New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4883, 15 November 1876, Page 2

New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15.

The question of an adequate water supply for towns is one of vital importance, both in a sanitary and utilitarian point of view. So fully is this fact recognised, that we need only mention it, and in doing so we are convinced we are but expressing the views of every right-minded person of the community. In the East, arid especially in Asia Minor, which, ac-i cording to the . orthodox opinion, we will call “ the Cradle of the Human Race,’’ the greatest attention has been paid, from the remotest ages, to the possession of wells, springs, and water courses. These treasures were guarded by their possessors with the greatest jealousy, and any infringement of their rights in reference thereto, or .'wanton destruction thereof, was held to be an offence of the most heinous character,, and . was.visited with speedy and condign punishment upon the offender. -The Sacred Writings which, according to moat Christians, are the earliest authentic history, fully'attest the remarks we have already made. Lot, when making his choice, looked oyer the plains of Sodoin,; and saw that they were well watered. And . although his unpardonable greed led him into subsequent difficulties, which his less; selfish uncle escaped, yet he acted; in accordance with a recognised necessity, namely, the posH session of an abundant/supply 6f ! "pure.: water, Asia Minor, . though boasting 'of some mighty rivers, : was but scantily supplied with that all essential element of

life, throughout vast areas of surface. ] To come down to what, perhaps in point, may be of later date —There are in Spain the remains of gigantic aqueducts, extending for many_ miles oyer ; mountains and deep ravines, which ; clearly show the efforts made by that people to secure a supply of water, which, though abundant in the rivers, was, from the peculiar nature of the country,, frequently inaccessible. It is impossible to fix the date of these stupendous works with any degree of accuracy. In the New World also the ancient capital of Mexico was provided with . aqueducts which at once put to shame the arrangements of most modern towns and prove the enlightenment and engineering skill of its inhabitants. These were destroyed by the ruthless invaders when the thirst for gold had reduced the more modern Spaniard into a mere beastof prey. In more recent times the rapid growth of many of the great cities, and the consequent increase in the consumption of water, have put the authorities to their wits’ end to keep the supply equal to the demand. The contamination of rivers by the dense population located upon their banks and the refuse of manufactures poured into them has tended not a little to increase this difficulty. In London the contamination of the Thames led to the formation of companies to obtain a supply from that river above the sources of contamination. But these enterprises were only partially successful so far as purity is concerned. The next point of consideration is the purity of the water which . constitutes the supply: Nearly all waters are more or less impure; these impurities consist of either organic or inorganic substances held in solution. Those waters obtained from the surface, when they come from rich alluvial soils covered with a dank and' luxuriant vegetation, are necessarily surcharged with vegetable matter ; those which percolate through cultivated fields richly manured partake of the substances of those manures, whether animal or vegetable. Those which run over barren or rocky surfaces are most free from the deleterious substances referred to, and consequently the purest of all surface waters. Spring waters, again, are for the most part free from organic impurities, but are more or less permeated with mineral substances. So much so that it is a rare thing to get spring water entirely free from them. These waters partake of the minerals contained in the rocks through which they pass, and are to a greater or less extent hard. The water brought from the chalk deposits for the supply of London attains a degree of hardness amounting to 18°, occasioned by the chalk held in solution. It is estimated that at least 50 tons of chalk pass into London daily by this means. Water which passes through rocks containing few minerals is comparatively pure. Wo have been induced to take up this subject by the very natural anxiety which prevails about our own water supply. That there is sufficient ground, if not for alarm, at least to lead the thoughtful to consider, none can deny. That our supply is inadequate to the demand, or at least is likely to run short, is not denied. We do not know that our civic authorities are altogether to blame for this state of things. The growth of the city has been rapid, and the demand upon the water supply increased more rapidly than was anticipated. But while this much may be said in their favor, much cannot be said for their foresight, or their ability to gauge the growing requirements of the city. They have gone on supposing that a supply, never too large for Wellington as it was, would be equal to the demands of the city when grown to three times its original dimensions. The works now about to be undertaken should, we think, have been commenced at least two years ago. One need only pay a visit to the waterworks to see how utterly inadequate they are for such a city as Wellington during a period of drought. One is also surprised to see a stream of pure water, of more than twice the volume of that which supplies the reservoir, flowing past the base of the works and allowed to run to waste. This stream taken from its course by a trench at a sufficient elevation and led into the reservoir would at once place the water supply beyond the possibility of failure. An intelligent person, visiting the locality of the works, will be struck with the fact that the site is well chosen, both as to elevation and the character of the rocks and surface soil. The sides of the hills in the immediate vicinity are for the most part barren, and therooks almost destitute of minerals, especially of lime. These things combine to give us a water, which, for softness and purity, is probably equal to any in the Australasian colonies. All we want is to draw our supplies from more than one source and to increase our storage accommodation. We may .remark in passing, that Wellington is not the only city in this hemisphere that has had to grapple with the water difficulties. Two years ago fears were entertained in Melbourne that the supply from the Yan-Yean would give out entirely, • and it was found necessary to enlarge the reservoirs and improve the general efficiency of their arrangements. Launceston, across the Strait, is but poorly supplied, although two splendid rivers flow past its doors. Hobarton has but recently overcome the difficulty, and at enormous cost.

An admirable opportunity for conferring a public benefit; of a most important character on the . citizens will soon be at the disposal of the City Council. The various leases oh the Town Belt will fall in, and we might suggest that the Council should reserve a block at Mount Victoria, accessible from Majoribanks and Pirie streets, for the purpose of forming a public garden, which would be much appreciated by the large population at the Te Aro end of the town, who are now practically deprived of anything of the kind. Wellington is at present very insufficiently, in fact practically is not at all, supplied with places of public recreation places easily accessible wherein on holidays societies and the like might hold picnics, or which families, might visit. The distance, . and it may be said 'inaccessibility, of. the Botanical; Gardens, renders them; useless for these purposes, and moreover they are not adapted for the same. In the locality mentioned, on the contrary, though there would be no absolutely level piece of ground of sufficient extent for games like cricket, there would be ample space for healthful recreation, and besides, an> important portion of the ■ city would hot be left ■ without what are' now known most appropriately as “ the lungs” of a town.

In the Supreme Court yesterday Mr. Macas- . sey, in the con; se of his argument, had to quote a recent English case, from a note only, referring fe the liability of a master, to his servant forio juries arising from negligence. :-Mr. ; Travers playfully remarked that be could quote a<much more recent decision, of the Resident ■Magistrate, which would quite upset his learned friend’s.argument.Shortly afterwards there' was a: learned discussion on the subj eot of pleadirigy Mr. Travers contending against the use of the English principle of counts in a declaration. Important opinions were delivered on the sub-

I jeot of scientic pleading generally, the impression on Iqyinen being that the old system of pleading to an, action in tfovejr for a, kettle, that the kettle didn’t b long to the plaintiff, that'the J defendant never: borrowed, it, that he had returned it long since, that he; had bought it , from the plaintiff and was legally possessed, and that the kettle belonged to the defendant, having been bought at an auction sale for rent, would tend to the more scientific administration of the law. Mr. Justice Williams then suggested the desirability of allowing a demurrer to a. portion of the pleadings only. Somebody suggested that this course would do away with “ error,” and one of the learned Judges was heard to chuckle “ and a very good thing too.” One of the learned counsel shortly afterwards let out a wrinkle for the benefit of the British public re the proper method of drawing powers of attorney, i.e., by leaving out the power of defending actions. We commend this to the attention of those who are about to go Home, as if they get the document scientifically drawn then no substituted service of unpleasant legal proceedings can be made on their attorney in the colony. Each of the statements we have before referred to is what lawyers call an obiter dictum, and we only wish we could get a few more of them, legal advice is always acceptable when not paid for.

At the meeting of the Wharf Committee of the City Council yesterday, mentioned in our local columns, a step in the direction most required for this port was made. It was resolved to recommend the abolition of all transhipping charges. This will give the utmost satisfaction to all who wish to see the already extensive trade of Wellington freed as much as possible from restriction. We may remark in this connection that the action of the Wharf Committee is in direct accordance with what the Chamber of Commerce have requested, and that showing this practical desire to meet the wishes of traders and practical men will do much to reconcile those who would have preferred a harbor board for the management of the Queen’s Wharf to the same being, for a time at least, in the hands of the City Council.

The Hinemoa, with the Governor and suite, left Havelock yesterday evening, and will probably arrive at Wellington to-day. It has been currently reported about town for the last day or two that his Excellency the Governor has received a very satisfactory and complimentaxy despatch from the Earl of Carnarvon, Secretary for the Colonies, in which thelast-named replies to the Governor’s despatch which accompanied the celebrated letter written bySirG. Grey,dated Auckland, 21st June, 1876. We hope this important communication will be published, as the public will no doubt be anxious to learn the views entertained by the Secretary for the Colonies on the question of bombarding the city of Auckland ; and it will also have a soothing effect on the minds of the inhabitants of that town, when they hear on the best authority, that all chance of such a calamity occurring has been averted. The City Council, at a meeting yesterday as a Wharf Committee, resolved to abolish from the first of the present month the whole of the charges for wharf dues on wool and sea-borne goods of all kinds landed here for transhipment to ether ports. There will be no charge henceforth upon transhipped good’, beyond what is absolutely incurred for labor in conveying them from one ship to another. Up to a late hour last evening Mrs. Coleman remained in the same state as on Monday. No definite idea can be formed at present as to what may be the result. While there is a possibility of her recovery, it must be remembered that her age is very much against it. The committee of the Wellington Club are to meet at the Club-house this evening at 8 o’clock, for the purpose of finally examining and approving the plans of the new Club-house to be erected on Wellington-terraoe, which have been prepared by Mr. Turnbull, architect. They have been carefully considered by the building committee, and several improvements and useful ■ additions and alterations have been made since the original drawings were submitted to the proprietary and nonproprietary members of the Club at their recent general meeting. It is believed they are now very suitable and convenient, and it is intended to proceed with the erection of the building as rapidly as possible, in order that it may he ready for occupation by the time Parliament meets again. We understand that Mr. W. H. Levin has been good enough to place his valuable services at the command of the members of the Club, and that he will be requested to purchase new billiard tables and to select such articles of furniture as it may be considered necessary to procure in England. The adjourned meeting of the Caledonian Society was held at the New Zealander Hotel last night. There were present Messrs. T. McKenzie (in the chair), Lockie, Bethune, McDowell, Thompson, Mclntyre, Bryce, and Kerby. After a good deal of discussion, a programme for New Year’s Day, consisting of twenty events, and prizes to the amount of £l5O. was approved of. The programme will include four handicaps from 100 yards to half-a-mile, and the prizes will be £ls in each event, a mile race of £2O, a hurdle race, walking match, bicycle race, and consolation race of £B. There will be several novelties introduced, including a “ jack tars’ ” race. The full programme will be published in our columns in the course of next week. The liberality of the committee in the way of prizes should be productive of large entries, more especially as each handicap carries its own prizes.

The intelligence of the death of Major Mcßaruet on Monday last, has caused, it may be said, universal regret, though for mouths past the sad event had been anticipated. Major Mcßarnet commenced his career as a soldier in the Imperial service in a Highland regiment (the 72nd, we believe), and subsequently exchanged into the 9th, with which he served in the Crimea, and - was afterwards quartered for some years in the lonian Islands, where he married. He attained his captaincy at the early age of 31, and having sold out, came to New Zealand some ten or twelve years ago. On his arrival he entered into partnership in the Peninsula run with Mr. J. 0. Crawford, and for a time resided on the property. When the militia .were called out in the province of Wellington in consequence of Native disturbances he received an appointment as major on full pay, and was employed in drilling the new levies, displaying the greatest activity and interest in doing so, and earning the deserved reputation of being the best “ drill”in New Zealand, besides becoming most popular with the force he was organising. When peace was restored, Major Mcßarnet became travelling agent for the Mutual Provident Society, and gave as much satisfaction in his civilian as he had in his military duties. He then purchased a farm near Bang! till ei, and set himself to the duties of a settler’s life. His death was caused by cancer in the stomach, which, though to a certain extent hereditary, his father having died from the same, was undoubtedly superinduced by a severe fall from his horse some twelve months ago, which told greatly on, him, he being a heavy man of full habit. Before he had recovered from the eifects of this fall, too, he rode to Napier and back, and suffered in .consequence, a prostration from which ho never really rallied. He leaves a widow and four children to mourn his loss. Major Moßarnett was, in every sense of the word, “a man.” High-minded, honorable, and commanding affection and respect from all he knew, he was one to whom anyone might be afterwards be proud to be compared. In short, to say of any man who may live amongst us,-that he was like Major Mcßarnett, would be to say that he was worthy of something more than esteem-—of kindly remembrance by all.

A meeting of the Lower Hutt Local Board was held on Monday evening. Present—Mr.' H. Jackson (in the chair), Mr. J. White, and 1 Atr.N. Valentine. ' A letter from the Colonial Secretary was read. It enclosed copies of Acts and instructions for the guidance of the Board. Some j rout ine business having been transacted, the Board adjourned till Friday next. ' i ’

The streets were watered for the first time this year yesterday with salt water. So far the result appears to be eminently satisfactory. The Marlborough Express thinks that the report of the Otago Convention reads very much like a farce. The next meeting of the Wellington Education Board will be .held on Wednesday, the 29th, in the Board-room at the secretary's office, at 11 o’clock. So great is the scarcity of timber at Macetown, Otago, that when a man died there some time ago, sufficient wood for a coffin could not be obtained. “The Shaughraun” was played at the Theatre Eoyal last evening to a good house. Considering the powerful company who previously represented th's piece here, the performance of last evening was fairly successful, Barlow’s Circus was well attended last night, and the performance passed off capitally as usual. To-day there will be a matinee for children in addition to the evening performance. A special meeting of the Wellington Districts Board will be held this morning at the office, Lower Hutt, the object of the meeting, as stated in a previous issue, being to consider what steps shall be taken in regard to the working of the Counties Act. Peter Pach, who it will be remembered was arrested for wounding himself with a knife in Maori-row, was brought up at the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday, having been in gaol for a fortnight. He was cautioned against drinking in future, and discharged. We understand that Mr. Govett has sent in his resignation of the office of assistant law officer. He will, however, continue to hold office until the end of the present year, after which it is his intention to commencing practising his profession at Taranaki. The boy who last took fever at the Wellington College was yesterday removed to the Quarantine Station. It is hoped that Mr. Wilson will be able to hold the classes at the College on Monday next. In the meantime of course the building will be thoroughly fumigated and cleansed. At the meeting of the Wharf Committee yesterday it was resolved that in future the chairman of the sub-committee should receive £IOO per annum, and each member of the sub-committee £lO a month. It may be explained that the members hold office only for a month at a time.

