The Globe. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1874.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 175, 30 December 1874, Page 2

The Globe. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1874.

The inauguration of the peal of bells procured by our German fellow-colo-nists, which recently took place, brings up again the much vexed question of what has become of the subscriptions originally procured for the purpose of providing Cbristchurch with a peal of bells. So far as we can gather, for a good deal of myßtery surrounds the

subject, and those interested are remarkably reticent, there is, or was, a very good balance on the credit side. Thid is what has been asserted time after time, and has never been formally contradicted, therefore it is that we hold some information, reliable information that is, should be afforded to the public on this matter. They subscribed the money, and have a right to know what has been done with it. If it has been spent in preliminary expenses, then say so, but it is exceedingly unpleasant, not only for those concerned, but the public in general, to hear whenever this subject is broached, all sorts of assertions as to the amount of money still in hand. At the first meeting of the committee, we find from records, that the secretary stated he had £IOO in hand. Now this Bum, if it be true that it has not been returned, would make a very good nucleus towards a fund for supplementing the peal presented by the German citizens to the people of Christchurch, and we should suggest that whosoever is interested should once say how much money, if any, is to the credit of the fund, and if none, then it will be a clear field to go to work to collect subscriptions. While this uncertainty lasts, it will be utterly impossible for any one to collect any money. People say "Ohno ; we cannot subscribe until we know what has become of the last subscriptions." Thus it is that, more than ever, this unfortunate occurrence is a stumbling block in the A'ay of our ever having a peal of bells which will do credit to the city, and until it is cleared up one way or theotherweshallnever getthem. Amongst the members of the committee we notice the names of a number of our prominent citizens, who surely will be both able and willing to let the public know the true state of affairs. Anything is better than the present uncertainty, beside which these gentlemen are incurring the odium of keeping something back that will not bear the light of day, a state of things which is hardly to be allowed to continue. The money was subscribed ; there can be no doubt of that; the exact amount, aud what has become of it, are mysteries which it seems impossible to fathom, try any way you will. But we hope the public will not quietly allow this matter to drop; it is a thing that reflects discredit upon the whole community, and we are quite at a loss to understand why the matter has stood over so long. Now, however, that the time has arrived when the money, said to be in hand, is wanted to bo used for the purpose ifc was originally contributed, some statement as to its disposition is surely due. In short, what we want is for those concerned to say plainly we have, or have not, any money in hand ; if the latter, to account for its expenditure ; if the former, to hand it over to the fund now in course of being raised. This is what we think the public of Christchurch have aright to demand, and which we hope will, without any further delay, be conceded to them.