THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1881. "SILENCE THOSE DREADFUL BELLS."

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2406, 21 December 1881, Page 3

THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1881. "SILENCE THOSE DREADFUL BELLS."

If tho present system of annoying the citizens by the practices of the ringers of the Cathedral bells is persisted in, there is every probability of their boing voted a public nuisance, and dealt with accordingly. If a man persists in disturbing the peace of a quiet neighbourhood by making a great noise, he is liable to be indicted, and we fail to see any difference between such an individual and the Cathedral ringers. It is not that the ringing is in any way connected with the services of the Cathedral. These, strange to say, are only announced by the tolling of a single bell, suggestive of a national calamity having overtaken us. The abominable noise complained of is simply a few well-meaning and, no doubt, estimable persons whose craze is bellringing. We have no objection to any number of persons indulging in their hobby, provided it does not interfere with the comfort of others. But this bell-ringing mania is far from being so. It obtrudes itself most annoyingly, not only into our amusements, but also our business. We are quite prepared to listen to the old, old story, now worn threadbare, of the wickedness of amusements, particularly theatricals; but, still, if a section of the public choose to attend theatres, that is no reason why half-a-dozen people should be permitted to spoil the amusement of four or five hundred. Situated as the Cathedral is, in the centre of the city, care should be taken by those in authority not to interfere more than is absolutely necessary with the comfort of tho public. Two nights in the week, to a large number, are rendered almost unbearable by the clash and clang of the bells manipulated by the 'prentice hands of the tyro ringers. The hours selected are the most inconvenient, because they cover just the period of the entertainments in the vicinity, and also the hours when, if any extra work is to be done, the bank officials and others are at work. If, instead of ringing from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., as at present, they could manage to do it, say, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., a little of the annoyance would be avoided. At any rate, they would earn the thanks of that portion of the citizens who see no harm in laying aside the cares of business for a short time, and either listening to good music or the thoughts of the great dramatists. We trust that whoover has charge of these matters will be enabled to bring about a change in the interests of the general public. THE NEW MAYOR. To-day the new Mayor assumes the cares and responsibilities of office for a year. We feel sure that the gentleman whom the citizens have selected will, to the best of his ability, endeavour to discharge his duties in such a way as to reflect credit upon the choice of the burgesses; and in so doing he will have, we believe, the support of his Council. This being as it were a new departure, we should like to say a word or two as to what we hope will be effected during the present year. We should like to see a little more enterprise—a little more go-a-headism infused into our City Council. In the past we have been by far too apathetic in the matter of the improvement and beautifying of our city. The Mayor, especially during the past year, has seemed to consider that his duties began and ended in taking the chair at the usual meetings of the Council or on any public occasion. This, we venture to assert, though part of his official duties, is by no means the whole. We do not want a mere lay figure as Mayor of Christchurch. What is required is a man of energy and foresight, able and ready to initiate and carry through, to a successful issue, any scheme having for its object the improvement of the city or the welfare of its inhabitants. Of what use is it, we ask, for a man to retire at the end of his term with a record as blank of anything done for the city or citizens as the first day he entered tho chair ? We trust, however, that better days are in store for Christchurch, and that, with a new occupant of the civic throne, we shall have a new era begun. A Council is very much what the Mayor chooses to make it in this matter. If the Mayor is public spirited, keen to seize any opportunity of advancing the interests of the place, so will tho members be. It is the same spirit which animates a regiment when led by a dashing and courageous officer. If we mistake not Mr. Rnddenklau is essentially a man of progress, and we hope that during his year of office he will carry this spirit into municipal matters, and infuse a little life into the Council, a proceeding which wo feel sure will be productive of great benefit to tho city and the citizens generally. THE DEFUNCT DRAINAGE BOARD. We had always thought our old friend, John Ollivier, was the vory personification of chivalry, and that thongh he would fight a foe to tho last gasp, yet when victory crowned his efforts he would be tho first to offer the baud of friendship. It is sad, however, to relate that in this estimate of tho character of Mr. Ollivier we have been mistaken. No one in the community has fought with such determined ardour against the Drainage Board as Mr. Ollivier. But we did think that his enmity to that unfortunate body would have ceased when it was quietly laid in the grave. Only yesterday afternoon, attended only by a few sorrowing friends, in the persons of

the two representatives of the morning journals, the Drainage Board breathed its last, and though it was a dry mourning it received, yet it was none the less sincere. Judge then of our astonishment at finding Mr. Ollivier only a few hours after this melancholy event attacking the deceased with all that ardour and vivacity which is so characteristic of his onslaughts. Nothing could be moro indecent, and we are positively astonished that Mr. Ollivier should have so far for. gotten himself. Wo need not remind him, we are sure, of the Latin axiom as to speaking of the departed. We trust that Mr. Ollivier was not aware when he spoke of the deeply regretted and widely deplored decease of that estimable body tho Drainage Board. This is the only excuse we can find for his otherwise outrageous conduct, and it is to be hoped that he will take the earliest possible opportunity of explaining the reason of so flagrant a departure from those principles of courtesy and chivalric respect which have been hitherto such marked traits in his character. This much, wo think, is due to tho public, and no doubt the explanation will be such as to exonerate Mr. Ollivier from any intention to lacerate the feelings of the large number of sorrowing friends who have, by the decease of the Board, been plunged into . the deepest grief. It is on their behalf — knowing, as we do, that this conduct of Mr. Ollivier will plant yet another grief in their sympathising bosoms—that we have ventured to call his attention to the outrage of which, unintentionally, we would fain believe he has been guilty, in the hope that he will be able to say something which will, in some measure at least, assuage the grief of the bereaved and mourning friends of the deceased.