The Globe. SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 1879.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1617, 26 April 1879, Page 2

The Globe. SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 1879.

The state of affairs obtaining in the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Lyttelton, is simply a disgrace to the colony. Yesterday, at least twenty people, including solicitors, clients, and witnesses, were present to Lave their business attended to, and had to wait two hours before a start was made. The Government appear to have lost all interest in the matter. Months ago, on the resignation of Dr. Donald, they professed to make some sort of move towards filling up the vacancy, and offered the place to a prominent resident in Lyttelton, but on his refusal wo have hoard of nothing practical being done in the matter. As wo pointed out a long time ago, a sea-port is of all places in the world, the place where the services of a Resident Magistrate are of the greatest value. A large part of the population is nomad; a sailor may bo here to-day, and on his way to a distant country to-morrow, and unless justice strikes at once, the offender has soon gone "beyond its grasp. Neither can this floating population, by reason of its more orderly habits, more easily dispense witli a Court of summary justice. It is a scandal that something is not done in this matter. It will be just as easy to fill up the vacancy at once as it will be six months hence. All that is wanted is for the Government to put its shoulder to the wheel, and offer sufficient inducements for a gentleman of learning and position to accept the post. Neither Lyttelton or the colony at large can afford to see things remain in their present state any longer.

The expose of the fraud committed by the “Lyttelton Times” respecting the Watorhouso-Hall telegram is now complete. In another column will bo found a copy of the telegraphic correspondence as it took place in reality. Let any one read this, and then turn to the extraordinary fiction produced by the “Lyttelton Times” on the 4th inst. It seems almost incredible that a respectable journal should descend to telling such gigantic falsehoods. It is almost worse than a crime; it is a blunder of the grossest description, Indeed detection must have of necessity so soon followed the act that we are almost inclined to think that the “ Lyttelton Times” has been gulled by some kind friend in the Wellington Ministerial circle. “ Save mo from my friends” is one of the last remarks that Cffisar is reported to have made to his friend Brutus, and the “ Lyttelton Times’ ” connection with very questionable Ministerial company lias probably been the cause of dragging the former through the dirt.

Db. Von Haast’s interesting lecture on pictorial art delivered on Thursday night draws attention to one of the greatest wants in colonial life. The development of the aesthetic faculties must, of necessity, be in a very backward state, when the rising generation are unable, from want of subject matter, to cultivate them The mind is more easily impressed through the eye than in any other manner, and it amounts to more or less of a misfortune that there do not exist in our midst such specimens of pictorial and other art as may serve to warm the imagination and improve the taste. The arrival of the Arundel Society’s pictures, lately purchased by the Philosophical Institute, must therefore bo welcomed with delight. They are thoroughly artistic productions, and are brought out under the auspices of such distinguished men as to guarantee their fidelity and general excellence. All that the now advanced art of chromo-lithography can do has been employed in their production. They labor certainly under one disadvantage. Most of the frescoes, of which they are copies, are faded in tint, and an endeavor has of course been made to imitate the present condition of the original. It is naturally impossible to do this thoroughly, but nevertheless a very creditable attempt has been made in that direction. Where, however, the coloring of the original has less faded, the warm tints are reproduced with admirable fidelity. As a suitable pendant to the arrival of these "pictures, Dr. Von Haast has instituted a series of lectures on pictorial art at large, tracing its rise and progress from the early and through the middle ages, until its arrival at its present standpoint. One of the disadvantages connected with the fact that New Zealand is split up into numerous centres of population is, that we cannot at present hope to form a national gallery of pictures and statuary. In Melbourne large sums of money are expended in the purchase of masterpieces, and the Victorian Gallery is commencing to assume considerable proportions. But imagine Government purchasing a Raphael for Canterbury—what a hideous outcry would arise across the Waitaki. Or suppose a Murrillo was purchased for Wellington, the whole colony would rise up against the monstrosity of the centralising tendencies of the Government. No, if we wish to give our youth a fair chance of cultivating their imaginations through the eye, we must roly on public spirit and private generosity. Something has already been done in both these ways. We possess the nucleus of a collection, and may trust that as riches increase in the community, the lucky ones will not overlook this desirable way of expending some of their surplus cash.

If his Worship tho Mayor does not sot a good example to the rest of his team what can be expected of them ? He is supposed to guide them in the paths in which they should go, to restrain them when too exuberant in their eloquence, to sit on them when too restive, to cheer them when too desponding, but, above all things, to sot them a brilliant example in his own proper person. And yet last Monday wo find him transgressing the Council’s own standing orders most ogrogiously. When tho question as to whether the money subscribed for the Barbadoes street bridge was to be returned or not, came to the front, his Worship abstained from voting. Why did ho retire into his unconstitutional shell on this occasion ? It is distinctly laid down by the Council rules that every member present, when a question is put to the vote must vote, and the Mayor does not hold an exceptional

position, for by tho Municipal Corporations Act lio is a Councillor by virtue of his office, oven if he bo not one otherwise. However, all Mayors are mortal, and must occasionally make little slips; but, still, wo would recommend to his Worship a more diligent study of the “ Rules for regulating the conduct of business at mootings of tho City Council.”

Christmas cards are now a permanent and recognised institution, but Easter cards have not as yet come into general use. However, we observe that they are worming their way into the market, and probably before long the postman will twice a year, instead of once, groan under an unaccustomed load. Poor St. Valentine has been completely thrown into the background. And, indeed, Christmas cards possess many advantages over valentines. They can be used by everybody, and are a convenient way of expressing that you have not forgotten a friend. Time and distance may have separated two friends so completely that, having no longer common interests, they may have ceased to correspond, or business pursuits may leave them but little spare time; in such cases the sending of a Christmas card is an act which, without trouble, recalls many happy memories, and, like a hurried shake of the hand at a railway station, makes the one feel kindlier towards tho other. Valentines, on tho other hand, were altogothor too suggestive for general life. Ordinary people do not always exist in a blaze of love. One could send valentines to children, but it was necessary to be cautions, if the recipient was blossoming into womanhood. Besides, one man never has been known, as far as wo are aware, to send a valentine to another man. So that the range of possible recipients was more or less limited. As with the recipients, so with the subjects depicted. Cupids, in various attitudes, are apt to pall on tho imagination when produced in large numbers, and, as for the tinselled monstrosities that fetched tho highest prices, it was impossible to look at them without a shudder. But in the production of Christmas cards the case is altogether different. The range of subject is almost unlimited, and art of a high order can be, and indeed is, put into requisition in their construction. Should, therefore, Easter cards come into vogue in future years, we may at least resign ourselves to our fate without many qualms. The principal sufferer will bo the postman.