The Globe. MONDAY, APRIL 26, 1879.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1618, 28 April 1879, Page 2

The Globe. MONDAY, APRIL 26, 1879.

The “Star” has discovered a mare’s nest. This need surprise no one, for is it not a part of the mission of the “ Star ” to make such discoveries ? It has found out that the City Council has sinister designs on the money subscribed by certain residents in the neighbourhood towards the erection of the Barbadoes street bridge. The City Council, wo are aware, are not perhaps the wisest or most orderly body of men existing ; but that to their other short-comings they should add a burglarious thirst for ill-gotten gains is quite a new idea. No wonder that reporters are kept from reporting much that goes on within the walls of the dark and mysterious Council Chamber; no wonder that the Council rush into committee on occasions with headlong zeal. One might as well have expected the late proprietor of the castle of Otranto to have applied for a shorthand reporter as for the Council —if they hold the morals attributed to them by the “Star” —to desire that the report of all their doings should become public property. But to consider the misdeeds of this robber Council. The residents in and about Barbadoes street North wish for a bridge over the Avon. It would be a considerable convenience to them, and indeed not to them only, but to the city at large. £1350 is the sum required, and the Council agree to provide the balance it £250 is raised by local effort. £145, however, has as yet only been subscribed, of which sum “ the public spirited ” Mr. Toovey has subscribed £IOO. The public spirited one hands this £145 to Mr. Ayers, who hands it over to tho Council. The Council, on reviewing tho case, determine to stand by their original decision, and to require that the full amount they had decided on should be raised by the residents, but they state their willingness to allow another month to elapse, before the Council’s offer to provide tho balance, bo finally considered null and void. Hereupon Mr. Toovey incontinently demands his money back. What right had “ tho public spirited one ” to make such a demand ? Ho was only one of a body who were interested in tho matter. Ho had no more right to quash tho affair than the man in the moon. Why should the project be forced to fall through because Mr. Toovey thought fit to demand back his money. True ho had subscribed nearly four-sixths of tho sum raised, but otherwise ho stood on exactly tho same footing as tho other subscribers. Tho Bardadoos street residents would have a decided grievance if tho Council had allowed tho project to bo annhilatod, at Mr. Toovoy’s bock and nod. He was acting entirely ultra vires. Ho was on exactly tho same footing as the man who had subscribed ton shillings. Tho case would be exactly the same if Mr. Toovey were indeed the magnanimous individual that the “ Star ” makes him out to bo. Wo have no doubt that the gentleman in question is a very amiable individual, and that ho overflows with tho milk of human

kindness, but liis offer of £IOO towards tbo erection of the bridge is not one of those great deeds that can impress itself on the imagination. Mr. Toovoy is the lucky proprietor of an hotel that is in course of erection on the south bank of the Avon, close to the site of the proposed bridge, and it is naturally of importance to him that- the two sides of the river should bo connected. In the long run it would pay him “ hand over fist ” to lay down oven more than £IOO for the purpose Under consideration. Just ov'or the river there live a large and thirsty population who oidy need a means of crossing that watery barrier to quench their noble thirst at Mr. Toovey’s hospitable bar. Tisionsof panting souls lying on the farther shore and gaping in helpless longing at the magic words “licensed to sell ” may have afflicted Mr Toovoy, and in «o lar as ho has boon willing to a large extent to prevent such distress, he is a publicspirited tnan, but no further. The “Star” has got hold of the wrong end of the story altogether. The Council wore perfectly justified in acting as they did. ■ That body frequently conducts its business in a most erratic manner; their meetings are generally conducted without, dignity, and wo have always freely commented on What wo considered their shortcomings. But it is absurd to in any way suspect that they had any , sinister designs in refusing to hand back the itroney at the request of the “ publicspirited one.”