The Globe. MONDAY, MARCH 24, 1879.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1589, 24 March 1879, Page 2

The Globe. MONDAY, MARCH 24, 1879.

If it is true that half the world does not know how the other half lives, it is equally true the larger portion of the Christchurch world little knows how a considerable section keep their cows and horses. The pi’esont system obtaining in the Resident Magistrates Court offers a direct premium to a class of people who prefer the chance of paying an occasional five shilling fine, to the certainty of spending their money in food for their boasts. Mr, Mollish, no matter how largo the number of cattle which trespass may be, or how often the offence has been committed, invariably imposes the cut and dried fine of ss. Consequently, numbers of people prefer letting their animals graze at their own sweet will in the public thoroughfares, and running the risk of detection by the police, to keeping them properly confined in paddocks It pays better pecuniarily, and there is the additional inducement of the satisfaction consequent on annoying one's neighbours, and of waging an exciting guerilla warfare with the police. Take the case of a man with an economical turn of mind and a taste for adventure coming into town for a night. Ho hobbles his horse and turns it out into the neighbouring street, saving thereby the cost of putting it into a stable, and only running a very remote chance of being fined ss. In any case he cannot lose by the transaction, and the strong probability is that he saves the cost of a night’s keep. Why our resident magistrate should act in the manner alluded to above is a thing which, as Lord Dundreary says, “No fellow can'bo expected to understand.” When at Kaiapoi he used to add, to the 5s fine, costs Os fid. Perhaps he thought there was more grass in the streets there, and it was only fair that the owners should be mulcted proportionately high. He evidently rates the grazing capabilities of the Christchurch streets at a very low figure. However, since the appointment of a city ranger, things will bo made a little hotter for these guerrilla cattle owners. The chance of their boasts being run in will be considerably increased, as both the police and the ranger will bo on the look out, and, if the latter makes a capture, the cost of the affair to the owner will apparently be 12s; namely, 5s fine, 5s cost of summons, and 2s cost of conviction.

The Christchurch cricketing world were naturally much interested in Saturday’s match. Of course it was, to a certain extent, unsatisfactory that the whole eleven of Englishmen were not able to put in an appearance, but “ half a loaf (or rather, iu this case, four elevenths) is better than no broad,'’ and the four representatives from the old country who hesportod themselves on the Association ground the day before yesterday were heartily welcomed by the sporting world of Canterbury, To sco Mr Horliby at tho wickets was a treat which none who were on tho ground will readily forgot. Tho freedom of his stylo and tho power of his hitting gave our young cricketers a lesson which they should profit by. From whatever reason tho cause may spring, it would seem that Australian cricket, however safe and run-getting tho play may ho, does not develop style so satisfactorily as does English cricket. Whether it is that tho fastness of Austra-

liau groundspromotcs caution to tho oxclufion of perfect freedom, or lo some oilier cause, it is a fact that, taken broadly, the born and bred Australian players, although very powerful and safe bats, are not graceful players. Perhaps ibis fa*lt may vanish in course of time, G't typos are easily lived. A 113- one acquainted with the struggles which, at varying intervals, have been gone through at both Oxford and Cambridge to alter the occasionally vicious style of ihe rowing men of Ibo year wid recognise the truth of tins assertion. U is .just tho samo with cricket. An export can almost tell at a glance at what school “a colt" has boon brought up. B will be a pity if Australian cyickiifers do not in the future turn a considerable shave of their attention to the development of stylo. Runs may enmo no faster than they do at present. But, cdrriv purihus, a graceful stylo is a tiling to bo cultivated.

As wo predicted in an issue of tho 19tli instant, the thirst for (Governor’s residences is spreading —Ashburton has commenced to move in the matter. Tho local organ sots forth its claim with great clearness and force. “ Ashburton," it says, “is more centrally situated than Christchurch, with which it will compare favorably in every respect, except, perhaps, tho diuginoss "of it£ buildings, the dustiness of Its streets, and the sclfsuhi cibvicy of its residents. True. Christchurch has a museum and public gardens which will stand competition, hut thou have wo not Baring and Mona Squares aud a Public Library and a railway station, which, viewed in the light of fossil curiosities, might knock Dr. Yon. Haastb megatherium and moa skeletons inth twenty cocked hats 1" Having knocked tho doctor’s antiquities “ into twenty cocked hats,” tho local organ calls upon the Town Council to ho up and doing, and to show its patriotism by securing to Ashburton the permanent benefit of a vice-regal smile. Ashburton certainly might use exactly the same arguments that tho Dunedin City Connell have employed. It lies between Christchurch and Dunedin, neither of which possess a Governor’s residence, therefore it should have one —Nothing simpler— Tho argument is quite conclusive.