THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, AUGUST 22, 1879.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1718, 22 August 1879, Page 2

THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, AUGUST 22, 1879.

It is satisfactory to those who have the true welfare of the city at heart to see that, notwithstanding the overshadowing effect of the general election, the proposed .Ratepayers Association has been fairly started. It has long heen apparent to all but the wilfully Wind that the City Council, as now constituted, does not in a groat measure represent the hulk of the ratepayers. From various causes, one of the main ones heing apathy on the part of the hurgesses themselves, gentlemen I have ohtained seats in that Council for which neither their past experience nor husiness capacity has fitted them. It is time that all this was altered, and that the citizens awoke to the sense of their responsibilities. "When the question at stake is the returning of a member of a body which has the spending of a very largo and increasing revenue —a rovenuo contributed by the direct taxation of the citizens —which has the control of local matters affecting us perhaps more nearly than those dealt with by the higher body, the General Assembly, it surely is time that sufficient interest should bo evinced to return men who will do tho work creditably. This is what the organisation to which wo have referred proposes to do. By moans of committees in each ward the feelings of tho ratepayers resident therein will bo ascertained as to who is to represent them, and means will bo devised by which tho best men will be selected. This, there can bo no doubt, is what has been wanted for some time. We have seen seats in the City Council going begging from pillar to post. We have seen the representatives

of commercial and other interests, who would be enabled to render good service if elected, stand aloof and decline to accede to requests to come forwai-d. "Wo have seen Municipal institutions to a great extent dragged through the mire, and the time that should have boon devoted to discussing questions of interest to the ratepayers squandered in petty quarrels and personalities. All these circumstances combined have brought down the City Council from its high estate amongst the municipal bodies of New Zealand. There was a timo when we could with justice say that tho other municipalities might with advantago copy our method of doing business. Can we do so now? Certainly not. Tho Council Chamber has night after night been devoted to giving free entertainment to the burgesses, whilst many things which would conduce to the health and comfort of tho citizens have been left undone. Therefore it is that we trust the ratepayers will join heart and hand with the Association in endeavoring to select the best men to represent them. Above all, let them avoid the fatal mistake which they have onco committed —and ever after regretted—of electing Councillors out of pure good nature. The affair is too serious for any such trifling. Men of full experience and good character can be obtained to serve the ratepayers, if with them we returned colleagues equally sincere in their desire to do business, and not bandy personalities. The return of such men is what we counsel the ratepayers to strive after, and this can be obtained by assisting the Association in the work they have undertaken.

The manßgeuioi.ii „* n*„ u—i— ; thorough state of delight. The principal performer at to-night entertainment has arrived, and has received a thorough -welcome from all who admire his versatile talents. "We understand that the rest of the company felt somewhat nervous as to the success of to-night's entertainment until they tad made certain by optical demonstration that the aged troubadour, who is to take the leading part, was on the spot to do so. "The Pennsylvania Dutchman" is now an assured success. The Reform Association are going to " roll up," and bouquets are fetching high priees, If Master Salvador Parlato has not specially expressed bis pleasure on the certainty of the appearance of his colldborateur, it is only because the modesty which attaches to extreme youth prevents a too pronounced demonstration on his part- We have not heard that the matter of costume has, even yet, been satisfactorily settled. Since yesterday an idea has been started that a got up which would typify the events of the past session would be very apropos. The make up of an unsuccessful financier has been hinted at, as has also the sort of dress that a man might wear when spending £120,000 of unauthorised expenditure on a private railway. The latter costume has many adherents as likely to be extremely lich in material. However, as already stated, nothing has been definitely settled. The aged troubadour 7tas arrived; the company is now complete ; and the public await the appearance of Sir George Grey and Master Salvador Parlato with pleasureable excitement.