THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23. 1881. MUNICIPAL STUBBORNNESS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2207, 23 March 1881, Page 2

THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23. 1881. MUNICIPAL STUBBORNNESS.

The proceedings of the City Council on Monday last with regard to the divergence of route of the tramway from Cashel street to Tuam street shows an amount of wilful blindness amonnting to positive discourtesy which it is hard to believe would occur in such a body. The Chairman of the Drainage Board, acting on the professional advice of the engineer, tendered to the City Council certain information with respect to the inadvisableness of using Tuam street, which was exceedingly important and pertinent to the matter then before the Council. The gist of it was this : That to take the tramway down Tuam street would, owing to the main sewer running down there, bo likely to cause a sinking of the road. That this is exceedingly probable is proved by the peculiarly shifty nature of the soil, which came to light during the attempts made some time back by the City Council to lay pipes and form a sump in the immediate neighborhood. One would have thought that the City Council, having before them a matter of great public importance, would have been glad to receive information on such a very essential point. But they do not appear to have been bo. Nay, more, though their attention was called to the letter of the Chairman of the Drainage Board, it was held that it had no reference to the subject before them, or that it could not be considered under the circumstances. Now we cannot shut our eyes to the fact

that the Tramway Company would bo f very glad to have this information, because there is no doubt that if they persist in making their tramway over this street after being warned, and do damage to the pipes of the sewer or to the roads by sinking, thoy will be liable for any damage thus caused. The letter of the Chairman of the Drainage Board should therefore have been referred to the tramway committee, and after consideration by them then communication should be had with the Tramway Company, and negotiations opened for taking the same down a street where there is no danger of damage to the sewer or of accident to the public using the tram-cars on this line. "We cannot understand how it is that His Worship the Mayor ruled that the letter was not in order at all to be discussed. It was, as we have already pointed out, gaining information of interest to both parties to the concession, viz., the City Council and the Tramway Company, and though the concession had been signed there was nothing to prevent the insertion of another stroet by consent. Not alone have the City Council displayed a marked want of courtesy tc the presiding officer of an important public body, but they have also shown their pig-headodness in refusing to go back when it is clearly proved to them they are wrong. We trust that even now, though somewhat late in the day, the Council will see the necessity of conferring with tho Tramway Company on the ad visableness of taking the lino down another street so as to avoid the dangers pointed out by tho Chairman of the Drainage Board. "WHEN DOCTOES DIFFER, &c." The people of Dunedin—especially those already going through the Court, or contemplating an early visit to the Judge in Insolvency—have boen startled by the notice given by Judge Gillies, that in future he will not grant discharges to insolvents whore there are no assets in the estate. It has been said by some author thai life is made up of a series of dispelling of illusions. Here is, to the impecunious, a delightful illusion dispelled. The Supreme Court has been looked upon as a haven of security, where the persecuted insolvent, who has played the game of all to nothing, could find peace, a sort of place where creditors came not and duns were defied. But what is now to become of a highly respectable, nay ornamental, class of society who have hitherto lived well, gone clothed in purple and fine linen, and waited with sublime resignation the time for payment," and then— If Judge Gillies carries ont his threat, this highly respectable class must perforce eeek fresh fields and pastures new where there exists a judge of more placable disposition. It is said that Judge Johnston does not go so far in this matter as his brother Gillies. The result of this will bo that Christchuvch will be thronged with well-dressed gentlemen, who on an average make their bows to the Judge in insolvency about twice a year with uni deviating regularity, and whose schedule of assets presents the entry of nil. Perhaps His Honor, Judge Johnston, may see fit to alter his views after a few of this class have come under the Bogis of the Supreme Court, and then they will • have to move on. But the real remedy lies in the alteration of the way in which business is now carried on here as well as elsewhere, by which unlimited credit is given to almost every ono that asks for it, though perhaps total strangers to the tradesmen. Once let a stop be put to ,this and we shall not hear quite so much of insolvencies with assets nil. \ DANGEROUS TO THE PUBLIC. Foe some time past there has existed in one of our most frequented thoroughfares—no less a ono than that leading to the railway station—a state of things highly dangerous to the public safety. 1 Wo cannot understand how it is that the authorities who are responsible for this have allowed it to go on for so long. The matter referred to is that of the scaffolding erected over the footway in front of the new block of shops belonging to Mr. Green. ... The scaffolding is of very slight looking construction, having openings in it through which small ; pieces of brick, &c„ may readily fall on to the heads of passers - by, thus 1 causing great inconvenience. But this is not all, as it is quite possible for some heavy article to be dropped by accident, and should any one be passing at the time such a thing might cause a serious i if not fatal injury. We call the attention of the Works Committee, or who- : ever is responsible, to this, as it is high time, before any accident occurs, that steps be taken to alter the present state of things.