The Lyttelton Times

Lyttelton Times, Volume III, Issue 147, 29 October 1853, Page 6

The Lyttelton Times

October 29th, 1853

The question of municipal institutions for the town of Lyttelton engaged the attention of the Colonists' Society at their last meeting. The necessity which exists for having an efficient and organized b^dy to look after and manage local affairs, such as repairing the streets, sewerage, and many similar things, was universally admitted. The question was, how, and in what manner, this could be effected, so as to combine efficiency with the least expense. There can be little doubt but that the Society came to a sound conclusion in deciding that from existing circumstances, such institutions were hardly possible. We are now living under a representative form of Government,wliich necessarily entails additional expenditure, and already objections are being made to the increase which is likely to

be thus entailed on the Province. We have, indeed, been informed by high authority that the revenues of the Province will be but sufficient to carry on the ordinary duties of Government, and that there will be no available surplus to meet the pressing requirements of increased and more effective intercommunication between the towns. It was felt that we were neither numerous enough nor rich enough to incur the additional local taxation which municipal institutions would unavoidably create, and fears were therefore expressed that, however desirable in the abstract, they could not be obtained save at an expense to the town such as its inhabitants would demur to. In consequence, the attention of the Society was directed to the fact that there was a large and available source of labour which for want of efficient, organization was lost to the public—we mean, the serj'ices of those sentenced to imprisonment and hard labour.

Since the foundation of the settlement, hardly a vessel has arrived from England without some half dozen of their crews being brought before the Bench and sentenced to imprisonment. It is foreign to our purpose to enquire why this is so. The fact stands established that, for some reason or other, good, bad, or indifferent, (most probably none at all) Jack likes to take a spell in jail. He lands and sees several brother Salts walking about with their hands in their pockets, with a sleepy policeman in attendance, armed with a formidable looking musket. These gentlemen are supposed to be working on the roads, from the fact of a pickaxe or two and a wheelbarrow being seen in their vicinity. Charmed with the tranquil enjoyment he witnesses, so opposite to the routine of work on board ship, a sudden fit seizes Jack that he should! like to be a participator therein, and straightway himself and a few other comrades so manage matters on board ship that they are brought before the Resident, Magistrate, when the object of their wishes is accomplished, and they get " three months." This has been going on for upwards of two years, and as the expense of their keep is chargeable on the Province, it is very desirable that something should be got in exchange. With, this large amount of labour thus at hand, it is disheartening to contemplate how little it has been appreciated and applied. Lyttelton ought to present the appearance of a model town, instead of being in precisely the same state, as regards the streets and footways, as when the first immigrants landed. The Colonists' Society have appointed a Committee to draw up a petition for presentation to the Superintendent, calling his Honor's attention to these facts with tlf& view to their being considered. His Honor's attention has also been directed to the inadequacy of the pay of _the Police. We learn that the entire Force now consists of one Private who has the day and night duty of the town to attend to ; one Corporal to look after the one Private; and one Inspector to direct the one Corporal. The consequence of this state of things is that the Prisoners, instead of being e.mploj'ed' about the town, are confined to the Jail from the want of Policemen to guard them when at work ; and no Policemen can be got owing to the low scale of remuneration. We think it desirable that an addition should be made to the Force, and that their pay should be augmented. Some system should, however, be adopted, so that prisoners instead o(_. as at present, merely leaving the jail to takean "airing," should be made to work. Unless this be done, we shall continue to have successional arrivals of seamen to enjoy the freedom aud immunity from labour which characterizes the jail of Lyttelton, and has tended to make it one of the most pleasant retreats in New Zealand.