The Daily southern Cross.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXXII, Issue 5801, 2 May 1876, Page 2

The Daily southern Cross.

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TUESDAY, MAY '_', 187(5. Lkt anyone vim't tho site of tlio now Waterworks, now in progress, near Mi 1 . Motion's old mill ; lot tho vifiitor oust uu observant eye around an ho circiininavigatofl tlic pond which has boon comtructod to receive the water from tho springs before it pauses to tho woll of tho ongino pumps ; let linn behold tho bright pellucid water as, it flows in perfect purity and crystalline cloarnoas from tho rock ; and then lot him look at the

dayey-coloured watei an I t, 1 it* noxious soiiin of offensive-looking gieeu weed, decaying seeds and vegetable mattei, Moating on tiie bosom of this pond, and choking up the enti.mco to tho pumpwell, and were the beholder tho most prejudiced person in favour of maintaining tliis pond as .1 means of transit for tilt 1 water in preference Lo putting down earthenware pipes from tho springs to the well, he must at once discard his opin <>n and advocate tho lattor process. 'i'l .to are now, we iind, two oacape sluices, one for surplus water which is now flowing, and is simply an opon cliannel ; another, which is a bricked channel with covered way over it, and a sluice gate, intended to bo used for emptying tho pond. It has boon alleged by Homo writer, who either lias not seen tho condition of the pond, or has mado very bad use of his oyes, that tho water from the springs will How directly to tho pump well. At present it is (lowing in a distinguishable lino towav Is the opon ovortlow channel, whilo around tho banks of tho pond at varfouB places, especially for hundreds of yards around tho entrance to the well a thick congregation of weed and other debris tloats m an offensive corrupt looking mass. The entrance itself is chokod with a liko objectionablo and oftbnsivo collection. All ovor tho pond tho wator acting on tho bottom and clay sidos presents a whitish uppeai'anco (whero it is not more unpleasant), as unlike the pure clear flow from tho springs as milk and muddy wator aro unlike the uncontumiuutcd fluid. It is with something of surprise, after having soon tho actual state of the pond, that wo find tho City Council, at its meeting yesterday, taking no notice of tho subjoct so important lo overy person who shall bo in roach of tho water supply. Argument has been applied 111 favour of carrying out tho present plan until its working i ascertained ; th.it is, until tho public consumer is supplied with a decoction of decayed weeds and much unnecessary ■ncleannoss. In vain have wo asked for tho reasons which induced the City Council to so alter tho original plans, as to causo the formation of this clay-puddled pond through which to convoy tho wator, which could have been transmitted cool and limpid direct fiom tho springs to tho pump well. Krom the silence of that august body it would appear that, liko Canning's knifeyundev, they haw no story to toll. If tho Couucillois iiave reasons for their action ihey keep thorn very close. Simplomiuded men, who look at common sense facts, and sound principles, think tho masons are all against this exposed pond arrangement. As wo have beforo now shown, it is as clear as tho water at tho spnngs, that if it is necessary to l'oof in, and otherwiso carefully enclose, tho roaervoirs at Ponsonby and Kybor Pass, certainly not less essential must it bo to similarly protect from evident pollution tin's strange supply pond at tho vory fountain head whonco tho wator is to bo pumped to those protected reservoirs. Yet, in the face of an argument liko this, the Council, with that wisdom which frequently characterises civic Gothams, preserve a silence that may be judicious, but, considering what their constituents look lor, is neither wise nor reassuring. The engineer of tho works has, wo are told, agreed that tho project of laying earthenware pipes direct from tho springs to tho pumps is tho bettor of tho two plans, and, 111 such concurrence ho re-eohoos tho judgment of every man who can ronder a reason. But the City Council decline to say a word. Surely on such a subject, which concerns tho health and comfort of so many thousands of pooplo who provide the sinews of war, some explanation is duo of the strange emitio course which has been followed. But, explanation or not, wo venture to predict that the Council will be compelled to mako another ohanuo, and to causo the water to bo convoyed pure and uncontaminatod from the springs to tho pump well, instead of adhering to this utterly unscientific and unsanitary (we might almost say insane) mode of exposure to sun, and dust, and vegetable giowth and decay, which the uncovered pond system establishes. Tho cost of laying cartlienwaro pipes from the spring to tho pumps, .wo have said would be a saving, as compared with tho cost of largo and expensive iron pipes, which would have boon necessary had the original plans been adhored to, and tho pumping-house been erected over the springs. No one can reasonably gainsay this. It is a patent fact. Some unreasonably and ignorantly profess to deny the fact. That there must bo a saving everyone knows who is aware of thogreat diJibroncointho prioo of tho pipes of metal, and those of burnt clay. Whore the saving may ultimately find itself, wo never pretended to say, whothor for tho Council or tho contractor. 73ut this wo know, that, had tho construction of this uuneeoHsary pond boon.postponod for a year, and had tho specifications been so drawn up as to allow of alterations on n basis of equitable dealing, something liko a couple of thousand pounds could have been s.i\ed to tho city by tho alteration of tho site of tho ongine-hoitso, and tho substitution of the clay pipes for tho costly iron ones. The Mayor yesterday told tho Council that he had an unpleasant task to perform in proposing an additional taxation on tho community in the shape of a wator rate. No rate is so pleasant, so profitable, so healthful in its results. No rato should be paid with groator Avillingncss, bocauso of tho immense advantages it produces in oloanliness, health, aye, and morals, too (for where physical" purity is impossible., tho mental artiole is also at a low ebb), than the water rate. But let ub have puro water ; froo from tho abominations which the exposed pond will cirjpndor and foster. Then tho performance of tho unpleasant duty of lovying a new tax will bo amply rewarded by tho blessings which will flow to tho community by tho inflow of pure water an,tl plenty of it. Such a reward cannot bo socurod by tho pond process now preparing for operation. The buttle of tho wator lias to bo fought out on the " direct" line, and it will bo so fought and won.

So, after a long delay, after much excite meat and hhiiideiing dogmas foumhd on bad law, the people and the IN ess ol \ ietona find that they cannot depoil the murdeier >Sm,mvan to tins Colony Tli»' (jiovornuiuiiL of Melbourne, and the. I Ness of that city were strongly disposed to wend the man back to thin Colony. \\ e. .ill along con tended that they uuild jiot do it lie whs liberated hen* and sent to Kngland, where ho \\.i- 1 , li y law, a fiee man lio went thence to Ihh old haiinls in Victoria, where, il rumour .spoke truly, he was not fiee liom einne, and .sonic ol its eonseifiieiK'Crf, long before Ins advent to Now Zealand, which yearn ago rang with the hloiyof hi.s cold-blooded muidci.s. (i run ting his being a convicted cruiiiual, if Victoria could dopoit him at all, it mint bo to the place whence he came, and that wan England. liut even if ho had wmio under tho law of Victoria, which \vo long ago asserted ho did not, for more chronological reasons, what would havj boon more unjust and preposterous than for Victoria, whence first came to tins colony one of its own convicted criminals, the participator in some half-score of nmrdciH here, should, because he had found his -way from England to Victoria, ho aent theuec to th.i colony, which had already suffered no much from this black spawn of Victorian crime ?

AclomIiiuj to thru own \m^ liio .lud^i -> ol Vi< toiia hive l)CL'ii (ihliLji'dtd m I l!u villain ■d IthoiLy. lie may t'onielo New Zf.il.unl : l>ut -we donoL I'l.uk he wll. Over (all (lie yoldliolds districts and lliwu^liout the wlioli 1 colony nonni' is nioio Lhonughly lriteil tlun is this cruel ,uul cow, inly murderer and rolibei, who sasud his <>\\r worthier life 1>\ " poiifhiiig" mi Ins f' duv/inunlciiMs \o, Siri,|,iVAN Will liol, CdliU) Lo Js'ow ZimI.-uiiI, ami j)urlia-i)9 ho Ivid !). tier ml.

Owing to nu accident lu-curin^ this morn in" just as wo woro •iliuut to m> to pi ess, tlie. publication of the Okoss was delayed for ,i ahoit time. Through the kindness of tho /fordid (to whom we aic obliged for lcpoits of proceedings of tlio (Jty Council, Acclimatisation Society, Police (Jonrl, &«; ) we aro onablod to prosont oir readers with the cunont news as usual. A New Zealand (Ur.cH> oxtraoidinary has been published^ eonfcaiaiig the proclamation summoning tho General Assembly for the despatch of business on Juno 13. Two women and .1 mai woro arrested for drunkenness \estciday. They will bo dealt witJi at the Police Court this morning. Tho Quarterly Licensing jCoui t i.s to be held in tho Wniuku <lia>riufc at noou on the (Jth.lnno, in the Court-nouse, Waiuku. At the moetiug of the City Council yohter<lay it waa rosolvcd to spend £200 in planting trees on aovcral streets in tho city. The planting season is now coining on, and it is to bo hoped tho Council will mako a good choice of trees, and plant them in a way which will be usoful as well as ornamental to the city. His Worship tho Mayor deservos considerable credit for obtaining funds to beautify and improve the sanitary condition of tho eifcy. Yesterday evening the members of the Samaiitau Lodge of Grtod Templars met iu the Young Men's Christian Association Rooms, for tho pur|joso <if holding their (quarterly meeting, and for elocting oflicers for tho ensuing quarter. Brother If. Waite, L. I)., was tho installing ollicer, assisted by Brother McKonzio, G.M., and S. Worms, G.W.S. The following oflieers were duly installed :— W.C.T., Brother T. H. Biggs ; W.V.T., Sister M. Keelor ; W.S., Brother .). C. DavHon, re-elected; W. F.S, Brother A. J. Mackey; W.T., Sister H. Macey, re-elected ; W.C., Brother Or. Purchase, le-elcutod; jW.M., lirothor W. Mudford ; \V.I.t!., Brother Bon. Roberts; Wl)f!. ; Brother Me f I wain ; W. A. S., Brother Maddox, W.J.M., Sister Berris ; R.U.S., Sister Bushcll ; L.H.S., Sister Woy mouth. Tho re-valuation of the city propeity for tho presont year has just beou completed. The valuation shows a total assessable value of £137,000, an increase of £12,000 on that of tho previous year. It is pleasing to notice tho continued increase in the value of city property, as it proves what we have, often asnortodthat the times are not so bad .is some croakers would tcy to make the public believe. Tho numbor of new building in course of erection show that the publn li we confidence in the future. On Thursday ovouimj lovers of fun will enjoy a treat at tho City Hall. On that occasion Mr. T. Young is to dclivor the celebrated lecture of Artomus Ward, entitled "Artoinus Ward among tho Mormons." This oration was first dolivored in the Egyptian Hall, London, and had an ovfcraordinary run there. It has since then been rodohvored by soveral public Ieoturer3 iu countries where thcro aro English, and on every occasion, even when tho lecturer possessed indifforont oratorical powara Artcmus Ward's loefcuro "took iminonao. " lint on the presont occasion it will bo deli vorcd by ono who will givo it fair justice in tho matter of delivery, and wo expect to see a good house on Thursday night. Tho usual sitting of the Waiuku H M. Court waa hold on Friday, before Captain Jackson, R.M., and W. J. Harris, Esq., justices. M. Clarko, on a charge of lunacy, was remitted to Auckland for medical examination. -Kapiti, (dim " Princo Edward," was aw.uded a month in Mount Eden, with hard l.ibour, for a broach of tho Vagi ant Act. Tlio complainant in this case was lion Tauroa, a native assessor. — A few unimportant debt cases were quickly disposed of. — [Own correspondent.] The floral ileoorations at tho Choral Hall on tho oi i asion of the Citizens' Ball to 1 1 is lixcelieney tlio Governor and olllccrs of II. \I. ships iu harbour, woro carried out under tiie direction of Messrs. Mason Brothers. The decorations wero the tliome of general praise, and it is but right to give the credit to those who deserve it. State of Her Majesty's Gaol, at Auckland for the week ending April 2!) : — On remand, 0 ; awaiting trial, 4 males ; penal servitude, 42 males ; hard labour, 88 males, 27 females ; imprisonment, 2 females ; default of bail, 3 males, 1 female ; debtors, 0 ; received during tho wook, 14 males, Ofcmalcs ; discharged, 20 males, 7 female-) ; total in gaol, 137 males, 30 females. A meeting of tho Vivo tirigado was hold last night for lioso, ongino, and hook and ladder drill. There was a good attendance, and tho various evolutions woro performed with satisfaction to •Superintendent Hughes. After tJ^o practico was finished, Mr. Hughes informed tlio members presont that Mr. J. P. Piorco, manager of the New Zealand Insurance Company, had presented tho brigade with two valuable books, vi/., " Young on Fire Engine^ &a," and "Braid wood on frfj'iro Prevention." Mr Hughes said tho books should bo road by ovory member of tho hrigado, as they contained most valuable information. Return of sick treated at the Provincial Hospital for tho weok ending Saturday, April 2i) : Uomaincd last return, 91 ; admitted since, 9; discharged, 9; died, 2; remaining, 89; maloa 78, tomtvlos 11, Arrangement of cases : Zymotic, 15; constitutional, 10 ; local, 4 1 ; developmental, fi ; , violent, 1 8. — Two doaths occurred during the week, vi/,., 1st, D.H., male, aged 20 years, on April 23, of rupture of intestine and poritonitiu; 2nd, M. J. I., fomale, aged 23 yearn, on April 2!), of typhoid fevor. — Thanks aro returnod to Mrs. Cioodall and Mrs. Sadleir for parcels of old liuon. — N. B. : Old linen much needed. Tho Tliunu'H Adivrtirtcr of yesterday contains tho following : "As a further confirmation of what wo have already published regarding tho disappointment which prevails amongst tlioso who left the Th.unc.-i to souk their fortunes on tho J 'aimer goldfields, wo publish tho following telegram which was received by Mr. Douglas Kent, of the Thames, from his brotllor, Henry Kent, dated Charters Towors, April 28, 187(>: 'Jtush to Palmor no good. Great disturbances. Make public.'" Tho probability that Sir Goorgo Groy may Hurronctor tho representation of tho Thames in Parliament being now looked upon as almost a certainty, many of x our follow-oiti-/ciiH, who tako a keen interest in election matters, aro casting their eyes around for his probable successor. Amongst those whose names wo have heard mentioned a-i probable candidates aro Mr. J. E. Macdoiiald, .Mayor of the Hmoiigh ; Mr. .lamci Mack.iy, mi ii I Mi. J. M. Dargavillo. It i.s probable t!iat tliero will bo other candidates when tho proper time ariives, but nothing will bo known with certainty until the mooting of P.ti lament, for oven it Sir George Groytowas definitely nt.ite Ins intention of sitting for (fity WoHt, no writ for a now election oould itiHiie until mioh time as tho Spoaker of the House i,s appointed.-'- TIiudu'm Advn'lhcr. Mr. W. V. Stevens writes to tho Olac/n IJni/i/ Thin'*, proposing himsolf to raise Cf>00,000 in Enidund to cut a canal to tho ocean of about tv mile in length, at tlio southern extremity of tho harbour, for steamers of tho largest class. Ho adds: — " K the Harbour Uoard and our worthy Superintendent think well of tho plan, 1 would l>o happy to moot them on the subject. Being an old London stockbroker, I could get tho capital subscribed on tlio Stock Kxchange. This plan carried out would mako Duucdin tho finest city iu Now Zoaland, and steamers going South would navo many hours' steaming."

