The New Zealand Herald. AUCKLAND, THURSDAY, OCT. 13, 1864.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 287, 13 October 1864, Page 4

The New Zealand Herald.

AUCKLAND, THURSDAY, OCT. 13, 1864.

BPECTEMUB AGENDO. Give every man thin© oar, but few thy "voice: Take each man's censure, but reserve thy judgment. This above all, —To thine ownself he true; And it must follow, as tho night tho day, Thou canst not thon he falso to any man."

To take up our pen in support of the Wliitakcr Ministry with a view of defending their conduct iti the eyes of the people of Auckland, seems almost a work of supererogation, and yet we cannot allow the accusation made in his Excellency's journal, tho New Zcalandcr, to pass unnoticed. On the great subject of the war question, which overshadows all others, tho people of this Province are at one with the Ministry. We need not point out to Auckland readers that the assertion that " the interests of Ministers point one way, the interests of Auckland point another way," is a gross and unjustifiable slander—but it may be worth while to enquire whether the Ministry have not acted with tact and judgment iu recommending that the coining session of the General Assembly should be held in Wellington rather than iu Auckland.

We need not point out to our readers the great grievance which tho long journey and residence at a distance from their homes occasioned bj' assembling in Auckland has ever been to the members of the Middle Island. They have felt most deeply and bitterly upon this point, far more so, indeed, than we have ever thought the inconvenience warranted, but yet the feeling exists. It underlay the whole current of the debate 011 thcliemoval of the Seat of Government during the last session, and cropped out on man}' an occasion besides. It caused a feeling of jealousy and irritability in the minds of Middle Island men, against w hat they deemed the pretensions of this Province, and this feeling is just one which the best interests of Auckland demand that we should, as much as possible, avoid bringing into play at tho present time. There will, of course, be 110 one in Auckland who would not gladly sec the Parliament of JN'ew Zealand held in that eity, but there are many, and those, we suppose, who have recommended this step among the number, who consider that the gratification and convenience which would result to the people of Auckland, and to themselves otlicially, from its being held here, would be too dearly purchased at the price of Southern jealousy, and the raking up of the embers of party spirit, at a time when all shoxild be unanimous. To this cause, then, wo trace the motive of the Ministry in recommending Wellington as the place where the coming session shall be held.

As we have said, Auckland lias much to look for at the hands of Southern men. To Auckland the carrying out of the war policy of 1803 is a matter of the utmost, indeed of vital importance, and already every engine has been set at work by the peaee-at-any-price party in Auckland to raise up a feeling of jealous}' and antagonism in the minds of Southern members towards this province. It was clearly for this purpose that Dr. Pollen called for a committee to investigate all matters connected with the sale of IS'garuawaliia by the General Government, the object being to give to the members of our Provincial Legislature the character of desiring to retain in their own hand lands which have been acquired by General Government expenditure, and which are the only means the Colony has found whence it may, wholly or in part, recover the very heavy burden to be borne by 2s orth and South alike, but expended only in the North. To set the Assembly and this Province together by the ears has been for a long time the policy of the peaee-at-any-priee party amongst us, and it behoves the people of Auckland warily to refuse to step into the pitfalls which are irom time to time prepared for them.

The sale of Ngaruawahia was not made according to the Cardwell instructions. What of that! It was confiscated according to the enactments of our own legislature, and that should be, and, indeed, was sufficient for the Governor. Sir George Grey must have looked at the matter in that light when, he signed the ivarrant authorising the Government to sell this land. He must still look at the matter in that light when he is prepared to finish the work which has been commenced and is ready to sign the several deeds of con veyance. The attempt to raise debates upon Native matters in the Pro vincial Council was a inost ill-advised proceeding. Dr. Pollen has other channels by which he can express his idol worship of Sir George Grey, and his personal dislike of the members of the present M inistry, than by making the Provincial Council of Auckland the arena for the debate of the Native question. There can be little doubt that no further movement will be recommended by the Committee, but the two members of the anti-Aueklnnd part}' who hold seats in the Council have done all they intended should be done in the matter, they have {jiven to the Province the look of appearing selfish and greedy towards the rest of New Zealand, and themselves an opportunity of saying spiteful though untrue things of their political opponents.

