The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo. WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 1900. THE PLAIN FACTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 103, 2 May 1900, Page 4

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 1900. THE PLAIN FACTS.

For tho cause that lacks assistance, For the "wrong that needs recistanco, For the fnturo in tho distance, And the cood that wo can do.

In no city or town of the colony, apparently, has the gospel of cleanliness been preached so earnestly or by so distinguished preachers as--, it is in .Auckland now. Day and night have Hi.s Excellency the Governor and the .Premier laboured to convince us of our sins against the hygienic law and to effect our conversion. Of the result of their mission we had better not speak toosanguinely yet. It is to be feared 'that- we are indeed heathens in our ignorance of the doctrines of public hygiene. Auckland has waxed proud in the contemplation of her own external loveliness, and become negligent and callous in regard to tlie internal want of cleanliness. So long as the city shone fair from the sea; so long as from the summit of Mount Eden one looked on a panorama of surpassing beauty; so long as there were delightful parks and pleasant sea-side ' resorts, such unpoetic problems as the disposal'of the sewage and the destruction of slums neveiij troubled the Aueklander any more than the insanitary condition of Chiaja bothers the careless laz/arone of Naples. The. loosgly-apread character of the town, chiefly the result of the broken, hilly ground oti which it is built, is apt to make one imagine that it has compaT'atively little need of such provision for house drainage as is regarded as necessary in communities of the same size congregated in ;>. much smaller space. We know that Aucklanders have always thought this, and consequently have given btit a half-hearted attention to those who

I urged a proper system of drainage throughout their garden city. With no actual experience of what moderri sanitary science demands in a city of this size, they allowed themselves to be "further misled ,by the outward aspect of freshness and healthiness which Auckland reveals to a cursory observer. They even questioned ttie evidence of their sense of smell, and made little of the tell-;ale stenches in the streets, which plainly hinted danger. One almost shudders to think how long Aiu'k haulers would have remained blind to the insanitary condition of the town generally had not the^ plague threatened us from the neighbouring colony. The probability is that we would have gone on as we were doing till, without warningl, disea.se came amongst us. and wrought terrible havoc. Things Jiave been gradually ripening for such a catastrophe, though few have ,recognised it. Year by year there? has been gflng on over the length and breuilth of the city and suburbs a steady accumulation of. onnuki matter. We do not. refer only to the rubbish tips, these monstrous violations of. all law, but t;.' the almost

irniioti'eed deposit \vhi?h is to be found kiaud about human habitations where the most scrupulous cleanliness is not exercised. The same process has been •woing on for years' on' tile shallow, tide-washed shores of our harbour,

what drainage there is bringing down what filth it can, and laying a considerable proportion of it on the mud flats. Slums of. the. 'nature of those. which exist in the large cities of the Old Country, or in Sydney,we certainly have not; but the rise in the value of town land has in many places forced two or.three houses ro spring up where there- is only decent spa.cc for one. In such cases one must not be surprised to find a greedy landlord ITr.d a dirty tenant. united in an unholy alliunc-4 t'J breed disease by neglecting repairs and showing a perfect dis :

regard for sn-'iitat'on. Away from the more densely, populated parts of the c\ty are the gullies where the buildings are few. These to the outward eye suggest plenty of healthy, open breathing-space. How often, as a fact, are they the breeding-places of disease germs. The valley-sides are convenient places for the deposit of rubbish, and in many instances afford bare possibilities for the keeping of dairy cattle or pigs, which are usually maintained by people ignorant of and

utterly indifferent to the insanitary conditions they create. Thus what would under happier 'eireumstanres be pleasant grassy slopes are converted into unwholesome mires, and where ocae ■ a limpid- streamlet. threaded its way are' foetid, stagnant pools. :

