THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 1872.

Auckland Star, Volume III, Issue 630, 18 January 1872, Page 2

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 1872.

Above all other subjects, the want of water is at present forcing itself on the minds of tho residents in this city. The state of the weather ia conventionally accepted as a subject of remark when all other subjects fail; and from its general inability to excite controversy or anything but indifference, it is used for the most trivial form of salutation. But there is a serious, and we might almost say a sad, significance in any allusion to the weather at the present time; and a " fine day" according to the present state of feeling would not contain much sunshine. Though we do not consider ourselves, save indirectly, as being charged with rural interests, yet we cannot but sympathise with the misfortunes of those who wait on vegetation, while vegetation seems to be suspended, and the heavens above are as brass, and the earth iron. We feel inconvenience in the city, but they have loss—serious and heavy loss ; but as we know of no means of alleviating their sufferings but the interposition of Providence, we may turn ourselves with better effect to try to move to action, where action alone is requisite to remove tho evils resulting from drought. Hitherto those evils, so far as the city is concerned, have been merely those of inconvenience. But it is very well known, that with a few days longer continuance, they will assume a magnitude that cannot be described as mere inconvenience. One after another the wells in the city are becoming exhausted. A large proportion of them, we understand, are already diy; we may safely say that nearly all the tanks are empty; and it is known that two or three days at the utmost will exhaust the supply in the reservoir. A few wells may probably hold out, but as they are private property, it is not in human nature to resist the influence of a possession of monopoly ; and if these wells are to be our source of supply, Heaven have mercy on the poor. Any one that has seen a city subjected to a famine of water, must dread the peril that is threatening our community. Some ten or a dozen years ago, the capital of Queensland, with a similar population, was reduced to such a strait; and arrangements were necessitated for procuring water in floating tanks from a point over forty miles away. The sufferings endured at the time by the poorer classes of the community were such as weshouldhopenever tos^e repeated in Auckland: and this is precisely the state of things that is impending, and will inevitably come to pass within a few weeks, if the authorities do not quickly interpose, or the rains come. And we do assert that the people will hold the City Council morally responsible for sufferings that may ensue. We do not hesitate to say that there has been a culpable indifference to this matter shown by the Council. It is true the water works are not entrusted to their care, but the welfare of the city is; and it is their part, if they wear the honors of the position, to have also its responsibilities, and by forethought provide against evidently approaching evil. The levelling of the market place and the cutting down ofSymonds street are all very well in their place ; but if requisite these works should have been even suspended in face of the urgent necessity for prompt action in relation to the drought. Wo learn that a proposal is about to bo sub-

I mitted to the Council for taking steps to obtain a temporary supply of water to the reservoirs from the brewery wells [on the Kyber Pass. This or something of the kind must be done, aud promptly done, and citizens will look to their representatives in the City Council for taking action in the matter with such promptitude as is demanded by the gravity of the circumstances. We sincerely trust that the Council will not require to be driven to such a course by appeals and expostulations ; but that the members will show themselves to be actuated by a thoughtful and anxious care for the well-being of those who have confided so important interests to their hands.

The other ovening, the attention of travellers in Queon street was attracted by a brawl opposite the end of Wyndham street. On proceeding thithor it "was soon apparent that the disturbance was occasioned by the rampngious conduct of a man-of-war's man who had taken advantage of his liberty time to sit in tho sun instoad of promenading under the ornamental verandahs of Queen street. This lively young man was amusing him self by challenging all passers by to personal combat, and in the exuberance of his martial energy actually presumed to challenge Hor Majesty's representative in the shape of tho policeman on duty to a quiet bout of fisticuffs. It must be observed that the declamatory action of this subject of Neptune was accompanied by violent gesticulations of a kind only to bo properly dovelopod by "Jack ashore," and that tho language was perhaps scarcely such as "ears polite" delight in drinking in. The member of the Armed Con» stabulary Force whose turn it was to bo revolving at that time,very prudently declined to tempt his fate; and the sergeant, who shortly arrived on the scene, found himeelf utterly unable to curb tho boisterous spirits of this uproarious servant of the public. The result was,that tho man was allowed to'roinain in possession of the field, and to reservo the right of flooding the ears of. respectable passers by with a torrent of language that would hardly have been tolerated in Billingsgate when in all its glory. Tho questions which have been put to us on this occurrence are, have tho police no powor to seize and imprison a British sailor who is making himself a public nuisance, and compromising the good name of his shipmates F and is it true | that mon-of-wars-men arc allowed so much latitude on shore in a country which has been to all intents and purposes thrown overboard by the manager* of these mon, as to enable them to set law and order at defianco ?