That the Ministry would gladly see the Assembly summoned to meet in Auckland, if such a thing could be done consistently with pledges already given, and with due considerations 'ol courtesy to Southern members, we have little doubt. They have no cause to dread meeting the Assembly in any place, and certainly not in Auckland, where papers and documents could be immediately forthcoming which would place some little matters in a very different light to that in which some see them now. Should the Assembly meet out of Auckland, the Ministry will be seriously inconvenienced. One of their number must remain in Auckland to carry on the business of the Government, and not only will his vote and support be lost in the House, but serious inconvenience may be occasioned to his colleagues by their inability to consult him on any particular detail of his special department, a knowledge of which may be required to rebut accusation or support argument. Clearly it cannot be that the Ministry are consulting their own interests ax a Afinixtry in recommending any other place of meeting' than Auckland, and it is, therefore, but reasonable to suppose that they have higher interests in view in doing so, those of the Colony at large.

What reason, indeed, is there that the Ministry should fear to meet the Assembly in Auckland—that they should fear to meet it all ? What indeed has brought about the necessity of this hasty summoning of the Assembly now, but the very fact that the Ministry persisted faithfully and strenuously to carry out the trust which that Assembly had couhded to them. The very fact of their being in the position they now are of antagonism with Sir George Grey shows that they have done their duty to the Assembly and the country, and that 1,1103* have nothing to fear 111 meeting'either the one or the other lace to face. The Assembly laid down their policy clearly aud distinctly, in the two Acts known as the " Confiscation" and the " Suppression of " Acts, and Sir George Grey, though he agreed thoroughly with both ut that time, has since swerved from his straight line of duty and his pledges, and is prepared to nullify either one or both. He will neither insist ou the disarmament of the rebels—nor will he confiscate their lands according to the spirit of the Act. The sites for the location of the Waikato settlers were wrung, positively wrung from

liira like drops of blood, by tlie firmness and determination of the Ministry who stood at bay in the gap between the Colony and Sir George Grey, who was doing his best to bring ruin politically and commercially upon it, and to leave an inheritance to us, after his departure, of bloodshed and x'apino and murder, and one of utter extermination to the Maori race, for whose welfare, socially and politically, he cares as little as he does for our own. It has been on no matter of personal feeling or pique that the Ministry have resigned. It was because Sir George Grey, from whom a reluctant consent to carry, out a portion of the policy had been wrung, refused any longer to yield, and obstinately determined to ignore the policy of the Assembly in carrying out military settlements, or confiscating rebel laud, for the future protection of the country. He virtually did this when, as we understand, he absolutely refused to agree to the confiscation of any further portion of the AVaikato, than that already located. The Ministers come now to the Assembly to give that body an opportunity of determining that its policy s/iall not be ignored—they come as men who have honest!}' stood in defence of the charge entrusted to them as long and as persistently as men can do, but who when overwhelmed by superior force could no longer stand their ground ; and it is not likely therefore, that they will receive other than a due acknowledgement of the service they have performed. It is scarcely Likely that the Assembly will, like tho Governor, stultify itself, and revoke to-day the dictum it laid down as law the day before—nor is it likely it will be content with measures that would most certainly entail the suppression of another and as costly a rebellion some two or three years hence, perhaps sooner. What indeed would be the value of a peace made with rebels who should be allowed, as Sir George Grey would allow them, to retain possession of their arms?