But no mere talking about this matter can reveal the contamination and pollution that has been going on here for years, practically unchecked. No words can show how. even while preserving her fair face, the city has lost the inner purity which was her birth-right. In fact, many of the most telling evidences of her defilement are not to be readily detected, it is, indeed, chiefly in the inadequacy of the actual cleansing measures she has adopted that her uncleanness is made manifest. We are thinking now of Hie outlets to the sewers.along the water front. The arrangements for the discharge of the sewage into the harbour : would not be tolerated in any other , civilised city. One by one the pleasant j bays near the town have been polluted and poisoned. Freeman's and Mechanics' Bays were early Victims. The j abomination of the one is now a thing | of the past, and for that residents j on the west side of the city may well j thank heaven. Dwellers in the eastern j parts of the city and suburbs have j still to endure the putrescence of Me- j chanies' Bay. All too slowly the work j of reclamation proceeds there, and til- j ready there are signs that when that j work is done St. George's Bay will j probably be about fit to take its place, j In Judge's Bay, the next cove to the i eastward,, the tide stili comes in to j woo a sweet little beach, but there, ! toe, no doubt, the horrible sewage j stream will find its way some day. ! Indeed, on our last visit there we ; noticed a deep trench leading upwards j into Parnell, and largo pipes, which told their own tale. Still further on is Tfobson's Bay, where the horrible transformation from purity to filth is going on apace. Thirty years ago! the waters of the Waitemata, ineffably j pure from the outer ocean, laved those ] spotless bays. Now what are they?!

In-Wellington, where the water is deep close in shore, on the city side, there was really less danger In the" sewage being discharged into the harbour thiwi here where there are so many extensive fiats. But the Wellington people did not rest until they, had, at a very great cost, too, turned the filth into the ocean. When do we intend to follow their example in so far as we can? That and a dozen other questions bearing on the sanitation of the city must remain, until they are satisfactorily answered, the most important matters for the consideration of Aucklanders.

About half-past one o'clock this morning there* was thunder and a big flash of lightning in the Epsom district. The inmates and patients of the Auckland Hospital were also awakened by the lightning, which lit up the whole of the rooms. This atmospheric disturbance greatly cleared the air today.

Mr \V. ,T. Napier, M.H.R.. has sent the following letter to the authorities at Wellington, with reference to the1 fumigation of Island fruit:—"The Hon." the Minister for Agriculture. Sir, —The fumigation of the fruit from the South Sea Islands here is carried on in so leisurely a manner that the delay is interfering- seriously with- the trade between Auckland and* the South Sea Islands. Quite recently a shipment of oranges, imported by the s.s. Ovalau, was not delivered o\it of the hands of the fumigators until seven days after the arrival of the ship, and then a claim was made upon the owner, Mr W. H. Grove, for £17 4/1, the eo»t of the fumigation. The charge is excessive, and must seriously hamper the ■trade of this port, but the delay in the process of fumigation is simply ruinous, as quantities of the. fruit go bad, and purchasers cannot be found therefor. The fumigating1 shed is ridiculously inadequate for the quantities of fruit imported into this city, and the enlargement of the shed is the first step that should be taken. While it is, of course necessary that every precaution should be taken to see that imported fruit is thoroughly cleansed, yet if in eonseqiience of imperfect arrangements the cleansing process virtually kills trade, it is evident that a reform is needed in your Department. I would ask that .such steps be taken as will ensure delivery to the importers of the fumigated fruit not later than -IS hours after it has been taken to the fmnigators. This is the maximum tiihe that* should be allowed, as fruit being a perishable commodity must be sold to ensure a profit as soon after arrival, as possible. I trust tlmt you will give this matter, your immediate attention."

A combined meeting- of the Wynyard and .Kilen Lodges (A.L.i was' Held in the Wynyard .Lodge-roam ou Tuesday night-last. There was a ltvi-gy gathering of members, During the evening the D.D.G.M., Bro. if. Armiger, introduced to brethren the Grand Master (Brother Crichton), who is on an official visit to the Northern Lodges. Bro. Wilson, X.G., of Wynyard Lodge, extended a hearty welcome to the Grand Master. The Grand Master addressed the lodge on several matters appertaining to the welfare of the Order, and also expressed his gratitude at the cordial reception extended to him. At the close of his rema*ks he complimented the officers for the able manner in which they conducted the initiatory service during the evening, eulogising in particular the eo«----ductorship of the initiation by Bro. Fred. Wilson, D.D.G.M., Bro. 11. Armiger, P.D.G.M. Bro. .). Buvchell also expressed satisfaction at tlie manner in which the work of the Order was being' carried cut. Tha Grand Master, Bro. Crichton, Is now visiting Kawakawa Lodge,

The Canterbury Jubilee ludustrial Exhibition, which is to be opened at Chrislcliiivch in November next in connnermnoration of the jubilee of the provincial district, promises to be one of the largest ever he3d in the colony. Plans are now completed, and with the permanent buildings now in course or erection by the Agricultural and Industrial Hall Company, there will be a total of about 100,000 square feet in connection with the exhibition. Tn another column an announcement Is' made that forms of application for space", can be obtained at the local offices ot 1 the Chamber of Cpmmeree, the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, or the Industrial Association. All applications for space must be made before the 30th June, and will be considered according to priority of application. Intending exhibitors shffuftl therefore be prompt in •securing1 space for their.requiremsr.ts.

