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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5093, 20 July 1877, Page 2

We publish important news from the seat of war, received early this morning. The Dutch land lines, the temporary break-down of which is notified elsewhere, have evidently been quickly repaired ; and as a result we have most interesting intelligence concerning the Ruaao-Turkish war. In Asia the Turks are preparing to act on the offensive, despite the forced marches of Russian reinforcements. In Europe, however, Eabian policy prevails, and the Slavs have not only crossed the Balkans, but a part of the left of their centre has left Rustchuk in its rear and has succeeded in cutting off the base of supplies of that fortress by occupying Rasgrad, on the Rust-chuk-Vania railway line. There are still, however, not only strategetical, but diplomatic, difficulties before the Tsar can reach Constantinople.

Nothing could have done more to convince us of the necessity for a change in the personnel of the City Council than the spectacle of the fortnightly meeting held yesterday. It was painful iu the extreme. Had a collection of addleheaded boys resolved themselves into a sham municipal body for purposes of buffoonery, they could not have produced a more grotesque picture than did the Council yesterday. Very little in the way of real business was done the two hours and a half spent by the Council,, being devoted to a kind of warfare of the Kilkenny cat character. His Worship the Mayor all the while did as much as possible, for some reason best known to himself, to make “confusion worse confounded.” He was prolific iu discovering points of obstruction, no matter what the subject introduced. Nothing pleased him; and it may fairly be supposed that nothing could he found to please that worthy gentleman but the most delicately manufactured social sop. Ever since the adoption of a motion touching the position of the Mayor, Mr. Hutchison and the Town Clerk have been at variance. His Worship being so exceedingly anxious to preserve the dignity attaching, to his office, matters of great importance affecting the interests of the ratepayers seem to have become for him utterly unworthy of consideration. Yesterday afternoon's proceedings were indicative of what we have asserted—the Council was divided against itself, and as a result petty contentious and childlike squabbling took the place of the calm and deliberate considerations of city affairs which should characterise the proceedings of such a body. This state of things is chiefly owing to the hostile position assumed by the Mayor. Under the cloak of offended virtue the Mayor has been enacting the rhle of an obstructionist and a decided bore. It is,unpleasant to speak plain truths, but occasions arise when such a course is absolutely necessary. We have iu the present instance found one; and in the interests of the ratepayers of Wellington we enter a protest, decided and emphatic, against the state of things now existing in the City Council, which is chiefly owing to the undignified and ridiculous position taken up by his Worship the