THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, MAY 14, 1880.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1941, 14 May 1880, Page 2

THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, MAY 14, 1880.

The Sydenham burgesses have arraigned, tried, and found guilty the Drainage Board, and more especially tho two members of that body representing the district. We have not now one word to say on the 'subject of the truth or otherwise, of the" charges brought against tho Board by Sydenham. A general meeting of ratepayers claiming, and we believe fairly so, to be representative of the whole district, have passed a vote of want of confidence in the Board as a whole. The Board are now engaged in preparing their defence to this, which will of course include the points raised by the Sydenham meeting. This being so, it seems to us unfair to hold meetings in tho various districts to condemn the action of the Board until after its defence has been made public. As a matter of courtesy, not to say fair play, it would, we conceive, have been better for the Sydenham burgesses to have waited a few days before pouring out the vials of their wrath on tho devoted heads of the members of the Drainage Board. There was no pressing necessity for the meeting being held this week. It might well have followed the appearance of the defence of the Board. Indeed, far better se, because the ratepayers would then have been in possession of thj reasons which actuated the Board in the course adopted by them, and the meeting could thus have arrived at a right conclusion after hearing both sides. As matters stand now, there is only one side heard. Tho opponents of the Drainage Board have had their innings. They have—led by a gentleman whose powers of persuasive oratory are well known—made their charges against the Board. But that body has not yet been heard in its defence at all. Therefore we say that we are justified in thinking that the Sydenham people wore a trifle premature. It may be urged that Sydenham has particular grievances of its own, and that, therefore, it was necessary to ventilate them. In reply to this, we say that the ground covered by Mr Ollivier in his charges

against the Board includes specifically every point urged at the meeting last night except the Madras street sewer. This is inferentially dealt with, and bosides there was no hurry to bring this up in view of the answer of the Boaid. Their attention having been called to it at a former meeting, it is only reasonable to suppose that it will be dealt with in their answer. We feel sure that tho residents of Sydenham would be the last to condemn any public man or body of men unheard, and without affording an opportunity for defence. Yet that is just what they are doing, and we think that such a course is unfair. It is stated—and we need hardly i-ay with what profound regret we hear it—that Cr. Wyatt has intimated his intention of not again occupying tho seat in the Council which he has filled with such dignity. Undor the Municipal Corporarations Act any member vacating his seat for a certain number of times without leave of tho Council creates a vacancy, so that if Cr. "Wyatt carries out his intention, one of the seats for tho S.E. Ward will require to be filled. Tho sad news referred to was communicated, we are given to understand, at a timo when tho Council was in secret session— i.e., committee. For some days, therefore, tho public have remained in blissful unconsciousness of the direful event which was impending. We do not know whethor Cr. Wyatt intends holding to his expressed determination, but if so we would venture to offer a tribute of respectful sympathy to tho bereaved ratepayers of the South-east Ward. It will be long ere wo look upon the like of Cr. Wyatt again. A born orator, always in tho ran of progress, and a staunch upholdor of the honor and dignity of the body which he so worthily adorns, Cr. Wyatt will retire from his seat amid tho blessings of all. At the present momont it is a difficult task—almost impossible, we fear —to g«t such another representative. We do hope that the news we have referred to, which, singularly enough, has not yet beca made public in any way, is a weak invention of the enemy, and that the champion who now so worthily fills the post formerly occupied by the chairman of that patriotic body known as the " Dirt and Darkness Club," will still be found to the fore.