THE GLOBE. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1879.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1763, 14 October 1879, Page 2

THE GLOBE. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1879.

The proposition of the Ashburton Borough Council for a Municipal league, though well in its way, does not go far enough. We quite agree with the Mayor that the time has passed when we are to be restricted to the boundaries of provincial districts. In dealing with this subject, in which all the municipalities of New Zealand are equally interested, it is advisable that wo should do so on a national basis. To confine auy municipal association to the Canterbury Provincial District would not only savour of exclusiveness, but would fail of its object, inasmuch as the influence which could be exerted by a conference so constituted would be very small when compared with a general expression of opinion from the municipalities of the colony. Besides, it would do objected from other parts that Canterbury was arrogating to herself a right to dictate. The Conference of 1877 was constituted of delegates from all the municipalities of the colony, and though, for reasons to which we shall refer hereafter, their recommendations were not so largely adopted as they might have been, yet they carried some very important amendments through the House. Of these, let us just notice the provision for taking a poll of the ratepayers for a loan, the payment of license fees of various kinds within the boroughs to the borough treasurer, which has resulted in a large increase of the municipal revenues. The conference did its work thoroughly well, and the recommendations passed were such that, had they been carried into effect, should have greatly facilitated the working of Municipal Government. Unfortunately, just as they were ripe for presentation to the House, a party strife arose to which all other considerations were subordinated, and the result of the labors of the conference —from no fault of theirs—was not so great as otherwise would have been the case. This fact was well known to Councillor Gapes, who certainly might have been candid enough when referring to the matter to have stated it. No one better than Councillor Gapes knows tho whole of the matter connected with that conference, and it was certainly not in the best taste, having that knowledge, that he should conceal it, and endeavor to throw discredit upon the labours of a body which worked zealously for the good of the ratepayers of the colony. For the present session it is too late to do anything, but during the recess a general conference of representatives of the municipalities of the colony might be held, and the result of their labors placed before the Parliament at its meeting. We trust that the municipalities which have been communicated with by the Ashburton Council will not agree to the contracted sphere of operations proposed, but that they will take a wider view of tho question and include the municipalities of the colony instead of only one provincial district.

The question of the municipal designs, which was handed as a legacy from the late to the present City Council, seems to perplex the minds of our Councillors sorely. They appear unable to make up their minds definitely as to what course they should pursue. One day they agree upon a certain line of action and the next they desire to reverse the steps taken. So far as was able to be gathered of the intentions of the Council—shrouded in mystery as they have been—it was resolved that the plan bearing the motto " Avon" should be selected. As we pointed out at the time, the City Council did not appear to have any clear idea as to the effect of this selection. In a hazy kind of way, it is generally understood that it gave liberty to the architect to alter and amend his design in accordance with what seems to be the wish of the Council, without any fee or hope of reward beyond the chance of the ratepayers approving of the choice. Up to a few days ago that was we believe generally understood to be the position of affairs. We say generally understood, because the whole matter has been so mixed up; has been so surrounded with shade that it is a question whether the City Councillors themselves know what their actual position is. The selected architect has waited on the Council with closed doors; has listened, no doubt, with rapt and respectful attention to the architectural suggestions falling from the lips of the members, and has, presumably modified his plans in accordance therewith. But, lo and behold, another Richmond is in the field. At last night's meeting, a resolution was reported from the committee that "Avon" and another plan to be selected should be submitted. "Why the Council have taken two, and when they propose to select the other, is a mystery yet unsolved. Do they intend to have still another conference with another architect, and to suggest further amendments ? And when they are complete will they carry a resolution to recommend a third and go on ad infinitum ? At present, so far as we can gather, the Councillors are hopelessly at sea on the question. The muddle commenced by tho late has been perpetuated by the now Council, and they do not know now what they have done, or what they are going to do.