Lilolya jHinil ni.uiy changes have taken place in tin* m,in:i^' i iM< > iit ol the city hotcK To-d.t^ S ,ll|\ c'l tliCllU'llts lll.lkc klldWIl to tllC public another clruige. The Anchor Jlotel, at the enhance to tlic Mai tyet- house, lias now conic into t'ao possession of Mr. II. ('. I'i. liuioiul, nn old liand at catering for the public. Mr. Richmond Iris liccn well known ,i! Thames lor >uvoi.il years past, and previous to that lie was in the same line of business jn Otago. Thus, possessing loni» oxpciienec in pio\idiug for the wants ol colonial society, combined \tith an agi cable manner, the ciiaracter of the Auclior Hotel is not likely to sullor in tho hinds of Mi. I'ichmond. Muinbcis of tho Acclimatisation .Society m.iy bo gl.id to learn that thoir socrctaiy, Mi. < ihccsomaii, has now a <|uantity of seeds ol \,ihublo Indian and American trees whii'h ho will bo happy to diatributo among them on application. The Nclnon Koeiihm Mud thinks that the fJovcininont will soon have to allow that they have done an exceedingly foolish thing in Hclectuiy Cable Bay as their head station in •connection with tho cable, inatead of bringing it to Nelson and having tho .stall" there. A visitor to tho station thus describes last Sunday night thero : — " We had a very stormy tune. Tho waves washed completely over the namlspit on which thu hut stands, and the floor of tho ollieo was flooded. Several times there were two or three feet of water outside tho door, ami tho wet dio\c into tho liou.se millions of a kind of beetle that runs about on tho Hands, and the walls were black with them. Wo were fail ly driven out of our beds. I don't think the hut and cable house are safe, and believe that .some night they will be missing." Opthabma has boon exceedingly prevalent for Homo tune past in South Australia. Jn some of the inland districts few have escaped an attack of this painful disease. A claim of two acres, out of which C^.'lOO worth of gold had been extracted, has just been Hold at Bannoekburn, Otago, for £.">10. Tho Johnsonville (lluo Factory in tho Province of \\ clliugton has been sold for £'270, and the purchaser has since refused ClOO on hia bargain. When tho railway works in hand arc completed, tho North Island will have '.fib Mules aud tho South Island (ilO miles. It is alloged that galena oro has been discovered in a tributary of Jackson's River. Mr. Wallace, of Whangara, Poverty Hay District, has disposed of his run- consisting of L'j.OOO acres leasehold, \'l years uno\.pired, with 7,000 sheep — to Mr. Se>inoiii, an Australian capitalist, for the sum ot £0,000. \\ lieu the news was first sent to Austiaha about the mishap to tho 11.M.B. 'Colinu,' we learn from an Australian contcmpoi ary that it was stated that vessel had been l wrecked on the New Zealand Coast. The following correction of tho first intelligence appeals in the following telegram 111 tho Smith Aii^Kilidii Adra liner of tho (ith instant.-' Sidney, Apnl ."». Messrs. (id clnist, Watt and Co. luueiceeiveda telcgiam .stating that the K M.h. 'Colima' has been got oil and towed into port safely. She was unablo to enter Diincdin Harbour owing to the sea on the bar being too tough, so she bore away for Lyttelton, when all tho blados of her piopeller bioke. The rumour as to her loss is unfounded. " Groytown, a Wellington village, according to the Wtilrarapa Standard, is alike celc brated for line loe.tl boards and splendid potatoes. \ settlor this yjason i3 clearing about twenty tons of the latter off ono town ttcio. We weighed a sample potato of this crop, and found that it amounted to exactly throe pounds. At the Dover County Court (saya an Eugliuli paper) a furniture dealer claimed £5 I Ma. for the hire of a sofa which ho admitted was not worth £1. The judgo said the system pursued by tho plaintiff was most ruinous and scandalous, but gave a verdict forplaintiir for the sum claimed, payablo by monthly instalments of Is. Under this decision it will take nearly 10 years to clear off the debt.

To-day Mossis. Couhrauu aio to .sell by auction a .select library of about 500 volumes. Many of the bonks aio now. Tho Town (Jlcrk publishes in our advertising columns a notice respecting carters, which it would bo to tlioir interest to givo .ittunfion to. A t'.iH of nixpoiico per share has been made iu tho Mlack Reef (joldiuiniiig (!otnpany, payable on or before tho 10th instant. Throughout tho winter months Mr. W. llattr.iy is to close his shop, except on •Saturdays, at half-past 5 o'clock, so that his assistants may enjoy a little more freedom than at present. This is a practice which ho has observed for several seasons, and it is to be hoped that other business places will follow so good an example.