The Press. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 1868.

Press, Volume XII, Issue 1618, 15 January 1868, Page 2

The Press. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 1868.

It was unfortunate that the annual election of members of the City Council should have taken place on one of the race days. It could not be helped, as the City Council Ordinance prescribes that the election shall be held on the second Tuesday in January; Btill the result was that a great many of the ratepayers were absent, and that among those who attended there ■was apparently a desire to confine the proceedings to the mere necessary formalities and to get them over as coon as possible. The different candidates for office were proposed and seconded with little more than the ordinary matter of course professions of the proposers' confidence in the men they had to nominate and assurances that the electors could not do better than return them. AVith the exception of some stringent remarks by one or two speakers on the supposed needlessly large expenditure of the Council during the past year, there was scarcely any discussion, nor any attempt to review the course pursued t>y the Council during the year just concluded, or to indicate what the public expects of them during the term just about to begin. This was to be regretted, for there are several important matters which will shortly tave to come under the notice of the Council, or to which it is desirable that their attention should be called ; and an expression of opinion by a meeting which may be taken as repreeenting the bulk of the ratepayers would have been of considerable service. The members of the Council retiring by. rotation, all of whom stood for re - election, had every reason to be satisfied with the implied verdict on their official conduct, the majority in their favour on the show of hands being very marked. And on the whole it must be allowed that no Council since the very first has acquitted itself better. The municipal business has been efficiently managed, the proceeds of the rates have been prudently expended, and a great deal has been done for the permanent improvement of the city. we should have wished to ccc a much larger attendance at yesterday's meeting, and a much keener interest manifested in the business in hand. It will not <Io to make this

election a matter of routine. On the energy and discretion with which the Council carry out their duties depends in a great measure the public comfort, safety, and health of the city. If, on the one hand, for the furtherance of the common interests they are entrusted with the power of levying rates; on the other the ratepayers have a right to demand a sufficient return for their , money. If they wish to exercise a proper control over the expenditure they have the opportunity of doing bo, for the choice of those who have to spend the money rests with them. But if they are indifferent to whom they commit the management of their affairs, they have only themselves to blame for any mismanagement or extravagance that may be the consequence.

Cokeb's Gabdbns.—A grand ball took place last night at these gardens, which were illuminated with a number of Chinese lanterns. A grand pyrotechnic display took place during the evening. The attendance was pretty good. St. Albak's Mutual Improvement Association. , —A lpr*vp!-f> w iH be delivered to-Tinvo-r ,■ r.-I-"' ■:"( unnpction with the above Asßoci..ti • iiitj subject is "The use and abuse of tobacco." Northern Volunteers. —Aβ yet only two of the Northern companies Noa 3 and 4, have fired for the District prizes, and the scoring of the latter is, we are informed, somewhat inferior. The Woodend company are expected to meet to fire for the prizes at an early date. Tjtqtxest.—An inquest was held at the Albion hotel, Lyttelton, yesterday, before Dr "Donald, coroner, to investigate the origin of a fire which occurred on Sunday last. Mr C. Woledge was elected foreman, and several witnesses examined, the result being an adjournment till Monday next, at cix p.m. Owing to want of space we are compelled to reserve our full report till our next issue. Magisterial.—There were no cases at the Magistrate's Court, at Christchurch, yesterday. At Lyttelton, Sarah Fowles was charged with assaulting Martha Williamson. There was another charge against accused of using threatening language towards Mary Ann Williamson. After hearing the evidence, which was very contradictory, the Bench dismissed defendant, cautioning both parties as to their future conduct, and urging them to live on more neighbourly terms. Calcutta Sweepstakes. — A Calcutta sweep came off last night at Barnard's, the race being the Christchurch Plate. The value of the sweep was about £35. The following are the horses drawn and the prices realised, viz.:—Stormbird, se; Nebula, £2 ; Abbeas, 10s ; Belle of the Isle, £4 15s; Magenta, £810s ; Lady of the Lake, £2 ; Scandal, £7 5s ; Slander, £6 ; Knottingly, £6 ss. Sweeps will take place to-night on the Free Handicap, and Grand Stand Handicap. Theatre Royal.—There was a moderate attendance at the theatre last evening, when there was a combination of the drama and the performances of the Martinetti troupe. The dancing of Madame Martinetti between the pieces was very graceful, and well worth seeing. "Little Johnie" too, sang a couple of songs, creating great amusement. The afterpiece was a capital one, and excited the merriment and applause of the audience. This evening is fixed for the benefit of Mr Foley, under the patronage of the stewards and members of the Jockey Club. The programme is an attractive one, and we hope to see a good house. Tbetotal Anniversary.—The anniversary gathering of tlie tot>il abstainers of Christchurch and vicinity took place yesterday Sports of various kinds were entered into during the day in Judge Gresson'e paddock, Armagh street, and at six o'clock an adjournment was made to the Oddfellows' Hall, Lichfield street, where tea was provided. When ample justice had been done to the excellent fare provided, the tables were cleared away and a public meeting was held. Mr John Caygill, the president of the Total Abstinence Society, occupied the chair, who, after reading the annual report, addreesed those present. Several other gentlemen also addressed the meeting during the evening. The Waimakaeiri. —Once more this river has gone back to its wonted channel. The damages along the North road, in the drain still continue; the bridges and culverts are however under repairs, and the one over the Kaikainui creek is being rebuilt, but the road remains in the same state as heretofore. It is expected that this road will again be taken charge off by the Provincial Government, as it will seem hardly fair to tax one particular district with such expensive works as have been rendered necessary to keep open the main line of traffic to the northward. The cuttings to relieve the island of the flood water are proceeding very favourably, as the contractors are to pay a forfeit for every day the cuttings are not finished over the contract time, and for , every day the work is done within the time specified they will be entitled to a bonus, j Soma have been of opinion that the road, to j be safe from the floods, should be carried along the south bank of the river, and a new bridge built over the river at Jackson's ferry ; and this plan would answer very well, but for the | large outlay required. The difficulties of j making a good road over the sandhills on the .route proposed are very great, besides which, at the spot where the bridge would require to be buiit, the river at certain seasons causes more scour into the banks than at the present bridge. It is also urged as an argument against the change of route, that as the cuttings across the island are expected to save tbe road from further damage, and they are now almost completed, it would be well to test their effect before adopting the other more expensive proposal.