The Globe. FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 1879.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1610, 18 April 1879, Page 2

The Globe. FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 1879.

The uorrantilo mon of Dunodin, who in such bt haste took alarm at the building of thoraihvay workshops at Addington, have loon rather rapped over the knucklos by the Minister for Public Works. It must >o somewhat galling to our Dunedin frioncb that " aue o' oor ain folk " should thus sarcastically answer tho jealous compliints addressed to them. The Minis'ar's reply is unique in its way. Starting with the remark that his fiery Dunodin correspondents must bo under somo nisapprohonsion, the Ministov proceeds—to use a colloquialism—to " chaff " tho Dunedin merchants. Sarcastically declining to bolieve that tho Dunodin mordants mean that there are to bo no workshops in Canterbury, or that tho removal of workshops from Christchurch to Adlington is detrimental to the interests of Dunedin, tho Ministor goes on to enlighten them as to what really has been done. Tho explanation will at once show that there was not tho slightest grouni for the fear expressed by tho Dunedin commercial mon. At the festivities consequent on the opening of the railway from Christchurch to Dunodin it was stated more than once that all joalousios honcoforth wore to cease. Tho lion, as represented by Otago, was to lay down with tho lamb personified in Cantorbury. But this millonial state of things did not last long on tho part of our Otago frionds. Tho fuss made over the moro romoval, for convenience of traffic, of tho workshops from tho Christchurch station to Addington shows how very jealously tho actions on this side of the Waitaki are watched. The fact is that the people of Otago have not yet forgiven us for having Mr. Conyers stationed here instead of at Dunodin, and any steps on the part of the railway authorities to give Christchurch even a fancied advantage will meet with vigorous opposition on their part.

Without wishing in any way to oxult over our Dunedin friends, it is impossible to pass over the entrance of the Stad Haarlem into Lyttelton harbour without a word of congratulation to the Harbour Board on this practical proof of the value of the works executed under their supervision. During the period that the Board have held office they have raised the port of Lyttelton from a second-rate port to one which will compare favourably with any in Now Zealand. That this is so was amply proved by the fact that so large a steamer as the Stad Haarlem came in to the wharf, and and wont out, without the slightest trouble. As we have said, no greater proof of the utility of the works carried out by the Harbour Board could bo given, and it is highly satisfactory that the efforts of tho Board to improve our harbour have been so successful.

As might have been expected, tho silly vapouring of some of our City Councillors respecting tho final disposal of tho Kaitangata Relief Fund has called forth a severe and well-merited rebuke from tho Secretary of the Central Committee. To put it mildly, it was certainly hardly in good tasto to question—as some of tho Councillors did —the probity of the members of the Central Committee. But tho strangest circumstance connected with this peculiar matter was the conduct of tho Mayor. He, after testifying in the strongest manner to the respectability and probity of the Central Committee, gave his casting vote for a motion, which, to a certain extent impugned it- Surely a more palpable instance of speaking one way and voting another could hardly be quoted. Tho result of this is that a very unpleasant feeling has been caused in connection with what should be rather an evidence of tho good feeling of one part of the colony with another. And this too without the slightest necessity for tho interference of the City Council. It was a matter with which they had nothing to do, and it cannot but ho regrotted that they should have gone out of their way to pass a slight upon the Dunedin Committee We trust that the lesson they have learnt in connection with this matter will teach them in future not to interfere with what does not concern them.

We notice with pleasure that the City Council have adopted tho suggestion recently made by us as to the separation of the offices of city inspector of nuisances and inspector of hackney carriages. Such a division will, we feel certain, be greatly to the advantage of the city. It will enable the inspector of nuisance to dovote the whole of his time to the sanitary inspection of the city. On the other hand, a very salutary supervision will be enabled to be kept over the licensed vehicles, which no one will deny is much wanted. Now that a special officer has been appointed we trust to see the provisions of the by-law carried out strictly. In the interests of the public this is highly desirable. One or two convictions, if found necessary, will havo a groat effect in koeping the holders of licenses within the provisions of the by-law.