Hawke's Bay Hearld SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1867.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 900, 14 December 1867, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Hearld SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1867.

The extreme heat of the weather I within the past few days has forced j two subjects upon the attention of Napier residents. There is nothing I uew iv what we are going to say — the same idea having been suggested every season for several years back, and been given utterance to in these columns. Like the question of the Wellington j debt, which a stern sense of duty prompted us to bring before our readers time after time, we fear that the I matters to which we vow refer may be classed among those things which have become a " bore." Nevertheless, we again bring them before the notice of the public, confident that, some day, j the value of our suggestions will be appreciated. And, first, we would remind our readers that another summer has come round without anything, having been done in the matter of public swimming baths. Some time ago, we believe, Mr. Weber reported upon the practicability of constructing swimming baths on a portion of the lagoon. Soon after a public meeting was held, and influentially attended. Resolutions were passed ; but, from that moment to this, we have not heard of anything having been done. The apathy shown in this matter is very singular, seeing that, apart from sanitary reasons, there is probably no more pleasurable sensation than that attending a plunge bath and swimming exercise. Second — are the swamps which occupy almost the centre of Napier for ever to remain there, polluting the atmosphere around, and sowing the seeds of future disease and . death ? There has been some talk pf a Bill being initiated in the General Assembly to provide for the compulsory takiug of these swamp sections, with the view of their being filled up at the public expense and on public account. But the evil might, we think, be more easily remedied. Let the owners of these sections be indicted for a nuisance should they refuse, upon due requisition, to abate the same by filling up their sections. These men, in buying acre lots at £5 each, accepted the responsibilities, as well as advantages, of their purchase • aud should not be allowed to poison their neighbours by permitting their properties to remain iv a state of nature. Unfortunately, we are met at the outset by the fact of most of the proprietors being absentees. This absenteeism, by the way, has hitherto been the curse of New Zealand towns. We are persuaded, however that the local government, if they would only take the trouble, would quickly devise means of meeting the difficulty, in which we have reason to believe they would be assisted by legislation during last sitting of the Assembly.