THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1881. THE MUNICIPAL DISMISSALS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2294, 10 August 1881, Page 2

THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1881. THE MUNICIPAL DISMISSALS.

We felt it our duty a few days back to comment strongly upon the action of the departmental committee of the City Conncil in dismissing officers without first laying the matter hefore the whole body. Since then further inquiry shows that although there can be no doubt of the fact that such was the case, it was not intentional. It was the wish of the committee that the action they had taken should bo submitted to the Council for approval or otherwise, but through the laches of some one— presumedly the chief executive officer—this was not done. Hence the committee appeared to have acted in a very arbitrary manner, and of course this provoked unfavorable criticism. It is only fair, therefore, to the members of that committee to state what really took place, and we embrace the earliest opportunity of doing them justice,but at the same time we should like to suggest that the rule of the Coudcil that all reports of committees should be in writing, be strictly adhered to in future. Had this report been drawn up, it would in the ordinary course of business have been submitted to the Council and the committee would have escaped the imputation of having acted both harshly and, to a certain extent, beyond their powers.

INSPECTION" OF DAIRIES. In common no doubt with a large section of the public, we have looked forward with some degree of interest to the report of the Inspector of Nuisances under the Board of Health on the* dairies in the district. Strange to say, however, the usual meeting of tho Board of Health passed over without any such report* There was, it is true, a report by the medical officer on his visit to Mr. Carter's farm, which was decidedly satisfactory. But how, we would ask, is the public to know that tbere does not exist, in connection with other dairies, a similar state of things as those found at Mr. Carter's before the improvements were made ? Typhoid fever, according to the medical officer's report, still prevails, and it may fairly be supposed is due to the use of milk containing the germs of fever. We are quite unable to see why the Inspector should not have made the visits as requested by the Board. If it did nothing else, his report might tend to allay the by no means unnatural feeling of apprehension which exists with regard to this matter. Surely the time of the officer could not be better employed than in this work, and we trust that, though somewhat late in the day, steps will be yet taken to procure 1 such a report as the one alluded to. THE TRAMWAY STATION PROPOSALS. A good deal of interest has been displayed by the public generally with reference to the proposal of hir Worship the Mayor as to the station for tramcars in Cathedral square. Not only so, but

the Cathedral Commission have taken steps to protest against the making the chief tramway station as proposed. Of the unsuitableness of the place selected there caD, we think, be but little doubt, because the thoroughfare even now is totally inadequate for the traffic, which is daily increasing. To place, therefore, the station on that site would simply be still further blocking it against the general public. There is, however, a proposal likely to be made which, whilst obviating many of the difficulties which are found to arise from the selection of the Cathedra! square site, will tend to the improvement of the city. This proposal, as we understand, is to make the station for the arrival and departure of the tramcars on either side of the street running from the Bank of New Zealand along the southern side of the Cathedral towards the present Tramway Depot. To enable this to be done the footpath on each side would have to be widened and the carriers' stand have to bo removed a little further down. If this proposal were carried out passengers could step right from the side walk into the ears, thus obviating the present most objectionable and dangerous practico of doing so from the middle of a crowded thoroughfare. The street in question is, and will be for some years to come, almost entirely free from traffic, so that the placing of the car station there will in no way inconvenience the general public. Indeed, as we take it, the carrying this into effect will do away with two very unsightly pieces of ground which are at the north and south sides of the Cathedral. It is proposed to take away the fences, running a broad foot-

<way right through, thus making a convenience for the public, and opening np the entrances' to the north and south porches of the Cathedral. So far as we can see at a first glance, the proposal ■ seems to be a good one. It will relieve an already greatly overburdened through'fare of a goodly portion of traSic, whilst at the same time the convenience and comfort of the general travelling public will be enhanced. The property holders in the vicinity have, we are informed, jgiven their assent to the proposal, and if the Tramway Company and the Council •can' see their way to mutually agree on the matter, a very difficult problem will be solved in a satisfactory manner.