The Star. TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 1897. NOTES AND NOTIONS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5762, 5 January 1897, Page 2

The Star. TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 1897. NOTES AND NOTIONS.

Certain facts stand out with unpleasant prominence in connection with the Sydenham sewage scheme. They were brought out in the course of the discussion that took place at the City Council's special meeting last night, a full report of the proceedings appearing elsewh.re in this issue. One of the facts in question is that under the existing circumstances the City Council has no power to move in a court of law ; it must wait until operations have been fairly begun, and it can be proved that a nuisance has been created. That position has been made perfectly clear by the written opinion of the City Solicitors. But we are more concerned with other facts, which constitute an entirely different aspect of the case. According to statements that were made, and. remained unchallenged, tha Sydenham Borough Council went secretly to work, and with an extraordinary disregard of possible results. Indeed, one member of ' that body is declared to have said that "if he lived close .to the proposed institution he would have objected as strongly as anybody." This, it need scarcely be pointed out, is' in flat contradiction to the assertion that no nuisance can possibly be caused.

But here, as it seems to us, is the most important p6int. The Sydenham Borough Council has of itself no power to make such a connection with the sewer system and establish a receiving depot. It must first liave had the consent and special authority of the Drainage Board, and presumably every detail of the structure and its arrangements must have had the approval of the Drainage Board's engineer. To suppose otherwise would in effect be to contend that the Board and its engineer are alike worse than useless. We are told now that the building itself is of the flimsiest description, composed of f our-and-a-half-inch walls of porous brick ; that the receiving tank is far too small, and that the sewer pipe is absurdly so ; tliat the plan for consuming noxious gases is obviously defective, and that generally there cannot possibly have been any expert supervision. And this is where the Board's engineer comes in. He is said to have stipulated that the tank should be twelve feet across, whereas it is only eight feet • he is said to have told Dr Stewart that "the building had been connected only with a nine inch pipe which had also to carry other excreta " ; and he is further said to have declared to Councillor Smith, that "he did not know of any instance in which the system proposed had been carried out with success." How, then, in the name of all that is wonderful, did it come about that the Sydenham Borough Council was allowed to go on ? We assume that the deputation to the Board will ask a few questions concerning these things.

According to a statement published by a London journal from a Scottish correspondent, a start has been made in the creation of a peasant proprietary. The Ross and Cromarty County Council, on the requisition of the people of Kiltearn, Rossshire, purchased the lands of Knockrashfor d£1075. Tlie plots, which are from I*(3S acres to 6*oo, -were after the purchase immediately taken up. The prices of the holdings are in sums varying from _£17 19s 2d to .£2OB OsGd. Twenty-five persons have purchased lots, and on entry paid as a portion of the price sums varying from .£l7 10s to £i 14s 2d. Tlie yearly annuities chargeable are from lGs to £7 2s 4d. It is added that other public bodies are likely to carry out similar schemes, and that the peasant proprietary- plan will steadily extend. We hope so.

Here is an item that ought to be studied with no small degree of interest by all who believe in the principle of State ownership and control. The happiest place in Europe is said to be Klingenberg-on-the-Main. It is the one prosperous spot where everybody has work and an income, and where there are no taxes, either local or imperial, because the income of the municipality suffices tor everything, and leaves a bonus for distribution besides/ Happy Klingenberg ! It is all due, says Tit-Bits, to a iittle wisdom and foresight on the part of its local administration many years ago. There are valuable beds of fireclay in the neighbourhood, and these the municipality had the prudence not to sell to make the fortunes of other people, but retained for the benefit of the town. The profits pay all taxes, and the inhabitants get the surplus divided among them. Young men going into the army received last year a present of fifteen marks each.