Tjik short discussion in the Council Chamber on the introduction of a Bill lor supplying Auckland with water, was on the whole satisfactory. The members who took part in it generally bore testimony to the remarkably able report of II r. H. Wrigg oil that subject. One or two gentlemen certainly made a few slight objections. One member opposed the measure because in his view we should not have a shilling left for other public works, if £45,000 were voted for the proposed water works. For the credit of the Council no member seconded tlie opposition. Another member at u later portion of the discussion, followed somewhat in the same strain however. They were both equally and very greatly in error. The supply of water to the City of Auckland is in no sense a question as to funds. It is a question, as the Provincial Treasurer put it, of life and death. And those who would oppose the supply of water to the City, would by so doing condemn its inhabitants to a very large amount of sickness and death. JJesides the question of expense in connexion with water works, is one that must be looked at, not as so much capital sunk without any certain return being immediately obtained from that expenditure. Directly water is brought and supplied to the City of Auckland, money will at once be obtained both to bear the current expenditure for supplying the water, and also to pay good interest, and a portion of the principal of the expenditure. This is clearly shown in the singularly able and comprehensive report of Mr. Wrigg and the experience of English towns fully bears out this view. The City of Manchester spent a very large amount of money in bringing water from some fifteen to twenty miles for the siqqily of its inhabitants. The annual income from consumers of the water Says interest on first cost, the animal expeniture for distributing the water, and a handsome profit, which goes into the coffers of the Corporation, and tends to reduce taxation. The Corporation of Liverpool spent a million and a half in obtaining an abundant supply of water, by means of gravitation, and the benelicial effects, in a sanitary point of view, have been immense. We are glad, therefore, to perceive there is such a hearty desire to supply us with good, wholesome, pure, cool water, in great abundance, at a very trifling cost. We must here just alludo to what is acknowledged to be one most valuable feature iu Mr. Wrigg's recommendation. The water brought from the Waitakerei will flow from such an elevation that it will, by simple pressure, be easily thrown in immense volumes over the highest building that is over likely to be erected in the highest parts of Auckland and its numerous suburbs. Fire engines will become a thing of the past; extinct as the Moa that once inhabited the colony. The service pipes will carry the water through every street, and all that will be required to use it for extinguishing lires will be to fasten a hose with a proper nozzle to the taps at various distances in the streets, and, when the tap is turned, the volume of water will rush out with veiy great force by the effect of pressure, and siiiij)ly require guiding to any particular spot where it is required. We need say no more to show the very great importance of carrying out a scheme that will secure us this immense advantage with the least possible delay. The comparative security that an abundant supply of water for extinguishing tires at any hour of the day and night will give us, by the simple task of affixing a hose and turning a tap, is worth the expenditure of the whole money proposed to be spent 011 this water supply, putting 011 one side altogether the large quantities that are most, absolutely required for domestic and sanitary purposes.

Willi respect to these latter it would be a waste of words to s«3* anything in their advocacy. The rate of mortality among us has been equal to that in cholera-stricken cities. We pay emigration agents to send us immigrants, we give the latter virtually a free passage, and when we have thus spent, say, twenty-live pounds oil each adult, immigrant, we bring him to a city utterly devoid of cither a proper supplj r of pure water, or of any decent sanitary regulations. We bring liiin to a place in which his health is very likely to suffer, and, perhaps, thoroughly break down, and our expenditure upon him, in such eases, is virtually so much money lost. The careful protection of the public health is an important part of the duty of our public men. And there can be no better means of securing that protection than in providing an abundant supply of pure, wholesome water, and of a thorough system of sewerage, and ->ther works of a sanitary character.

