain.