THE GLOBE. TUESDAY, AUGUST 12, 1879.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1709, 12 August 1879, Page 2

THE GLOBE. TUESDAY, AUGUST 12, 1879.

In his report to tho Council last eTening the City Surveyor mentions that the now historical cylinder has at last been sunk in tho Waimakariri. It must be cheering indeed to the hearts of the Water Supply Committee to have to report even thus much. But, while this is so, there comes another phase of the question in which the ratepayers are largely interested, viz., the cost of this little experiment. Amongst tho items passed for payment last night was one which may perhaps enlighten them a little as to tho probable amount likely to be found as haying been spent. Tho item referred to was " wages for water supply, £30." How often somo such item has recurred on the municipal payshoet sinco the commencement of operations we are unable to say, but the amount paid for wages must have rolled up by this time to a considerable sum. Now, what we want to impress upon the citizens is, that not only are they entirely ignorant as to tho cost of the experiment as far as it has gone, but, further than this, that wo are not advanced one step towards the practical solution of the question of supplying water to Christchurch for fire prevention purposes, unless the citizens are prepared to pin their pin on the success or otherwise of this solitary experiment—and that

they have not the slightest intention of doing so there can be no doubt. A pretty considerable amount of the ratepayers' money has been sunk in the bed of the Waimakariri, but are we any nearer to the solution of the question ? It is to be hoped that some member of the City Council will table a motion that a return of the amount expended on the experiment at the Waimakariri to date be laid before that body. The ratepayers will then be enabled to balance the quid with the quo, a most desirable state of affairs, particularly when it is probable that the committee may desire to enlarge the field of their experimental operations.

The despatches of the " Special" ef our contemporary the "Lyttolton Times" during the past session must hare afforded a fund of amusement to all those who have had the privilege of perusing them. There was about them such a charming air of frankness and probability that thoy might well rank with the writings of Dumas and Jules Yerne. A few days back this gontloman, in a manner which reflected the highest credit on his imaginative powers, described Mr. Barton as having "shrivelled up" Mr. "Wakefield. Those who know Mr. Wakefield will agree with us that, so far from being the " shrivelled" —to use the euphonious term of the "Times" Special—he was far more likely to be the " shriveller." In fact, not many days prior to his reputed " chawing up" by Mr. Barton, Mr. Wakofield had shown peculiar talent in this line when dealing with the sins of omission and commission of the Grey Government. Hero, of course, was tbo reason for the "Special" drawing so violently on his imagination. The former gentleman had dared to speak disrespectfully of the great statesman whom the " Lyttelton Times " delights to honour, and hence the despatch. Mr. Barton is, no doubt, an extremely amiable person in private life, but eloquence is not his forte. Ho has, for some time past, been endeavouring to " shrivel " the judges, and bis modus operandi is peculiar. He has all the violence of a small nor-wester, but, owing to want of volume, none but the tendorest plants are at all likely to be injured by his efforts. A sucking legislator, with the political down just sprouting on his verdant cheeks, might, perhaps, feel uncomfortably self-conscious on being assaulted by Mr. Barton, but even he would refuse to be " shrivelled " in any extended sense of the term. But, after all, perchance a strong imagination is necessary in a " Special "; at all events, the effusions of the gentleman acting in that capacity for the '* Lyttelton Times " would be very dull reading if his little flights of fancy were omitted.

We are glad to notice that attention has been called to the dangerous practice of riding bicycles on the footpaths at night. The members of the Pioneer Club have adopted a very salutary rule as to carrying both light and bell at night. But there are what we may term desultory bicyclists who do not belong to the club, and are therefore not bound by its rules. It is of these we have to complain, as the club members have taken such precautions as must ensure those of its members who travel by night being both seen and heard. "Wo do not desire to say one word against the use of bicycles j on the contrary, there can be lo doubt of the healthiness of the exercise and of its great practical utility, but we hope that some means will bo taken to guard against the possibility of injury to foot passengers from those who may not be members of the Club. Some general rules as to lights and bells might be made so as to avoid the possibility of any unpleasant accident taking place.