THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 1881. “TRUTHFUL JAMES” IN DANGER (?).

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2215, 1 April 1881, Page 2

THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 1881. “TRUTHFUL JAMES” IN DANGER (?).

An event, according to an evening paper here, took place at Wellington on Thursday, which should send a thrill of horror, equalled only by the recent assassination of the Emperor of Russia, through the whole civilised world. As our readers are doubtless aware, there is at present residing in the Empire city a worldfamed (no, not Lomceopathic professor of the truth) traveller, a sort of Jules Verne of journalism, known to the vulgar world as the special correspondent of the “ Lyttelton Times.” His experiences—so he says—have been world-wide. He has flirted with the Spanish donnas on the Prado at Madrid, chucked an Esquimaux belle under the chin, hob-nobbed with the Kaiser Wilhelm, and been the trusted and confidential friend of General Grant through the American campaign. How much more he has seen—or dreamed he has—his wellknown modesty prevents his trumpeting forth to the world. But a dastardly attempt—no doubt by soma Ministerial hirelings—has been made upon the valuable life of this truly groat man and economiser of the truth. He has—so says the evening paper referred to—been shot at. But that fortune, which throughout the long and bloody campaigns in which he has borne so conspicuous a part, attended him still, and watched over his safety, we should perhaps now have to mourn his untimely end. It was not to be that the man who walked np to the frowning muzzles of the cannon unshaken and undaunted {vide Croumbie Brown) should perish thus. The attempt failed, probably from the fact that it was undertaken twenty-four hours too soon. Had it been made to-day, on an anniversary which nearly concerns the Truthful James of New Zealand journalism, then we should have been able to understand the meaning of it. There is just one thing we should desire to draw attention to, and it is this: The telegram referred to does not appear in any other paper here, though the manager of the Press Association is reported to have shared with the gallant Truthful James the dangers of the wadding. How is this ? Is the attempt to slay a distinguished man such as the “Times’” special to remain unheralded forth to a shuddering and sympathetic world; or is the whole affair another swamp hoax ? It may be that, like Udolpho Wolfe, the correspondent thinks the ad mortising of the journal he honours with his communications should be carried out at any sacrifice—not of truth, hut of self. We shall await further particulars of this affair with interest. At present there is a dark mystery pervading it. At any rate, the people of the colony will rest assured that whatever it may be in which Truthful James, alias the “ Times’ ” special, is concerned, the strictest reverence and regard for the truth will bo manifest. Hence we feel sure that the base attempts on the part of all other journals to conceal the dire conspiracy against so high and estimable a public man as our friend will he appreciated at their true value.

THE TRAMWAY AND THE COUNCIL.

At the risk of being thought pertinacious on tho subject, we desire to know what is now being done by tho Tramway Committee of tho City Council. Some time back wo were informed that when a certain thing happened the Committee would he prepared to submit by-laws for the regulation of the tramway traffic. Weeks go past, the tramway still runs unlicensed, to the great detriment of those other vehicles who are forced to pay a license fee, and yet the Company get off scot-free. Can the City Council, as the conservators of the public safety, say that the traffic is so worked as to conduce to the comfort and convenience of passengers p Have the Council, under the powers vested in them, taken steps to acquire the right of supervision over the officials, engineers, &c., which they should have P To both of these questions we answer. No. They have been absolutely afraid to enact by-laws, because they knew well it meant war with the chairman of the company. Hence their apathy. But we say, that, alike in the interests of the public and as an act of common justice to the cabmen, they should insist on licenses for the tramcar drivers, guards, &c., being taken out and the carriages being under supervision. If they do not do so, then the Council have no right to charge one single sixpence for the cabmen’s and other licenses. One being allowed to run free, all should go the same. Why the distinction is made, it is hard to see. Here is a private company plying for hire with vehicles, within the meaning of the Act, yet escaping any payment, and, more important still, any supervision. Supposing, as in Melbourne, an omnibus company were started to connect the suburbs with Christchurch, would the Council allow ’buses to run without license or control ? Certainly not. Well, where is the difference with regard to the tramway P Is it because it is propelled by steam ? It seems to us to be an utterly absurd thing to make any difference at all. Let the Council fearlessly, and despite tho oratory of Mr. J. E. Brown, do its duty to the citizens and insist on its right to supervise, in the interests of the travelling public, the operations of the tramway.