His Excellency the Governor has consented to perform the ceremony oi hoisting: the flag' on the recently erected flag-staft" in the Parnell Public School {•■rounds on May 12th. The proposal that a flagstaff be erected, which originated with Mr N. W. Pollard at the time of Cronje's surrender, was very heartily taken up. The necessary money was raised in a short space of time. Mr YV. H. Brown, shipbuilder, made the start"; Ross and Ansenne provided and fitted the rig-g'lng; the carting was done by Mrs B. Hodgson gratis, as was the painting1 by Tapper Bros., of Parnell. The staff is fifty feet, from base to truck, and in every way a complete piece of work. The Xortheoie School Committee met last evening. Mr G. Low presiding. The minutes were read by Mr Jas. Prior, the new secretary, and various bills were ptassed. The monthly report of the headmaster showed that the number of scholars on the books was 241, and the average attendance was 20:2.6. It was decided to invite tenders for supplying fuel for the winter. The opening entertainment in connection with the Ponsonby Baptist Mutual Improvement Society was held last, evening. There was a good attendance of members and friends, and an enjoyable evening was spent. Mr Dearsley took the chair. Misses Ma-t----thews, " Butler, Over A. Robinson, Messrs May, Kemp, Potter, Robinson, Dearsley, and Master Tremain contributed an excellent programme. The annual meeting of St. David's Recreation Club was held in the Church Hall, Symondsstreet, on Monday evening- last, and was well attended. The secretary read the report ana balance-sheet for the past session, which showed that the club was in a very healthy and financial position, and had been of great benefit physic-, alh' to its members. The following* office-bearers and committee were then elected; —Hon. president. Rev. W. Gray Dixon; president, Mr Millar; vice-presidents', Messrs McXab, Craig, McDonald. Lambert, J. •T. Holland, J. Burns. Patterson, Anderson, J. Knight, C. Laßoche, A. Wilson. Dr. Grant, Dr. Dawson, A. Gilbert, and Dr. McLanrln; secretary and treasurer, vMr C. F. McXab; committee, Messrs ■ Sowers, Mincher, Armitage, Wing and Acton.

At a special meeting of the committee of the Christehurch Cycling Club held 'last evening, a resolution was passed protesting against the decision of the Council of the League in suspending Sutherland. The members considered that the Council should first have compelled the Wellington Centre to give a decision, and then, if necessary, should have acted as an appeal council. They thought Sutherland had been harshly treated ill not having been heard in defence. A resolution was passed unanimously requesting the Council to call a special meeting, with the object of rescinding the resolution passed ou Monday, and referring-the matter back to-the-Wellington Centre. The chairman of the League Council bag received a number of telegrams congratulating the League on its firm attitude.

That interesting and unique event, the entertainment of the Auckland veterans by His Excellency,'finds pictorial commemoration in the pages of this week's "Graphic." The reproductions are particularly good, and the pictures make up the only complete illustrated record of the event that has been obtained. Sixteen beautiful plates deal with incidents in South Africa, and there are two full-page engravings devoted to the same engrossing subject. A series of pictures depict the precautions being taken here to exclude the plague from our shores, and to cleanse the city. One of the most interesting illustrations is that of a Maori tangi. It is certainly the best photographic reproduction of the native funeral ceremony that has appeared. The miscellaneous pictures include views of the City of Ottawa, where the recent disastrous fire rendered thousands homeless, of the .Paris Exhibition, the Indian Famine, Chrysanthemum Growing, and Young New Zealanders.

I Applications for the agency for the Wertheim "sewing machines are invited by advertisement in another colutnn, Messrs MacKay and Pratt, auctioneers, Paeroa, advertise in this issue an important sale of thirty-three freehold sections centrally situated in Waildno township, Ohinemuri. The sale takes place at Wai kino on Tuesday next, May Bth. The Ocean Accident Insurance Company, through their I'Jsni manager, Mr A. P. Friend, advertise that their Al Policy accident and disease covers plague in the disease clause. Rain Notice.. Purchase waterproofs, 2.1/; oilskins; 10/; and oil suits, specialty reduced line, at Geo.-Fowlds".—Ad. Rain Extra. Very special waterproofs, all sewn seams,, guaranteed waterproof, 45/, at Geo. Fowlds'. —Ad.