At a regatta at Opotiki the other day the whaleboat that was confidently expected to be first in a certain race only came in a bad third, though her crew was most decidedly the best of those competing. Subsequently to the race the mystery was explained. Some ingenious gentleman had nailed a kerosene tin to the bottom of the boat. A meeting of the supporters and friends of Sir R. Douglas, M.H.R, was held at the Settlers' Hotel, Wangarei, on Wednesday last says the Comet, when it was unanimously resolved—“To give Sir R. Douglas a dinner on his return home, for the independent and straightforward manner in which he had represented their interests in Parliament.” In stating as we did yesterday that the rowing boats which were stove in on board the Arawata belonged to the Wellington Rowing Club we were in error. The boats belong, it is understood, to the Star Club, and for that institution the public sympathy, which was asked for the Wellington Club, may with equal justice be claimed. The various public works now being carried on by the City Council would seem to absorb a considerable amount of labor, as we are informed that the City Surveyor finds some difficulty in obtaining a sufficiency of hands to execute the present and prospective improvements which the Council has resolved upon undertaking. This is a favorable state of affairs, and one which we cannot doubt will meet with public approval The directors of the Wellington Patent Slip Company (Limited), Messrs. Johnston, Pearce, Levin, and Hunter, and the manager, Mr. J. R. George, visited the slip yesterday afternoon, shortly after the s.s. Taranaki had been taken up for the purpose of being painted and cleaned. The, directors went all over the works and yards, their object being to have a complete inspection prior to the departure of one of their number, Mr. W. H. Levin, who leaves for England by the San Francisco mail steamer on Friday, and will doubtless be asked questions about the slip and works by shareholders resident in London. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday there was a good deal of business done, the criminal and civil sheets being rather heavy, but the cases did not occupy much time in hearing, the civil ones especially. There were two assault cases; in one the defendant, Frederick Butler, did not appear, and a warrant was ordered to issue his apprehension. The other case was heard, the parties to it being J. Ballard, defendant, and Charles Marshall, complainant. The case was not by any means a serious one, as appeared from the evidence of the principals, for there were no other witnesses, and the Bench inflicted a fine of 55., with costs;

A meeting of the committee of the Wellington Benevolent Institution was held yesterday afternoon. Present —Archdeacon Stock (elected chairman), Eev. W. H. West, Eev. A. Reid, Messrs. J. G. Holdsworth, I/. Levy, D. Lewis, and the secretary. Subscriptions and donations received; —Sir Donald McLean, £2O • the Hon. Major Atkinson, £5 ; Mr. B. Smith, £1 Is.; Mr. T. C. Williams, £5 ; Mr. Whitehouse, 10s.; Mr. Fitchett, £1 ; Mrs. J. Wilkinson, £2 25.; W.S., 10s.; and grant from Provincial District of Wellington for month of October, £l2 10s. A committee meeting of the Wellington Bifle Association was held at Mr. J. Turner’s, Willis-street, last night. Present : Captain Crowe, Captain Thompson, J. Ballinger, J. Turner, and C. France, Captain Crowe in the chair. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed, and it was resolved that the Wellington Bifle Association Challenge Cup be presented to Bandsman Bannister on parade. It was also resolved that the annual general meeting of the Wellington Bifle Association should be held at Mr. J. Turner’s, Willis-street, on Tuesday next, the 21st inst., at 7.30 p.m. The meeting then adjourned, after the usual vote of thaks to the chairman.

The tenders for the construction of the new offices for the New Zealand Insurance Company to be erected in Brandonstrett, were opened yesterday, in the presence of George Hunter, Esq., M.H.8., local director, and Mr. Turnbull, the architect. Mr. Dobson, the manager, being absent from Wellington, was not present. Eleven tenders were sent in, each party naming a price for the work, constructed either of brick or wood. The amounts specified differed materially for both classes of work. The result was telegraphed to the head office, at Auckland, and we understand no decision is likely to be come to until a reply has been received and Mr. Dobson returns to Wellington. In a case of alleged abusive language heard at the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday, Patrick O’Sullivan v. John Mahern, Mr. Stafford for the defendant contended at the outset that the case could not be proceeded with, on the ground that the information was not properly made out, Mr. Justice Johnston having laid it down that all the facts should be set down on the face of the information or complaint. Such had not been done in this case. The Bench decided against Mr. Travers, as the rule had not hitherto been observed in that Court, and they (the justices—his Worship the Mayor, Major Paul, and J. Moore, Esq.,) did not deem it advisable to establish a precedent in the absence of the Resident Magistrate. Mr. Stafford thereupon said that he hoped the fact would be placed upon record that the Bench had acted as they had done in the face of the opinion given by Mr. Justice Johnston, and which he (Mr. Stafford) .had read to them! He also quoted the Justice of the Peace Act, to show that in what he had advanced he was perfectly in the right. The case out of which this little argument arose was dismissed, the evidence .showing it to be a trumpery one.

