THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam aut faciam." TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18th, 1862.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 81, 18 February 1862, Page 2

THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam aut faciam." TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18th, 1862.

—. —«g> In the neighboring Province of Canterbury the two principal towns, Lyttelton and Christchurch, have been constituted Municipalities. We should be glad to see the example followed by Dunedin. It is very certain the present Town Board system works ill. We have more than once expressed strong disapproval of the supineneas displayed by the Town Board, bnt if what we have lately been informed is correct, the Board languishes less from constitutional apathy than from the two very serious diseases—chronic impeciniosity, and a deficiency of vital power. In plain words the Board has neither money, credit nor authority sufficient to enable it to minister to the wants of a large city like Dunedin. The Provincial Council, when framing the Ordinance that endowed Dnnedin with a Town Board, was evidently imbued with the Shakspearian doctrine— Man, proud man, drest in a little brief authority, Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven As make the angels weep— At anyrate the Counciljwas determined so to restrict the powers of the Board, that if it could not do much good it would in any case be powerless for evil. The quieta non movere system rather obtaiued then ; it was not thoroughly understood that no country or place can afford to stand still in the race of progress, and that non-progression is virtually retrogression. However, without enlarging on the subtleties of a distinction that time has practically exemplified, we can easily understand the Council giving the town a Board, endowed rather with the shadow than the substance of power; intending from time to time to enlarge the authority, if the policy of doing so made itself apparent.' But human nature will never bear being worked like a machine—fetter it and restrain it and it loses its vitality; give it scope, make it feel itself responsible, and it asserts it powers of usefulness. Tell a servant he is to do nothing but what he is told and on no account to rely on his own judgment, and you will find him a stupid usele-sincumbrance, but give the same man authority to use his own discretion, let him feel that you place confidence in him and that responsibility rests on his shoulders, and his intelligence will be brightened instead of deadened. You will find him fertile and full of resource, one of those whom Buffbn tells us of'" L'homing cioilisv nc commit pas sen forces" —Wh at applies to a single individual is also applicable to an aggregation of the same. A Board composed of several members, with its powers so restricted that it is expected to work only \>y rule of thumb, and with no discretion left it to exercise, would be likely to turn out a mere automaton, and distinguish itself only by its apathy and neglect. Here we have the Dnnedin Board, careless of its duties because it feels no responsibility attaches to them, and on the other hand, we have the Provincial Council loth to give extended powers, because those it has already bestowed it considers have been ill exerted. And between the two, Dunedin has fallen to the srround. It can almost claim the distinction of being the worst paved, the worst lighted, the worst cared for town or city in the English colonies. Its roads unmade, its streets unlighted, its traffic unregulated, its buildings unsurveyed, and subjected to enormous risk of fire, its sanitary provisions so neglected that plague-engendering influences are allowed to encircle round it, the Town Board system may be pronounced a thorough failure, and for which it is high time to find a substitute. Municipal institutions experience proves to be the best means of providing for the requirements of large towns or cities; on the one hand, there is the control that frequent elective changes provides; on the other, there is the sense of responsibility that the unfettered dealing with important interests naturally suggests. , A Municipal Councillor feels that he has accepted an office to which duties are and if he have an}'pluck he will set himself to perform these duties regardless of the inconvenience to which he may submit himself. The noblesse oblige spurs him on ; he feels himself ennobled in being the chosen of his fellow-townsmen. We are convinced that until there is a municipal council established, with power to raise funds and to expend them, Dunedin will continue as it is, an ill-looking, ill-smelling, ill regulated town. It is because we desire to see its roads made, its paths paved, its sewerage prevented from accumulating, its buildings preserved from the ' dangers of fire, overcrowding, or insufficient strength, its streets lighted, its traffic regulated, and the value of its property improved, that we ask that the present Town Board shall be superseded by a Municipality, as soon as the Provincial Council is enabled to frame the necessary Ordinance. Some little excitement was caused in town yesterday by a report that gold had been found in the yard behind the Provincial Hotel. On inquiry it appeared that, in sinking a well, "the color" had been seen, but that on taking a dishful of the stuff and washing it no more gold could be found. The Resident Magistrates' Court was again crowded yesterday with persona eager to see the notorious Garrett, and to hear the evidence brought against him with reference to his recent criminal exploits in this province. His conduct at the bar, and hjs cross-examination of the witnesses whose evidence was taken, was characterised by a cool impertinence and an air of indifference to his situation which only one of his experiences could easily assume. The object of the few questions lie put to the witnesses was chiefly to lead to some discrepancy in their evidence as to the precise order in which they were attacked and brought into his camp. He naively declined applying for legal representation at his trial, as bejng on principle opposed to gratuitous Government aid. The Volunteers turned out for drill last Hight in increased numbers, and they are rapidly adWancing in their evolutions. It is, however, somewhat remarkable that some of those who were njggt loud in their speeches and professions at the fiuraS? meetings have never yet honored the drill. £ wn jV 5j>~*ueir_presence,

Some little excitement was caused in town yesterday by a report that gold had been found in the yard behind the Provincial Hotel. On inquiry it appeared that, in sinking a well, "the color" had been seen, but that on taking a dishful of the stuff and washing it no more gold could be found. The Resident Magistrates' Court was again crowded yesterday with persona eager to see the notorious Garrett, and to hear the evidence brought against him with reference to his recent criminal exploits in this province. His conduct at the bar, and hjs cross-examination of the witnesses whose evidence was take?), was characterised by a cool impertinence and an air of indifference to his situation which only one of his experiences could easily assume. The object of the few questions he put to the witnesses was chiefly to lead to some discrepancy in their evidence as to the precise order in which they were attacked and brought into his camp. He naively declined applying for legal representation at his trial, as bejng on principle opposed to gratuitous Government aid. The Volunteers turned out for drill last night in increased numbers, and they are rapidly advancing in their evolutions. It is, however, somewhat remarkable that some of those who were njflst loud in their speeches and professions at the fiura? meetinSs l'avre never yet honored the drill. £ wn jV 5j^;r*ueir_presence.