THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 1879.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1692, 23 July 1879, Page 2

THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 1879.

The manufacturing of history is a process well known and extensively practised. There aro two branches of this delightful art. In tho first, all facts tolling against a favorite theory are merely suppressed, lu the second a bolder flight is taken, “ facts ” aro invented or distorted, and a completely now network is constructed. Tho French wore, until the late war, excellent exponents of the first process. All events tolling against their favorite theory as to the invincibility of tbo French soldier wore omitted from their histories; vast 'galleries of pictures, such as those at Versailles, nourished the idea, by always pourtraying the Gallic cock crowing lustily and victoriously on tbo battlefield, and the theory was rounded elf by the utterances of their public meu.g [The second process is extensively employed by uarra* « 3 still less scrupulous than tho bulk of French historians. Among this noble army of fabricators marches our contemporary, tbo “ Lyttelton Times.” In an article of yesterday it tried its by no moans prentice band at explaining away the present position of political affairs in this colony. It has invented a charming theory to account for the utter collapse of the Grey Government. According to tho “Lyttelton Times,” tho current of events has lately run much as follows: Before Sir George Grey’s famous stumping tour, the Government, of which he is Premier, hold a tottering position in the House. After the tour their fortunes altered. Tho enthusiastic response which tho popular miud made to his appeals warned tho elements of Opposition, and tho majority at once became favourable to bis policy. Vacancies occurred and were filled in tho so called Liberal interest. Parliament became alive to the fact that a so called Liberal party existed in New Zealand, watchful, patient, and determined to a degree much approved of by our contemporary. But—and boro the new theory commences to bo developed—the whole thing was a sham. Tho now Ministerialists wore not Ministerialists at all; they are playing a part under coercion, and when tho abstract was placed before them in a concrete form, frightened partly, no doubt, by the formidable nature of the operation, and partly out of innate “ cusseduoss,” they

“ turned up their noses.” The debates of last session, says our contemporary, show how well these debased beings had learned the art of damning with faint praise, and how artistically they veiled their enmity under a show of friendship when the concrete was presented to them. The Government, unfortunately for themselves, did not see through the ruse of those haters of the concrete. Both it and the public were taken in by the stratogom. The Government did not comprehend that the support given them was partly given in “ chaff ” and partly given under coercion—not they. And so, during the session of 1878, they danced gaily over the crust that hid the volcano. But, when the session of 1879 commenced, affairs altered; the deceivers, for some unexplained reason, throw off the mask ; they felt no longer coerced by the public, but at liberty to act according to their own sweet wills. They were no longer to be cowed by the process of having the abstract presented to them in a concrete form. “ Richard was himself again.” They “ ratted in shoals.” Such is the new theory invented by the “ Lyttelton Times ” to account for the present position of affairs. That the whole story is perfectly untrue, and to the last degree improbable, only heightens the value to bo placed on the ingenuity of the story-teller. The fable is a work of the imagination, and the more the imagination has been exorcised in its production the more tho reader is pleased. By dwelling on it, too, tho “Lyttelton Times” will, no doubt, in duo course of time succeed in believing it. George IY. is said to have been firmly convinced that ho led a charge in the battle of Waterloo, so that all things aro possible to a man of a lively fancy. Shortly, no doubt, the now theory will be duly docketed as a fact, and ranged among the data which form the staple from which the history of our contemporary is drawn.

The citizens of Christchurch will, wo understand, shortly bo called upon to consider the advisableness of raising a loan to defray, amongst other things, tho cost of municipal buildings. Up to the present we have been doing works in tho city out of current revenue, or by moans of special rates, and yet many of such works aro of a permanent character or at least partially so. When, however, we enter upon such a work as that of building municipal offices, town ball, &c., it is only right that posterity, as well as tho present generation, should pay its fair share. Indeed in such works as kerbing, channelling, and asphalt paving wo have boon perhaps somewhat too ready to bleed ourselves and to exclude posterity from the high privilege of assisting “to pay tho piper.” It must bo remembered that tho subsidies now granted exist upon a not over secure foundation as to their continuance. It is well within tho hounds of probability that they will not he paid very much longer, so that, in any ease, tho necessity may ho forced upon us ere long of raising money by means of loans to do works of any magnitude. Our need of Municipal buildings is too apparent to require one word of advocacy. It is surprising that wo in Christchurch hare been content to muddle on as long as wo have done with a building totally insufficient and inadequate to tho requirements of tho city. It is now proposed not only that tho buildings to ho erected shall provide accommodation for the city officials and for public gatherings of tho ratepayers, hut that they shall bo of such a character as to reflect credit on tho city. It is mainly by its public haildmgs that a place is judged by a visitor. It is not surprising therefore that, up to tbo present, the ideas formed of Christchurch by strangers have been, to a cor"tin extent, unjust, because our buildings do not as a whole afford just indication of the real wealth and prosperity of tho city. Tho object in the view of the City Council is so laudable a one that it is to be trusted that when the citizens aro called together to discuss tho matter the subject will be we 1 ! ventilated, and that no lack of interest will he felt in what is of vital moment to tho welfare of the municipality.

How stands that mysterious question, the water supply question ? What have the committee, Mr. White, and the numerous satellites revolving round the myste.lous cylinder been doing lately ? Is the apparatus on the see-io of action, or is part of it still among the frost fish on the Now Brighton beach ? The pub l: c are becoming very eager to know something about the great experiment. Will not somebody open out the question at some early mooting of the City Council ? He would bo doing tbo residents of Christchurch at large a considerable favor. Their money is being spent, and they wish for some fow words of explanation at all events. If the Councillors were subscribing privately for the carrying on of the groat experiment, or if Mr, White was paying for it himself, it would bo a d:ffereut matter. As tbo affair stands, tbo public may bo excused if they aro somewhat curious to loam particulars.