The Globe. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1878.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1501, 7 December 1878, Page 2

The Globe. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1878.

Dr. Turnbull is well known as an energetic hard working public man, but we do not tbink that bis latest development of activity in tbo service of the electors of the riding be represents will prove of any practical value. For some time past the worthy doctor has had visions of future greatness for Sumner. In his prophetic dreams ho has seen magnificient piers, embracing in their wide arms the white-winged messengers of commerce lying within its tranquil harbor, discharging their varied cargoes on to a busy railway pier. Hence he has determined that justice shall be done to that much neglected spot, and that from this time forward its many natural advantages shall be brought out. A Harbor Board, whose interest of course centres in Lyttelton, has hitherto contrived to ignore Sumner altogether, but a champion has arisen in Dr. Turnbull, and now justice must be done. As we have said, the worthy doctor has earned for himself the character of a bustling politician. But whilst this is so, it is also unfortunately true that a great many of the objects of his ardent devotion have turned out to be chimerical. We do not for one moment say that the Sumner harbor is chimerical. Far from it. We see no reason whatever why a harbor should not bo constructed at Sumner. The only objection we see to it —and that is a very trivial one — that if the present generation have to pay for the work, they should at least have the opportunity of using it. So far as can be seen at present, the chances of our great-grandchildren realising the doctor’s prophetic vision, seems to be somewhat remote. But a thought strikes us. The doctor may not be in earnest after all. Sumner is just becoming a place of importance, and ore long will probably agitate for a representative in Parliament. Who so fit to represent the growing interests of this embryo Liverpool as he who first discerned its great capabilities as a port,? With what unction would the honorable member for Sumner rise in his place to ask Ministers what their intentions were with regard to protecting that important harbor from the attacks of predatory Russian cruisers. What a flow of oratory would he pour forth on their devoted heads as to the immense importance, not only to Canterbury but the colony generally of Sumner as a port! Yards of statistics to show the growth of the shipping trade of the place would be unrolled before unoffending members, until, wearied to the last degree, they would, to secure peace and quietness, not only vote the money required to fortify Sumner, but the Government would at once, perhaps, offer the honorable member for Sumner the portfolio of Minister for Defence. When the now classic shades of Sumner become the busy haunts of commerce, when the shores of her magnificent harbour are lined with warehouses, and at her piers lie ships of every nation, then but one name will be remembered as the creator of this all—that of James Somerville Turnbull. The position of the North Rakaia Board of Conservators is one which fortunately is rare with us here. After doing good work in the prevention of the flooding of a largo portion of the country, the Board finds itself in an insolvent condition and unable to pay the wages of its laborers. Application has been made to the Government, but without effect, and the Road Board of the district, though possessed of a large balance, will not take up the debentures. We regret that such a state of things should have come to pass, more especially in connection with a body which has proved of public utility. The County Council here came forward to help so far as is possible, and it will now become a matter for consideration what is further to be done. The most important part, it seems to us, comes to be considered when the liabilities are adjusted, that is, what is to become of the work, and under whose auspices is it to be carried on. It must be attended to, or the thousands of pounds already spent will be thrown away. .We cannot, for the safety of the district, allow the work of protection to stop, and it is therefore matter for serious consideration under whose charge the works are to be placed. This will have to be very seriously thought of, and we hope, when the matter comes before the County Council again, this view of the question will receive duo attention. * Whether owing to the scandal created by the incongruous judgments lately pronounced in several quan Marino Courts, or the presence of sufficient technical knowledge and common sense, there is no doubt that the decision of the official enquiries into the cause of the wreck of the Taranaki has been looked forwaid to with some considerable interest. For personal reasons the many friends of Captain Malcolm will be glad to hear the result, and the safety of the important class of seamen who navigate our seas demanded that this case should be treated in some more intelligible manner than the others that we must say have been very, and, perhaps, too tenderly alluded to, by the Press of this colony. The deep water skipper, who once gets out of port —with a pilot—may, as far as currents, shoals, tides, Ac., are concerned, dream his happy life away sometimes for months together until he gets into port again —with a pilot. He has none of that anxious uncertainty of spirit, and wearing fatigue of body which men who in charge of largo numbers of passengers have to thread their way in and out of harbor every twenty-four hours, must experience. What the former goes through —with assistance—perhaps three or four times in a year, is done by the latter as often in u week, without assistance. Therefore while courts of enquiry are constituted as they are at present, it is a more toss up what their verdicts in any case may be. We leave the injustice out of the question, (hough (hat should form an important factor in the arguments against the present_ method, but no other feeling now can ho indulged in than contempt for the judges who presume to deal with matters of which they are ignorant, and of pity for those whose misfortune it is to come under their jurisdiction.