“The Press” In 1864

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30481, 1 July 1964, Page 14

“The Press” In 1864

JULY 1. ALDERMANIA There are some pleasures ip life whose enjoyment is enhanced by the rarity of their occurrence. We know it is a vulgar error, that an Editor’s principal luxury is to cut and slash, and that he gloats over the demolition of a politician as a surgeon luxuriates in a skilful operation on a patient. That, however, is a hard judgment. To praise, even to an Editor, is more pleasant than to blame, though it would not be in human nature to deny that the sternest and most painful duties of life have their corresponding consolations. It is, however, with a satisfaction enhanced by rarity that we’cal) attention to the course taken by the City Council on Monday night, and to the opposition to the valuable proposal made by the Chairman. If there be

one subject which has been more talked of than another during the past few weeks, it has been that of a supply of water, especially for pre; venting fires. There are two artesian wells discharging a very pretty supply of water from the bowels of the earth into the streets of our city. As you pass either of the iron pipes from whose tops the sparkling streams are bubbling, you will generally see two or three intelligent citizens standing looking at the beneficent fountain. It may be, some up-country man, who has not been down for a spree since the springs were tapped, is contemplating with satisfaction the facility with which he can now restore collapsed nature towards the small hours of the morning, by getting his head under the pump without having to pay a boy to work the

handle. But we-will venture to bet- a- new hat, that if we listen to the conversation, for- two minutes, we shall hear the remark—“ Why the deuce do -they let all this water run away, why don’t they do something with it?" And the citizen, who knows something more of the disappointments of civilised communities, is surely to reply, “Ask the City Council, it’s their look-out.”- Up-country-man will let a stream of smoke flow from the opposite side of his mouth to that In which the dirty dudeen is. struck, and will reply, as he moves away to get a glass of something he cares more ' for -than water, “Scissors! What muffs they must be! What’ll ye take?” The latter expression is mere form—a sort of colloquial “Amen” in the Colonies. S