The Globe. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1878.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1498, 4 December 1878, Page 2

The Globe. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1878.

The saying that circumstances alter cases never received a more apt illustration than in the proceedings of the City Council at its last meeting. That erratic and long-winded body had before it certain tenders for valuing the city. Prior to their being opened, one of the Councillors remarked that there was no time to lose, and that the valuation ought to be proceeded with without delay. Such business-like sentiments could, we think, hardly fail to meet with the approval of the citizens whom ho represents so ably. The tenders were opened, and one rejected as being informal. But a change came o’er the spirit of the dream of the Councillor who was an advocate for haste. What induced this change we are unable to say, but no doubt it was made from philantrophic motives of the purest kind. However, he who but a short time before was for pushing on the work, now suggested that fresh tenders should be called for, causing a delay of some three weeks. It is very curious to compare the two stand-points taken up by this somewhat weather-cock-like Councillor. Until the tenders are opened and the real state of things ascertained, he desires that no delay shall take place in commencing the valuation of the city, but directly afterwards he wants to have three weeks longer time. We confess to be somewhat at a loss to account for this conduct. If it was necessary to proceed with all due speed prior to the opening of the tenders, what was there in them to make the alteration ? It is true that one tender was rejected as informal, but that could not have been the reason. No Councillor would, we feel sure, have allowed this to change his opinion, so markedly and emphatically expressed. Perhaps some time we may have the real reason. Now, as to the valuation itself. It is true we have obtained the services of a valuator at a less rate than that tendered by others. But we would desire to point out that it is not always the cheapest which is the best. In many cases it is decidedly the x’overso. A valuator in a city like Christchurch requires to possess special qualifications to discharge his duty properly, and these qualifications can only be obtained by experience in the particular line. It is all very well for a man to put down by rule of thumb certain values for property, but the question is, can he give any basis upon which he arrives at the rateable value ? Complaint was made last year that the valuation was too high, and probably it was; but better that than a defective valuation, because to a certain extent each year forms a precedent, and we should be repeating the error in future assessments. It seems to us, therefore, that it would have been better for the Council to have rejected the whole of the tenders as unsuitable, and called for fresh ones, as in that case the city would, had due liberality been exercised, have stood the chance of obtaining a really sound valuation. Wb are glad to find that the interest in music amongst the members of the local societies which was beginning somewhat to flag has revived. For two years past the annual performance at this particular season of the year of the appropriate sacred work has been discontinued. Previously it was looked forward to as the musical event of the year, and all musicians Joined heartily in the effort to make it a grand success. After this interval the Harmonic Society has taken it up again, and we are to have “The Messiah” this year. So far so good, and the society deserves the utmost credit for its energy in taking the matter up; but we should like to see a step further than this. The society itself is a very good one, but it does not embrace the whole of the musical talent, vocal and instrumental, available in Christchurch. In the rendering of a work like the one under notice, and more especially on 1 such an occasion, it appears to us more than twer necessary that it should bo given with the' utmost completeness, and on the largest possible scale commensurate with the resources of the place. Therefore it is that wo should like to see an invitation given to all musicians to come forward and help to give the oratoiio on a grand scale. The time is short, it is true, but the music cf “ The Messiah” is so well known to every musician here that this need bo no obstacle. With an array of talent such as could be got together the oratorio could be rendered in a manner worthy both of the occasion and of Christchurch, and it would perhaps go some little way towards removing the stigma which now rests upon us of caring more for burnt cork opera than the high class music of the great masters. Wo hope (that some steps may yet be taken to carry out our suggestion, and that the result will bo & union of the musical forces of Christchurch finch as has never been seen before.

The suggestion made in the “Press of this morning as to the election of Mayor by his fellow Councillors, must have occurred to all who concern themselves in the working of our municipal elections. Let us examine it by comparison. Suppose the Mayor of London had to bo elected by the citizens of that place. Imagine two, three, or four millions of people on any given day rushing to the poll to exercise the privilege secured to them by benevolent but unthinking lawmakers. What would be the result ? The consequence would be, the giving up of a city that, as regards population, is a kingdom when compared with our owja picayune townlett.es, to a saturnalia likely to ad’ect, more or less, every inhabitant of the city. The effects of the license exnested and taken by voters, and winked at on such occasions by Cie authorises, would be felt by almost every individual of the swarms that people the largest city in the world. The clumsiness of the method is alone sulhcient to debar its use, and it may be safely predicted that legislation will shortly bo obtained, by which power will be given to p-ty Councils in New Zeaiucd to elect by h!eir own selves their own chaucyn their th ayor. M J «

There is just one subject we should like to bring under the notice of the City Council as a want in the city, and it is one willed requires almost immediate attention. We ulLu.dc to the erection of public conveniences in various parts. In Dunedin there are several, which have been rendered so far from being eye--80108, really ornamoßfcali and we see no region

why the same should not be done here. We have infinitely more room than our southern neighbors, and the increase of population, and consequently of visitors, renders such a step more than ever necessary. Wo need not dilate upon the subject. The want of such places must be patent to every one, and we only hope that the Council will lose no time in erecting buildings, not like the one swept away recently—the most conspicuous objects in the landscape—but somewhat in the style of those in Dunedin.