The Globe. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 1879.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1573, 5 March 1879, Page 2

The Globe. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 1879.

Now that the question of the site in the Market Place being available for the purpose of Municipal buildings has been settled, it is to be hoped that no time will be lost in proceeding with their erection. For years past the unsuitableness of the present buildings has been forced upon us, The business of the city has been retarded, and the work of the officers greatly increased by the fact that it has had to bo done in a place totally unfit for the purpose. Wo are glad that the Council did not persist in their original intention to erect the new buildings upon the present site, because the one now at their disposal is a far better one in every respect. Besides other considerations, the new municipal buildings, when erected,, will help to fill up what is now a very unsightly gap in the very centre of the city, and will also tend to unite somewhat the two divisions of the city east and west of Victoria, bridge. We do not know whether the Council have considered the question of the Resident Magistrate’s Court being a part of the new buildings or not. If they have not done so, it appears to us that the matter is one worthy of thought. The present magisterial offices are quite as unsuitable as those of the City Council, and though we have heard a good deal about the utilisation of the site near the Supremo Court, no steps appear likely to bo taken in this direction. The Council might very well make an offer to the Government to include in their plan for the new municipal buildings, offices for the Resident Magistrate, and the city would receive a certain amount as rent which would act as a sot off to the extra cost of erection entailed. However this may be, whether the Resident Magistrate’s Court be there or not, we hope to see the Council make some progress in settling the details for their own new offices. It is by no means necessary to wait for the tormina-

tion of the tenancy of tho present Postoffice. Everything may bo put in train, so that tho work may bo proceeded with at ns early a date as possible.

It is satisfactory to bo ahlo to record that tho subscriptions to tho Kaitaugata Relief Fund arc coining in. Wo confess to not being able to understand tho backwardness of the Mayor in calling a public mooting on tho subject. A public meeting would have at least tins effect, that it would create a more general feeling of sympathy with tho movement than can possibly ho raised in any other way. In the matter of tho Glasgow Relief Fund—a fund raised for distress far removed from our midst—a meeting was called, and why one should not ho called for a calamity so near our own doors we are at a loss to imagine. Tito Council have determined to form themselves into a committee; but, while giving them every credit for this, and also believing most thoroughly in their zeal in the matter, wo cannot but think that a general committee, embracing all classes of tho community, such as would bo likely to ho appointed at a public meeting, would bo more likely to effect tho end in view. Though late, we yet hope to see this done, trusting that Christchurch in this particular will ho not a whit behind the other towns of tho colony in succouring those who have so largo a claim on our sympathy.

Councillor Clifford’s woll-moant endeavour to stem tho torrent of municipal eloquence has failed. Not only so, but the projector, like all would-be benefactors of their kind, has boon accused of all manner of uulioard of offences. Wo fool sure that if anything wore wanting to prove tho necessity of such a measure, the maundering which took place at the recent special meeting auont the re-or-ganisation of the staff would be amply sufficient, Two hours were wasted in utterly profitless talk, and the same sort of thing goes on at nearly all tho meetings, of the Council. Tho real secret of tho matter is that the Mayor does not keep a tight hand on tho somewhat unruly team which it is his misfortune to pilot. Tho ordinary rules which govern public bodies are far too often disregarded. Hence the sittings resolve themselves into more talking meetings. If tho Mayor would be a little more strict in forcing the observance of the standing orders, and were to check the disposition which is so observable, namely—that of babbling about everything except the matter in hand, affairs would progress more satisfactorily. Unless some of the members are content to prune down a little the redundancy of their eloquence, and indulge loss in the flowers of rhetoric, the Council will have to meet not only once but two or three times a week. The proposal of Councillor Clifford is now in force in tho model Council of Sydenham, and works well, and we should only bo too glad for the sake of the citizens at large—and the poor suffering Press in particular—to see the older municipality of Christchurch follow this excellent example.