There is, therefore, very groat necessity for pushing on these water-works with all the speed possible. This was allowed by the speakers generally, and by the Provincial Treasurer. Put we cannot see that the Executive aud the Engiueer-iti-Chief huve shewn any great anxiety about the matter, during the time which has intervened since the presentation of Mr. Wring's report, and the meeting of the Council. That report is dated July the Ist. It appears to have been put 011 one side for an entire month, it having been referred to Mr. Weaver on August the Ist. .Now, considering the immense importance of that, report, it ought to have been in Mr. "Weaver's hands in a couple of days at least. The ftngitieer-in-Chicf cannot be accused of detaining it long, for he returns it on the fourth of August, with his opinion upon it. From the time it was in his possession it is manifest that, allowing time for any other duties lie had to perform, lie could 'only just read the report and the mere glancing over it showed him that it could not be much improved upon. Jt is true, he .says, some of the details may, in his opinion, be improved, but that is onl} r what might naturally have been expected. Mr. Weaver then endorses Mr. Wrigg's opinion that the formation of a road to the site of the works, will be a very desirable work to commence with, but that a careful survey should be made in the first instance. Now, by a comparison of dates,

no tiling was conchidcd in reference to this survey being done till until the 16th of September, more than two months after the date of the report, and six weeks after the date ot Mr. "Weaver's notification of his of Mr. Wrigg's scheme. And as the specifications and estimates required caunot be prepared till the survey and sections arc completed, we submit there has been a very great loss ot very valuable lime, which, considering the large amount ot engineering labour the Province pays for, ought not to have been lost. A year and a half is put down as the tune when the works will be completed. This will be prolonged if, from neglect, the works are to be constantly delayed tor a month or two at a time. And we must bear in mind that with a very largely increasing population, two more summers must pass over our head before we have wafer supplied us by this scheme, according to present calculations. But we submit that we ought and might have this supply in very little more than tnche months from now, were there proper energy and business-like ability shown by those who are to have charge of the works. iiut this will not be the ca'c it a month now and another in course of a little time is to be spent in referring documents from one governmental officer to jNeithei will it be the ease unless every portion ol the work Uiat can he put in hand at once is done so. Mr. Wrigj;. for instance, recommends the formation of a road, along which the pipes are to be laid. That road should not be let out and made iu dribblets of a few yards each. A suthcient number of men should be put upon it to secure its completion at the earliest possible moment. It takes no more money to pay six men each one day's wage for a day's work, than it takes to pay one man for six days' work, but we get the work done in one day, which we should otherwise only have done in six days. ,llie recommendation to bring the pipes along the road ought most certainly to be adopted. There can be little doubt, but- that fractures and leakages will occur at times in the pipes, and if such be the case and they arc brought through private preport}-, considerable amounts may have to be paid for compensation. Again, the disastrous accidents that have occurred -at Sheffield and many other places through want ot skill and j knowledge in the engineers charged with the construction of waterworks, ought to teach us to be most careful to see that the highest skill, find the best practical experiences brought to bear upon the construction ol our water-works. Indeed, this branch of engineering is almost confincd in England to a few first-class men, who have made it their spccial study. Mr. Wrigg appears to be one of that class. There is another topic we will just allude to, and that is respecting the pipes. These pipes ought to be ordered, if they have not been so alreadv. at once. iN T ot a day's delay ought to be allowed. Of the importance of the recommendation in the report' that they should be coated with Dr. Smith's patent process and composition there can be but one opinion amongst those who understand that process, and the very great benefit it secures iu providing that the water is delivered from the pipes without any admixture through oxydisatiou in its passage, and is in fact as pure and sparkling when drawn from the tap as when it leaves the reservoir. This is a matter of very great importance, and as it can be easily secured when the pipes are manufactured we ought to have the benefit of it. We need not say that it is of the highest importance that these pipes should be of the soundest and best character, and be made by some first-class firm.

The experience and knowledge of Mr. A\rigg. who lias not very long left England, will no doubt be availed of by the Superintendent in this respect, and also for the purpose of securing the speed}' and satisfactory completion of the works during his term of office, and at the very earliest possible dale. His Honor will thus have one great public work performed during his Superintendency, which will last long after he and we have passed away, and will be of incalculable blessing to thousands of his fellowcreatures both in. the present and in future ages.