THE GLOBE. THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1882. THE MAYOR’S BALL.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2501, 13 April 1882, Page 2

THE GLOBE. THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1882. THE MAYOR’S BALL.

Tsiri is a large amount of nonsense being written just now about the Mayor’s ball. There seems to be an impression in some people’s minds that the £2OO voted to the Mayor, in addition to his salary, is being wasted in riotous living' offered to people who can well afford to pay for their own good cheer. One gentleman absolutely writes to the “ Press” this morning, and suggests that the Mayor should entertain the whole of the Christchurch Christian world as well as the gay world, so that both classes might join in the entertainment. The amusing way in which this individual assumes that those who will dance to-night at the Exhibition are altogether vessels of wrath is backed up by the vagueness of his ideas oa the length that £2OO would go towards feeding his own set and the ratepayers at large. The appetites of such gentlemen as • “ Ratepayers ’ are, jndging|from the execution done at most tea meetings, remarkably healthy ones, and if the Mayor accepted the task of giving them all what schoolboys would call a “ blow-out,” all we can say is that when he allowed the sum above-mentioned to be voted - to him he must have been dozing at the time. In point of: fact, the £2OO was not voted to the Mayor with an eye to the ratepayers at all. On the occasion of the opening of such a large undertaking as is the Exhibition, it is necessary to show some attention to the strangers that flock into the city. The Mayor, as being chief officer among the municipal authorities occupies the position of trust. He has to do the honors of Christchurch to the visitors. Even looking at the affair from the most material point of view, the city will benefit largely by the great influx of people from the neighbouring; provinces and the Australian colonies. And something should snrely be done to amuse our friends. The £2OO, we take it, was intended to ho applied to assist the Mayor in doing, the honors of Christchurch. Of course the Mayor will be heavily out of pocket after all is finished. A hall like that to he given to-night is not to he done for £2OO ; four times that amount would probably be much nearer the mark. What the oost would be if the whole Christian, world were admitted, to satisfy “ Ratepayer,” it would be impossible to calculate. We cannot hold with those who think that the £2OO is wasted. There are obligations imposed on corporations as well as on individuals. £2OO is not a largo sum when distributed among the ratepayers of Christchurch, and it assists the Mayor iu giving eclai to a very notable event in the annals of Christchurch. That thousands of pounds will he spent by visitors while here is very evident, and it appears to us to be the height cf churlishness to grudge our chief officer some assistance when ho is trying to uphold the honor of the place. Of course everybody cannot ho a-ked. The Mayor, we presume, has issued invitations to those who take the

lead in the general affairs of the place. The strangers have a right to expect to be asked to meet representative citizens, whether in municipal, ecclesiastical er other lines. People who are not asked, instead of growling, should hasten to climb the municipal tree. To expect the Mayor to ask everybody is of course ridiculous. Take similar examples The lord Mayor of London, although assisted to extend the hospitality of the city to strangers, is obliged to content himself with asking but a limited number to meet them. Again, admirals and captains in the British navy are allowed “ table money,” so that they may occasionally do the honors for the nation in places at which their vessels may call. But a captain on the South American coast, for instance, is not supposed to invite on board the whole of the inhabants of South America. We strongly suspect that the growlers in the instance of the Mayor’s ball are disappointed individuals, who thought they had a claim to be asked, and were not invited. We feel very sorry for them, but at the same time we cannot agree with them that money spent by the Council in doing honor to guests is misspent. All we can say is that it is lucky that at the present juncture we have a Mayor who is well off, and is a liberal man into the bargain. As a financial speculation his assumption of the Mayoralty is not likely to be a success. HUMANE SOCIETY FOR NEW ZEALAND. The desirability of establishing a Humane Society for New Zealand is occupying some attention up North. As matters at present stand, there is but little provision in this colony for the proper recognition of the exertions of persons who save the lives of their fellow creatures. A statement of any case that may occur has to be sent Home, and great delay takes place, or the affair is sometimes not recognised in any way whatever. Probably the establishment of a branch of the main Society would be the most satisfactory, if it could be managed. At all events, if a Society for New Zealand alone were formed, it would be necessary to guard very strictly against the value of the medals as rewards being deteriorated. The gaining of a medal from the Royal Humane Society is now looked upon as a very great honor, but it is so because the standard of the deeds for which such medals are given is well kept up. There is really no reason why the same standard •should not be maintained in a local society. If it is not done in small communities it is more difficult to exclude back-stairs influence. To a branch of the main society, bound to report its proceedings and awards to the Homo Society, no such objection could be urged. The only question is, would the Home Society be willing to establish such a branch t