The Globe. FRIDAY, MAY 2, 1879.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1622, 2 May 1879, Page 2

The Globe. FRIDAY, MAY 2, 1879.

It is difficult to understand tho delay on tho part of the Government to appoint a successor to Dr. Donald in the magistracy of Lyttelton. It is now some months since it was intimated to them that Dr. Donald intended to resign, and weeks have elapsed since that gentleman left tho shores of Now Zealand. Yet the Government make no sign as to the appointment of a gentleman to fill his place. The Mayor and Council of Lyttelton have repeatedly urged the necessity of the appointment being made without delay, but still nothing is done. The Harbor Board, some meetings ago, passed a very strong resolution on the subject, accompanied by an urgent letter from the chairman enclosing it. At the usual meeting of the Board yesterday, a reply was received, acknowledging the letter, but not deigning to give the slightest information on the matter. Meanwhile tho ends of justice are, in many instances, frustrated, and great loss and inconvenience are iiaflicted on private suitors. It is—as must have been well known to tho Government — totally impossible for Mr. Mellish, with his heavy duties in Christchurch and elsewhere to attend at the Lyttelton Court, and so it happens that tho principal seaport of this important provincial district is actually without any provision for the administration of justice. That this state of affairs has boon allowod to last so long without somo strong expression of public opinion is yot anothor proof of tho long-suffering naturo of tho people of Canterbury. It may be that tho quarrel between Sir George Groy and tho Treasurer has occupied all tho spare attention of tho public, to the exclusion

of oilier and more important matters, and amongst thorn ilio Lyttelton Magistracy. As pointed out by Mr Aynsloy. there was a distinct promise to tho Canterbury members, whon waiting on tho Government during the session, that tho vacancy should at ouco bo filled up. It seems to us that if nothing is done by the Govemhie*it within a very short time, the public should bo asked to meet and express their opinion, in tho form of resolutions, as to the conduct of tho Government in this matter.

Tfte correspondence relative to tho scarcity of trucks during the grain season* which lias been going on for some time past between the Minister of Public Works and the chairman of tho Harbor Board, has been abruptly closed by tho forinor, This is somewhat to be regretted, as the public loso some considerable amount of amusement. Having provoked tho references to political matters himself by tho introduction of sarcastic references to tho regime of tho Hon. Mr. Richardson, the Minister now declines to be " drawn into a war of words." That is, having been defeated with his own weapons, ho wishes now to retire from a combat where ho has met with so powerful and well-furnished an enemy. This is all very Well in party tactics, and, no doubt, would bo regarded as a triumph of genius—a masterly retreat after a defeat being nearly as good as a victory. But when it comes to be brought into tho conduct of public business of a most important nature with tho head of an official body it becomes quite a different matter. Had the Minister for Public Works confined himself to the strict details of the question before him, the correspondence in its present form could never have existed. But he was not content to do this. Politics are dragged in and, instead of being discussed on the broad ground of public necessity, the question is narrowed to one of whether tho Atkinson or Grey Ministry best attended to tho matter of tho supply of railway plant. That such a question was imported into tho correspondence is to be deplored,but tho Minister is entirely to blame. Tho Chairman of the Harbor Board, being attacked, had no resource but to defend himself. Ho could not allow mis-statements as to his administration to go forth unchallenged. The close of the series of letters is admirably characteristic of the present Government. Having failed to show that their want of preparation for the increase of traffic was duo to tho laches of their predecessors, they coolly decline to continue the correspondence. Should they bo in office next season, it is to be hoped that they will remember the loss and inconvenience incurred through their dilatorinoss during the present one, and so arrange the disposition of tho rollingstock as to prevent a recurrence thereof.