THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 1881. THE RECEPTION OF THE GOVERNOR.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2195, 9 March 1881, Page 1

THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 1881. THE RECEPTION OF THE GOVERNOR.

It is with very groat regret indeed that we notice the somewhat humiliating position in which the Mayor and City Council have allowed themselves to bo placed with respect to tho reception of tho Governor. They have not only abrogated their proper functions as tho representatives of tho people, thereby confessing their inability to do what is plainly their duty and theirs alone; hut the Mayor has thought fit to advance a most extraordinary position with regard to the honorarium. Wo have always advocated tho payment of a salary to the Mayor, because it is not fair to expect any man to give both time and money in tho service of tho citizens. But until that is done, there can bo no question that tho honorarium voted by tho Council is expressly intended to ho devoted to such objects as the proper reception of Governors, &c. It is to enable tho Mayor suitably and fittingly, as tho chief citizen, to uphold the dignity of Christchurch, not solely to meet the claims for charity which tho Mayor, as well as most of us, has made upon him. This was an opportunity for Lis Worship to have fittingly inaugurated his municipal reign by a display of liberality which would have cost him personally hut little. But though, as was put at the mooting yesterday, broad hints were thrown out at tho Council board on tho previous evening, and through Mr. Thomson, with that blunt straightforwardness which characterises him, put it still more strongly, there was no response from his Worship. Nay more, ono of the gentlemen in tho meeting offered to give £2O if his Worship would, out of the honorarium, give £IOO. Still no response. Then perforce some ono had to undertake tho duty which had been virtually abandoned by both tho Mayor and Council, and these gentlemen sat calmly by whilst outsiders came in and took up work which should have without doubt been performed by them. Tho crowning point of degradation—if wo may he permitted to use tho term—was reached when it was proposed that, instead of the Mayor and Council receiving the Governor on his arrival, this duty should ho performed also by tho citizens themselves. This must indeed have been a bitter pill for some of tho Councillors, hut they swallowed it with a smiling face, as if they liked it. There is yot another point upon which we are at a loss to understand the conduct of tho Mayor. On the 2nd of this month his Worship was aware of the intended visit of the Governor, yet it is not until five days after this that ha takes counsel with the memhers of tho City Council. Hence, when tho matter comes to he discussed, it is found that there is no time to do anything, and what is to he done will he in a hurried manner. Had his Worship taken the proper course, and consulted with tho Council on receipt of tho telegram, stating his willingness at tho same time to do what ho should do—invito the Governor to moot tho principal citizens—all would have boon well. But this was not done. Tho whole thing was muddled up to tho very last moment, and then, when there is barely time to make preparation, the Mayor and Council como down and say to tho citizens, “ Gentlemen, wo can’t do anything, in this matter ourselves, wo will hand it over to you, and bo very grateful if you will take it off our hands.” Such is the position assumed by the Mayor and Council, and wo would ask if it is a proper one. The excuse made is so transparent, as scarcely to ho one at all. His Worship was frightened that if he had invited some two hundred citizens ho should havo offended a thousand. If this is tho only reason tho Mayor has to offer for sinking his dignity and declining to do what was plainly his duty, then it is but a poor ono. In the first place, two hundred invitations would comprise all who, from their social or official position, would havo a right as it were to meet the Governor. It would bo impossible for the public generally to bo there, hut no ono would grumble at tho Mayor because ho did not invite the citizens of Christchurch en masse. Indeed, were it not so, it would have been far better for him to havo braved oven tho grumbling of a few, than in such a marked manner to lower tho high position of Mayor of tho City as ho has done; nay, more, to give cause for strictures with regard to tho honorarium question, which are very likely uncalled for and unjust. We must onco more express our regret that such a state of things has occurred, but hope that under tho auspices of the committee appointed tho reception will bo such as will do honor to tho city. It may bo noted that his Worship has given £SO to tho guarantee fund. That is, if there are not tho number guaranteed, i.e., 150„ present any deficiency will havo to be made up, and this munificent gift is towards that object. That it will not bo required is what sporting men call a moral certainty, but still it has a ring of liberality about it, which is something, at any rate.

A GROWING NUISANCE. Attention was directed, at the last meeting of the City Council, to a subject which requires immediate attention. There are growing up in the city itself, and in close proximity to respectable people, nests of houses of bad repute. The annoyance and discomfort to which those persons are subjected who unhappily live near these dens, can more easily bo imagined than described. So long as landlords—eager for profit, and demanding a larger rent on account of the very traffic proposed to be carried on —knowingly let their houses to disreputable characters, so long will this nuisance, which is now proving intolerable, continue. The persons themselves can be arraigned under the Vagrant Act, but it is useless, because, while landlords of the type we have described exist, and they are worse by far than their unfortunate tenants, the evil will still bo present in our midst. So far as wo can learn there did exist a municipal enactment by which, within the city boundaries, landlords letting their houses knowingly to disreputable tenants could bo got at. If this is so we trust that it will at once bo re-enacted and put stringently into force. It is disgraceful that there should be in onr midst rain in reputable positions who, for a paltry few shillings per week, will tacitly and indirectly encourage the shameful traffic. It is time for the authorities to stop forward and bring such men as these out into the broad light of day, so that all honest men may scout them as they deserve.