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Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3095, 7 January 1871, Page 2

We would earnestly again urge upon the Corporation the necessity of more active sanitary measures. It may be hopeless to expect them at once to follow the example of other municipalities, with less resources ; but surely they may do something to alleviate the growing evils we have already referred to. Polhill' s Gully is daily becoming worse, and some of the inhabitants in Cuba street have, since we last drew attention to it, been compelled, by the daily increasing miasmata, to remove to a more healthy residence. The stench that greets the nostrils of all the dwellers on its banks no Inspector of Nuisances, if backed up by the Corporation authorities, would tolerate for a day, and we are at a loss to understand why the Corporation does not arm him with fuller powers to check an evil which must soon affect not only the health but the lives of the citizens. Pigsties are fco be found within four feet of wells, which are supposed to be used by families ; and sheep and calves are slaughtered in close proximity to dwelling houses, and the smells arising therefrom, when combined with those of Poll-ill's Gully behind, form an indescribable compound, as dangerous as ifc is unpleasant. We cannot but assume that this public officer does his duty, but while a growing evil like this is nofc rectified it becomes the press fearlessly to speak out to prevent worse consequences ensuing. Our Nelson files recently contained a statement setting forth the sums paid by each ratepayer for town improvements there. We would direct the attention of his Worship the Mayor and the City Councillors to that list, as it is to be feared there is a feeling lurking somewhere that city improvements are to be paid out of some other source than the rates of the citizens. The sooner such an extraordinary delusion is removed the better, and if the powers given by the act uuder which they have been incorporated are not sufficiently extensive, they ought at once to do what Nelson did in 18C3, apply for an act enabling them to raise the necessary loan and to take all the necessary steps. We are glad to believe thafc many members of the Corpo-rationadvocatethisandothermuch-needed reforms, and from a report which has come into our hands since writing the foregoing, we observe that there is some prospect of this great want of a water supply being soon removed. Meanwhile, cannot something be done by improving the drainage and by the Sanitary Inspector bringing offenders to trial, to lessen the evils arising from pestilential efiluvia ?