( " Forfc Street's" letter is of no public ' interest. We know nothing of the eircum* stances to which " Siasie " alludes; but we think her, or his, letter is prompted only by peraonal spite, for which purpose we decline to lend our columns. We wish "Citizen" would waken up tho cow that sleeps every night at his doorsteps ; it would give him less trouble than writing a letter to the papers. The letter of "Query," Onehunga, had better not be inserted, as the case referrod to may be regarded as still pending, We thank him, however, for his kind remarks.

Some interesting passengers have taken their departure by the Hero. Two ladies have been gonfc off to avoid their evidence in a divorce caseponding. Thoreis one runaway young lady; and two ladie3 claiming to be, or passing as, the wives of one man, accompany him, nolens volens, In each case the shipment was effected with true woman's tact. A heavy cart horse made a bolt this morn* ing in Queen street close to Vulcan lane. He ran again it a cab and on to the footpath, knocking a man into the Duke of Marlborough Hotel. He was captured before further damage was done. The Supreme Court sat at the unusually early hour of nine this morning with the view getting through the'criminal business of the session before the end of the week if possible. The prisoner who escaped from the gaol on Tuesday has been condemned by the visiting magistrate to undergo one month's solitary imprisonment with, punishment diet, and to be placed in irons fcr remainder of his term of sentence. He is undergoing twelve months' hard labor for attempting to break into Mr. Hall's store somo time back. The transfer books of the Californian Q-old Mining Company are closed Hntil Saturday at noon, when a dividend of Is. 6di per sharo will bo payable. The regulations for porters are now in force, and in future all porters plying for hire within the city must first obtain a license from the town clerk. In to-day's Herald B. Dellipiani complaint that our Police reporter represents him as being the prosecutor in the charge against Barnott for stealing tobacco. Our reporter informs us that Mr. Dellipiani's name is entered on the Police charge sheet as that of the person who had made the accusation, so thathis quarrel is with the police, not with us. An adjourned meeting of the Crown Prince Q-old Mining Company, at the Queen's Ferry Hotel, was, in the absence of the secretary j further adjourned until to> morrow afternoon, at 4 30 o'clock. An address was presented lasb evening to Father Vinay by a number of Catholic resi« dents and settlors in the Province of Auckland. J. Shcohan, Esq., headed the deputation. Father Vinay has left to-day in th c City of Auckland for London. A little love intrigue amongst some Maoriea has resulted in a man being speared. A native trial is being held at which nearly all the native population is present. Mr. Asher, Superintendent of the Fire Brigade, has taken measures to have the city water carts stationed every night at various parts of the high ground whioh the water does not reach. Although they contain but a email quantity, it would doubtles* be found sufficient at tho first breaking out of a fire> and might bo tho means of preventing extent give conflagrations.

The Harbour Board will receive applications for the appointment of a Clerk of Worki. Tho salary will bo £300 a year.

The case of perjury against Chas. Anderton, which has occupied the Supreme Court for the last three days, came to a termination yesterday, and the jury found prisoner guilty. Judgment was deferred in order that a pjint of law might be referred to the Court of Appeal* The stating Sink is receiving increased patronage nightly. It is very amusing to si* and watch both novices and accomplished skaters gliding over the floor, some of them in a very artistic and picturesque manner. Tonight the Hall will be occupied for another purpose, namely, the amatour concert, but the Rink will be to-morrow. Captain Dargaville, of the Volunteer Engineers, has offered three prizes to be fired for by the men under his command. They are of the value of £7, £5, and £3 respectively, the winner to have the option of recoiving his prize in money, or in the shape of a cup. We would call attention to the amatour concert to take place to-night at the City Hall, the proceeds of whioh will be devoted to the fund in aid of the annual treat of the Church of England Sunday schools. Signors Belizia and Boffa, the street musi» cian», left by the Hero, to%day.