The Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 1871.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 505, 23 August 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 1871.

" For the Carise that lacks assistance. For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance,/ And the good that we can do."

The powder magazine in the Albert Barracks obtrudes itself intermittently on public attention. The explosive is still there, but public attention is not at all times directed to it ; nor does ie appear that much effect would result even though it was the perpetual subject jof | our waking thoughts by day and dreams of night. :We question if there has not been .a general impression that this danger had been removed, and there. 1 can ;be no doubt that this impression has been sought to be conveyed. The entanglements of red tape have been too intricate we presume, and though there has been considerable public apprehension, and unquestionably public . danger, • the' most /' callous "and '' dqiibemptuous indifference has been shown for the., feelings of the,. people. It is- idld to attempt, to delude ourselves by the idea that there is no danger in a magazine almost in the ,centre of the city. Most people believe that gunpowder is explosive, and we believe that we have read of magazines, carefully tended, having ex-' ploded, and not even left an ,arm or ~a leg of ..their/ custodians as a memento to sorroyiiig friends. Such ' explosions are knowii'to devastate a circle of many miles, and however harmless our' Magazine"inay be in the estimation of .those charged with its retention in its present position, the mere fact of anxiety being'felt in. the , city., respecting, ,it should inove ; the sympathies ovep pi red tape. We should mot be surprised if the retention-'OMHe gunpowder is part of the policjf'niSx includes the locking of -the g^sjo^.i&e, .Barrack reserve, and if JsKe .existence j. of this slumbering volcano is meant to repel the rabble from the 1' preserves where Major Tisdall feeds his flocks. " Odi profdhum vulgus et'-- arceo," says the gallaht Major asI'he puts a chain on the gates, and if they, will persist, they mUstt, rem&nber' tWa't t£er6 a%s I fJaljbr 1 places .for ''promenading' £had in tli6' neighbourhood of that grim-looking pile-''of--buildings »t« the entrance. But, really this nuisance'lias become intolerable.^, and now that the admission of the public to the reserve has been secured, we do- trust that com^. pulsion ;wilL be applied^if necessary J for theremoval of the dknger both tjb§ promenadersand'tKe city. Surely tji&) ..Dangerous Gta'ooV.''Act. should apply,. ; and though we shouhl 7> regret to see ifche". Government'?, ibrought up from jWellihgton to,-appear before Mr. 'B&pMip-tn in the prds&it conjuncture, we. should rejoice to.see somebody brought up; ; .aud the legal machinery put-in motion for the forcible- scanowai j lof an; l evil thatl Has no long 'rJsis/ed' public opihib'ni" ■'' ' l 0