THE SOUTHERN CROSS. Friday, December 14, 1849.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume V, Issue 257, 14 December 1849, Page 2

THE SOUTHERN CROSS. Friday, December 14, 1849.

luceo now irao. "If T have bpen extinguished, yet there rise A thousand beappns from the spark 1 bore."

We cannot but express our gratification on observing that our oft-repeated allusions to the state of th.c streets have at length elicited some attention. Early in the week some preparations were made for repairing { High-street, and, but for the weather, this work would no doubt have been carried on with yigour, The unusually heavy rains, however, have suspended for a time these improvements. Ultimately it may be of advantage that it has so happened — for the extent of the evil is now — in consequence of the rain that has fallen — fully disclosed. At the corner of High-street the ground has given way, and a chasm of several feet in depth is exposed, no doubt caused by the want of proper surfaca openings to the drains. The parties who have the management of these matters will now see how necessary such openings are : that without them the drains are not only comparatively useless from -not haying the surface water conveyed into them, bu£ the drains themselves are liable to be utterly destroyed,

We shall not offer any apology for returning again to the early closing movement, because it is a subject in which we have always taken a deep interest. We took active steps towards introducing a system of early closing some two years ago, and were successful for a time, but the great drawback was that the tradesmen did not take up the question as their own. and consequently the chances of success were oomparatively few, Now, however, it is different. The tradesmen are the main springs of the present movement, and we are sanguine enough ta hope that their efforts wiU be orowned with complete success. We indulge this hope notwithstanding a report that has reached us of one of the consenting parties showing symptoms of dislike to the arrangement on the ground that 7 o'clock is too early an hour to c}ose. For upon reflection, we feel confident that any scruples founded upon the acquiescence of the public, will appear unnecessary, It is just as easy for the public to make their purchases before that hour as after, and if the shops are all closed at 7, they will make it their business to do so. We are glad that our contemporary has entered so warmly into the subject, and we cordially unite with him in advising, not only the drapers, but every tradesman to adopt the plan of closing their shops at 7 o'clock.