THE GLOBE. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1879.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1798, 25 November 1879, Page 2

THE GLOBE. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1879.

More than ordinary interest, judging from the amount of correspondence and debate which has taken place, appears to be taken in the present Christchurch Mayoral contest. A somewhat novel method of bringing prominently before the burgesses the virtues of one candiwas adopted last evening in the Council. One of the members rose and asked to he allowed to give the candidates for the Mayoralty a chance of denying certain statements made by an anonymous correspondent as to canvassing. It will at once be seen that such a thing was completely outside the province of the Council. It had nothing whatever to do with the business before it, and should never have heeu allowed to have been discussed. But the present Mayor was placed iu this dilemma —that had ha carried out strictly the rules of order and declined to allow the question to ho discussed, he would have laid himself open to the charge of endeavoring to burke the discussion and shield himself. His doing what, strictly speaking, would bo his duty would have been probably illiberally construed with regard to the canvassing which was referred to in the letter. That this was unfair —as the Mayor himself is a caudidata—there can ho uo doubt, and it is to bo regretted that the Council chamber should, however sincere the intention to do good might have been, he used as an arena for partisan-

ship. As regards |tho question of canvassing, there can bo but one opinion, viz., that it should bo discouraged to the utmost. Tho ballot was specially designed to protect thoso who are exposed to pressure of auy kind, and it is therefore a violation of the spirit of the law for gentlemen who may bo enthusiastic partisans of a candidate to use their personal influence with voters. One of tho candidates for the Mayoralty, as is well known, makes his debut under tho protecting shadow of au ox-Mayor and ex-councillor—in fact, no less a personage than Mr. William Wilson. The persuasive eloquence of that gentleman is well known, and while prepared to give tho utmost credence to tho statement made by Councillor Ayers, it is hardly to bo expected that such praiseworthy reticence in tho matter of asking votes would bo exorcised by his municipal wot nurse. It is notorious that influence has boon brought to bear by tho gentleman alluded to in favor of his candidate, and that,if matters wore strictly investigated, it would bo found that a systematic canvas has been going on. Wo do not suggest, after his declaration,that Or. Ayers is aware of this being done. That chivalrous zeal which animates Mr Wm. Wilson in any cause he undertakes, has, no doubt, led him a little to far. This being so it appears somewhat strange that such a course as that of last evening should have been adopted. Tho question now remains in the hands of the ratepayers for final settlement. Their votes to-morrow will decide who is most fitted to guide the municipal

destines for the next year. Let them go to the poll unfettered and free to record their votes for the best man. The present Mayor can point to a long and useful career spent in the service of tho city. Ho has shown himself capable of conducting tho affairs of tho city with credit to himself and honor to those who elected him, and this too without tho necessity of being in loading strings or allowing others to act for him. He has, on all occasions, shown himsolf zealously anxious for the progress of tho city and, though on some questions we have differed with his views, they have had tho merit of being honest convictions for tho good of tho ratepayers. Of the three candidates now before tho citizens, Or. Ick, alike from long past services and aptitude in performance of tho duties of the office, has much greater claims to their suffrages, and wo trust to see him returned once more.

A strange fatality appears to pursue tho question of water supply to Christchurch. As our readers well know, it has beou one constant delay from time to time for nearly two years. Indeed, tho 16th of December next is tho second anniversary of tho formation of tho committee to consider tho question, and yot next to nothing has boon dono. Somo five or six wooks hack two gentlemen wore selected by the City Council to report upon tbo feasibility or otherwise of tho schomo propounded by Mr. W, White for tho supply of the city with water. Up to tho present, however, nothing has been board from those exports. Not even an interim report lias boon presented, and tbo ratepayers are consequently just as much iu tbo dark as ever. Surely with tho mass of information at their disposal, the result of tho unwearied labors of the late water supply committee, somo sort of report should have boon made ere this. It need not necessarily ho a final one, but as, up to tho present, wo have had uo professional opinion at all upon tho matter, tho ratepayers are anxious for somo information, however little it might he. Wo trust tho Council will take steps to urge upon tho gentlemen appointed the necessity of somo report being presented at the earliest possible date.