The arguments in the case Mcßride v. Brogden and others were brought to a close yesterday in the Court of Appeal, judgment being reserved. The case is of great importance to working men and contractors, and as soon as judgment is delivered we shall take an early opportunity of commenting upon it. The Court sits again at 11 o’clock to-day. The service of sacred song illustrative of “Christiana,” with connective readings, given by .the Thorndon Wesleyan Sabbath school in the Molesworth school last evening, was very well attended—the building being literally crammed. The musical portion of the programme was rendered in really excellent style under the conductorship of the Rev. Mr. Dewsbury. The connective readings were given by the Kev. Mr. Eeid, and everything passed off most successfully. We desire to acknowledge the courtesy which some one has exhibited in forwarding ua a list (a fearfully long one, including all the letters in the alphabet as titular honors) of the gentlemen chosen to fill offices in the Lodge Waterloo. If the enumeration of the names in our columns this morning would have been worth anything, the notification that the election would have been held might also have been deemed of utility. On this principle we act in not enumerating them. The Southland Times speaks thus irreverently of Mr. Maeandrew’s Convention :—Our readers ought certainly to bear in mind that to-day a really grand event is to take place. Mr. Macandrew’s Hen Convention, or -goose club for the three tailors of Dunedin, will really be started, and some very tall talk will doubtless be indulged in. We cannot find a living man who can give us any information as to what the practical results of it can possibly be, but it is, so we are told in certain quarters, to be something very awful. The present effect on the mind is very much like that of the awful imprecation in the “Ingoldsby Legends”— Dies mies I hocus pocus 1 Assis Demon ! non est jocus, Adsis! presto. A good many refusals to join Mr. Macandrew’s Debating Society have been sent in, but the Otago Bump Parliament will doubtless do its best in the way of a seditious resistance to the law. There was an interesting little civil case at the Besideut Magistrate’s Court yesterday. The plaintiff was a Maori named Ahoro Te Tipitipi, the defendant a pakeha named Boyd, with whom the former had been lodging. When Te Tipitipi went away he left behind him a box and a few things, and Boyd claimed payment of 2s. per week for storage. The claim was for 17s. The case was interesting because of the highly civilised manner in which the Maori conducted his case. He had no counsel. His examination of the plaintiff was really good, and would have done credit to a lawyer. The result of the case was that defendant was ordered to give up the property of which he held possession, and the claim for storage was not recognised, but plaintiff was ordered to pay the costs of the action. In replying to the toast of his health at the recent banquet at the Tames, Mr. Bowe, M.H.R., is reported as having said, —“I believed, and had believed for a long time, that the abolition of the provinces was necessary ; that when the House assented to the large borrowing powers, the doom of the provinces was sealed. It was absolutely necessary that there should be a united colony ; and I saw no reason, from all I heard—and many able speeches were made, but they only confirmedmy opinion that abolition wasthe right policy—and I saw no reason for reserving it, and I resisted every step for the re-establishment of provincialism. (Cheers.) An argument was often used that the question had not been fairly put before the constituencies ; but I could reply that, so far as the Thames was concerned, it was very fairly put before them. The opinions I expressed were clear and unmistakable, and no argument could induce me to swerve from what was right; and I voted in that direction.”