The Evening Star SATURDAY, APRIL 28, 1877.

Evening Star, Issue 4419, 28 April 1877, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, APRIL 28, 1877.

Although division of labor is generally supposed to facilitate and perfect business operations, there are occasional exceptions to its advantages when the principle is applied to civic affairs. Nothing can be plainer than that to the Corporation are intrusted very important duties in connection with the business affecting the general welfare of the public ; but not of less consequence are the responsibilities of the Harbor Board. These two departments of civic government should therefore work harmoniously towards the common object of forwarding the material prosperity and sanitary condition of the population of the district. It is to be regretted that on this point the Corporation display a petty jealousy, marked by presumption, recklessness, and ignorance that renders it matter for rejoicing that there is a more enlightened body than themselves to prevent their doing mischief—the more dangerous, because only known to the few who make themselves masters of principles and facts connected with sanitary engineering. The Harbor Board, to whom is entrusted the conservation of the Harbor—included in which term is preserving its waters from contamination calculated to act detrimentally on the public health—do not absolutely oppose all drainage into the Bay, hnt vary properly lay down as a condition that, no solid matter shall be emptied into it. This very necessary sanitary arrangement is objected to by the Corporation, some of the members of which in a very high and mighty mood, claim to be the proper protectors of the people’s health, and resent the action of the Harbor Board, as if it were an impertinent encroachment upon their privilege. The llttle-minded-nesa of the men |who thus magnify the importance of their office, might be

passed over with a smile, were they akme uitorcsfced ; but when it is considered that itjia a question of life or death to unknown and unborn thousands, of health or disease to those that are, and thousands that are to come, such flippancy ought not to be tolerated. Every competent engineer represents the discharge of indiscriminate sewage into the harbor as fraught with danger, and in this they are borne out by the highest medical testimony both here and at Home. Fot- only do their opinions coincide, but experience at Home confirms them. It may he perfectly true that ho danger would result to Dune’rt * or a few years to come, although this can only be a question of degree ; but the Harbor Board has wider functions than preserving the shore immediately bordering on Dunedin from pollution. Its duties extend to the whole length of the Harbor, and are equally onerous, so far as the smallest village or hamlet is concerned, as concerning Duuedin itself. It is a mere matter of calculation whether the sewage matter can be taken out to sea by tidal action, and it is proved beyond all question that it cannot. Therefore it must be deposited somewhere within the Bay; therefore some district must suffer, and through its pollution the whole area washed by the Harbor waters is placed in danger. The Corporation must swallow its pride and submit its localised functions to the wider responsibilities of the Harbor Board. The latter has generally met all reasonable demands of the Corporation in a liberal spirit, and in this instance has shown no disposition to throw unnecessary impediments m the way of City drainage; but has only laid down a condition so reasonable that one would have supposed it would have formed one part of the City Council's scheme. That it is objected to by some of the Councillors only proves bow little they are to be trusted with matters beyond pounds, shillings, and pence. The inhabitants of Dunedin, Port Chalmers, and the villages that stud both sides of the bay are deeply indebted to the Harbor Board for the intelligent stand made by them.