The Press. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1874.

Press, Volume XXII, Issue 2854, 1 October 1874, Page 2

The Press. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1874.

Nearly twelve months ago we pub lished a series of articles on the neces sity which clearly existed for some better and more efficient system than is now in force for the improvement of the drainage of Christchurch and its suburbs. We notice that, at the last meeting of the City Council this question was once more alluded to by some of the members, chiefly, it appears, in connection with some strictures passed upon that body by a public print. The subject is one of such paramount importance that we imagine no excuse is wanting from us for again drawing public attention to it, more especially at this time, when we are about to enter upon what is, we believe, the unhealthiest season of the year. Prom the published report of the RegistrarGeneral, on the Vital Statistics of the Colony, it appears that Christchurch enjoys the unenviable distinction of being the most unhealthy town in New Zealand. That there are very great difficulties in the way of draining the city and suburbs, owing to the low level character of the land, we admit, but it is worth while perhaps to see what has been done of late years to meet these difficulties and improve our sanitary condition. .We may at once say that we do not think that blame is in this matter to be attached to the City Council. In so far as regards the keeping of the roadways and footpaths in decent order, and permitting traffic, both of vehicles aud foot passengers, to pass along them in cleanliness and comfort that august body is certainly open to the charge of having failed in its duty. We doubt if in any civilised town there could be found such abysses of mud, such bottomless quagmires as have been exhibited in the thoroughfares of Christchurch during the past few months. And, in all probability, the City Councillors might have better consulted the interests of the ratepayers who elected them, if they had devoted to the improvement of the said thoroughfares some of the funds which they set apart for the Mayor and his civic banquets, and other little expenses. We observed last year that the official statement that the Btreets were in excellent order, was scarcely correct, aud since then they have been, if anything, worse than ever. But this phase of the question is the least important, and is not that to which we desire to draw the attention of our readers. In the work of preventing and abolishing more dangerous nuisances than mere mud, the City Council have, so far as we are aware, been energetic and successful. People can put up with mire and slush in wet weather, if it is merely the consequence of the wet weather, however much they may have a right to grumble at the non-expendi-ture of the public money for removing it. Muddy streets do not of themselves bring disease, and we believe that it is the fact that our most unhealthy season is the driest. It is from the other nameless descriptions of filth that disease chiefly comes, and it is against these that we desire to see war declared and waged. In this respect we are not inclined to impute blame to the City Councillors, for, we believe, that they have appreciated the danger, and worked usefully against it. But the case is far otherwise when we go beyond the municipal limits and enter the suburbs of Christchurch. These Buburbs, such as Waltham, St. Albans, Avonside, Addington, are not under the control of the City Council; in fact, for sanitary purposes, they are not under the control of any one at all. And a walk through the narrow thoroughfares of these suburbs, veritable rookeries and nurseries of disease, is quite enough to show the difference between a district under some authority, and a district of free and independent residents. It is possible to walk through every street of Christchurch almost i without leoiog anything daogereuiJy

offensive. A very abort stroll in some of the suburbs we have mentioned exhibits an entirely different state of things. We cannot, of course, speak positively, but we are inclined to believe that the evidence of our medical

men would show that by far the greater portion of their patients are to be found outside the Town Belt. Now the I suburbs, although really, as we have said, under no control in this matter, are nominally under the control of the Road Boards. And it is precisely from this fact that, as we believe, the chief mischief comes. For, in the first place the Road Boards are a divided authority. Bingsland and St Albans, for instance, are in the hands of tbe Avon Road Board. Avonside and Waltham

are in the hands of the Heathcote Road Board. Supposing that in the latter district steps are taken to re-

move nuisances, inspectors are appointed, funds are expended, and that in the former no such work is undertaken, how much better off generally would the population be ? The boundaries of Road Districts are but lines on

a map, or roadways, or narrow streams, and infection is not likely to be stopped by any such barriers as these. It may be too that a Road Board, acting under the powers conferred on it by the " Highway Boards Empowering Act," may this year endeavour energetically to cope with the evil. A new set of members next year may consider that their funds may be better expended in forming and metalling the roads in other portions of the district, and nuisances dangerouß to health may again be allowed to accumulate. Eor it must be remembered that there is a wide difference between a district like Christchurch, self-contained within narrow boundaries and homogeneous in so far as that each portion of it has like interests, and a district like Heathcote or Avon, where the thickly populated villages are but small porti ns oi the whole area, t»nd the works required differ in its various parts. We cannot, indeed, see how it is possible for the Eoadßoards, as at present constituted, to properly perform their duty as guardians of the public health. But there is also another obstacle in their way, the want of the necessary funds. Under the Health Act, the measure which conferred on the Road Boards the control of sanitary matters within their districts, no provision has been made for giving them the money required. "We say no provision, for in point of fact there is none. Certainly it is enacted that the Boards may devote their ordinary revenues to this purpose ; but no one will imagine that in a country like this, and with th 9 pressing needs of the districts in other respects, there can be any possibility of making use of such a permission. The Health Act is really and truly a dead letter, for it imposes certain duties upon the Road Boards and at the same time refuses them the only means of performing those duties. Again, there is another obstacle. In the case of the Ellesmere Road Board versus Fisher it has been decided, we believe, that the Boards have no right whatever to the soil ot the roads in their districts. It is impossible therefore to see how they can inaugurate and carry on any comprehensive scheme for extending their drainage and for improving the sanitary condition of the villages within their boundaries. Even if they had ever so much goodwill, even if they all combined with a full determination to root out the yearly spreading evil, we do not see how, with the two drawbacks we have alluded to, the Road Boards could succeed. As for the past, therefore, we are unable to find that any really efficient work has been done. We give the fullest credit to the municipal authorities for what has been effected by them withiti the boundaries of the City of Christchurch. We recognise the fact that under the present system it is well-nigh impossible, if not altogether so, for the Road Boards, who are supposed to have control over the densely populated suburbs, to take any really useful steps for enforcing cleanliness, and preventing disease. But the fact remains that nothing, outside the Town Belt, has been done, and that a great part of what has been effected within the city has been neutralised by the state of things without. Our population is increasing at a most rapid rate, and is likely to continue so to do for some time to come. Every year, therefore, will increase the evil, unless some really practical measures are taken at once. It remains to be considered what should be the line adopted for at least endeavoring to improve our condition.