THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1881. THE CATHEDRAL BELLS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2409, 24 December 1881, Page 3

THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1881. THE CATHEDRAL BELLS.

Our correspondent “ Treble Bob,” in his letter respecting the Ca.hedral bolls, seems to be somewhat put out that we should have made remarks respecting the ability of the ringers. It appears to us that his letter, in the part where he speaks of only allowing practiced ringers, after a course of dumb practice, to take part in open ringing, fully hears out the remarks in our article. We had no desire to depreciate in the least the services of the ringers. The bells, if so rung as not to he a source of annoyance, will he a great pleasure to many, and therefore those who afford this pleasure are entitled to the thanks of the community for so using their skill and knowledge. Bat what we desired to call attention to—and we once more take the opportunity of doing so—was that the ringing of the bells seriously interfered with the comfort and pleasure of a fairly large section of the community. This, we suggested, could be obviated by a change in tho hours, hut to this “Treble Bob,” who wo suppose speaks with authority, objects. It seems to us that tho difficulty ho mentions might ho obviated by shortening tho open practice to one hour, thus starting at seven o’clock and continuing till eight. “ Treble Bob’s ” insinuation that the article was inspired by annoyance hecanse tho ringers refused to stop last Tuesday night is entirely without foundation. Ever since the hells were hung tho same annoyance as was experienced on the occasion referred to has had to he endured, hut it was, as it were, the last straw when the artistic performances of so gifted a player as Herr Wilhelmj were marred. There surely must he some way of avoiding this, and if so, why not adopt it. This was the reason of the article to evoke discussion, and to see if, from the multitude of counsel, some wisdom could not he evolved. If the course suggested by “ Treble Boh ” will, as he says, remove all cause of annoyance, we hope to see it carried into effect without delay. In the meantime, we desire to assure the ancient fraternity of ringers that there was not the slightest intention on our part to disparage their efforts. On the contrary, we desired the ringing to be so arranged as to be heard with pleasure by the public in general, and not, as is now the case, with feelings entirely the reverse. THE DRAINAGE BOARD ELECTION. The time has now arrived when the ratepayers of tho various sub-districts within the drainage area will he called upon to elect a new Board. This being so, we should like to call their attention to the importance of the duty confided to them, and the responsibility which rests upon the ratepayers to select the best men. The district is committed to a very large work, a great portion of which has already been completed. Though it may bo considered advisable not to push forward just yet the work of drainage into the more remote portions of the district, yet it cannot be for one moment denied that it is impossible, so far as the main scheme is concerned, for us to stand still. This must be carried out to completion, or, if not, then the large amount of money already expended will he practically wasted. Therefore it behoves the ratepayers to be especially careful as to the selection of the men to whom will be entrusted tho very onerous duty of completing the scheme of drainage how in hand. It may be said that the old Board having practically laid down the lines upon which the work is to be done there is little left for the new Board to do but to continue the policy of their successors. To a certain extent, this may be true, but there is such an amount of supervision and judicious apportionment of the expenditure required, that it is absolutely necessary that the power should be in the bauds of experienced and tried men. Wo have called the attention of the ratepayers to this matter because tho time is so short. The nomination of candidates, by some peculiar official arrangement, has been fixed on Boxing Day, tho holiday par excellence -of tbe people. The chances, therefore, are, that unless the ratepayers bestir themselves, members will be elected who do not possess the requisite qualifications. It seems to us to be an error to fix the nomination on such a day as Boxing Day, an error which even now it is not too late to rectify. The necessity for care in this matter will be seen at once when wo point out that it is in the power of the new Board—composed it may he of men perfectly untried and unexperienced in the matter of dealing with this question—to render a greater

part of the work already done useless. What haa been done is simply leading up to a certain result. If before that result is attained the work is impeded or stopped altogether, then what haa been don* is simply as useless as it not one penny had been spent. We therefore trust that —though perhaps at a little personal sacrifice to themselves the ratepayers will take care that on Monday men are nominated for the various sub-districts in whoso experience and judgment they can have confidence. It is, wo think, somewhat to be regretted that the return decided to bo published by the late Board is not before the ratepayers prior to the nomination. Soma members of the old Board may desire to stand for re-election, and it is only fair to them that the public should know on reliable grounds exactly what is the position of affairs. Such a document also would enable the ratepayers to come to a sounder conclusion as to the members they ought to return. [Since writing the above we are glad to notice that the Board have decided to publish the report we have alluded to at once, and it, therefore, appears in another part of this issue. The ratepayers, wo should imagine, will, after its perusal, entertain very different opinions on the subject to what they have done. The refusal of the late members of the Board could not, after the manner in which they have been treated, cause much surprise. There is now no question whatever of “ confidence in itself or in the public,” on the part of the majority of the old Board. It simply amounts to this that the old members are heartily sick and tired of the persistent misconstruction of their actions and motives and the want of support afforded to them by the public in carrying out a very difficult work to a successful issue. In fact, the public appear to have preferred ignorant loquacity to a careful system of administration of affairs of the Board, and the old members have decided to let the public try the experiment of having confidence in the former as contrasted with the latter.]