The Evening Post. THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 1865.

Evening Post, Issue 50, 6 April 1865, Page 2

The Evening Post. THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 1865.

We would follow up our remarks of j-es-terday on the sanitary (oudition of Wellington by recommending that the Town Board should get an Act passed next session of the Provincial Council empowering them to levy rates. The present inefficient state of the Board should give way to the advancement of the times. \Ve shall shortly see the reclaiming of land

recommenced, and that which is now offensive at low water, from the unpleasant odour generated, may soon become the scene of a most important work. The line of reclaimed land will run from the Custom House to Pipetea Point, and, when finished and built upon— when a thrhing, energetic population is living on the new made ground — we would ask how are they to be supplied with the grand requisite of health — water. Even on the biach the water is brackish, unfit for use, and not of sufficient quantity for the consumption ; and yet we do not hear of steps being taken to procure a good supply, nor do we know that anything has been done to ensure that sanitary measures will receive proper attention in the town. Whose dutj' is it to see that the cesspools are properly cleansed, or that no filth or fetid rubbish is allowed to accummulate in any part of the town ? The answer is easy, none is appointed to the office — there is no Inspector of Nuisances ; and in consequence, filth and dirt are met with in our highways and byewaj's, germinating fever and pestilence, carrying death into many of our households, and laying low many of our neighbours. Our population is rapidly increasing, buildings are rising in almost every street ; on the reclaimed land several %re in course of erection — people who only possess small allotments are naturally bailing on the full extent of their land, without any suitable provision for necessary purposes, and they are so confined for room that they step out of their back door into a cesspool. Why do these great evils exist ? — Because there is no pr jperly constituted authority to prevent them. llow much responsibility rests with the " powers that be" must be determined by the depth of the evil. Not only do the great evils Aye have pointed out exist, but they are becoming daily more and more imperative in their cry for redress, and we say that the iuture health of our community is at stake by this needless neglect. The municipal board are virtually responsible — it is to that body belongs the onus of looking after the health of the town — they are the guardians ; and if they have so long ne lected their duty, it is, we believe, simph because they are not acquainted, or ha\e not given their attention to the importance of the subject. To a Town Board belongs the power of levying rates, making and repairing roads establishing proper sanitary measures, and many other minor duties, too numerous to mention. A Municipal Board is an institution of momentous importance to a town, but it must be clothed with sufficient authority tOjJH»ve of any benefit. " Strong evils require strong remedies" and we have endeavoured to lay before our readers the necessity of either abolishing a n une — a nonentity — or else of creating it into a body that will prove useful in judiciously exer rising the power they possess. In connection with this subject, we have to point o.it the fact that the so-called Town Board have no endowment, not even as much land as would entile them to build an office 5 consequently, they are now paying for a room or two, where their meetings are held. The mistake of the New Zealand Company, in this respect, must be remedied, and when the land is reclaimed, portions should be reserved for public purposes. We shall soon want an Exchange, a public school, and one or two other buildings that progress and commercial enterprise render necessary, and we think these facts only require to be pointed out to receive due attention.

Sir George Grey still continues in Wellington, and is daily closeted with his Ministers. An immense amount of work has to be go*, over. During the Governor's absence hundreds of documents requiring his Excellency's signature accumulated ; many were sent to Wanganui, and have not yet been returned. The sentence of death recorded against George Angel, for arson, last session, has been commuted to penal servitude for the term of his natural life. Last night a few gentlemen met at Mr. Osgood's Empire Hotel, to take into consideration the subject of forming a Jockey

Club, nnd also to form committees for raising subscriptions for the Hutt races. Better late than never : and although it is rather lute in the season for races, yet, with a little energy and perseverance, something might be done to retrieve our name in this respect. Yeirs ago, Wellington had a first-rate iace course, and hundreds of delighted citizens used to go to enjoy the pleasure of the fine old English sport ; but now, other provinces have gone by us at a gallop, and the turf, with us, is only a name. We wish success to the "young blood " who have again started the subject) and we hope they may be enabled to carry out successtully the formation of a Jockey Club. A very serious accident, and one which might have ended fatally, happened to Mr. Howe, as he wa9 proceeding along the Porirua road, on his way to Otaki, on Wednesday, 29th ult. While near Mr. Edwards' house two calves jumped from the bank on to the road, and, tripping the mare, threw her heavily to the ground, precipitating Mr. Howe o v er the dashboard on to his head, and injuring him severely about the face, breast, and shoulders. A little daughter of Mr. Howe, who was travelling with him, luckily escaped uninjured. Two roadmen, named Bowes and Hunt, who were working near the spot, immediately came to the rescue, and assisted the unfortunate gentleman in fixing the trap, thus enabling him to proceed to Mr. Bolton's, where the damage could be repaired. The mare, a very valuable animal, received such injuries as to incapacitate her from work for some time to come, , and the shaft and dashboard were completely smashed to atoms. This is not the first acui dent of the kind that has happened from a similar cause, as Mr Bowler, it will be remembered, lost his life by a pig crossing the road and making his horse " shy." Surely these accidents should act as a warning to the settlers in that neighbourhood, and make them adopt some means to prevent their cattle from Graying on the public road. Mr. Howe has impounded the calves, and we believe intends instituting an action for dam:iges against the owner as soon as found out. lhe bruises Mr. Howe received were so serious as to prevent his reaching town till Tuesday last, and still cause him considerable pain. The Auckland press still continues hiirhflown language towards us, and accuses W'elingron of having the most unbounded haired fur their provi cc. Inve< tives loud and «tiong are heaped upon us. and, by a recent article in the New Z< aland Herald, one would think that paper had upon its staff a disappointed Whittchapel dramatist. We think ilie Auc danders will soon get disgusted with such outrageous writing The City of Wellington Band of Hope had a meeting at the Wesleyan Schoolroom, Manners street, on Tuesday evening last, a gratuitous tea was provided, at which about one hundred children sat down , they seemed thoroughly to enjoy themselves. Addresres and songs formed the amusement of the i' veiling. We understand it is the intention of the Committee to have a meeting at the Odd Fellows Hall in about three months time. The question of Separation is still in progross in Auckland. At a late meeting of the Oouncll of the Northern Association, Mr. Hubert Kidd was elected secretary in place of Mr. S. W. Hairup, resigned. Mr. W. Buckland has also resigned his office of President, on account of leaving the province tor a short time. Mr. Walter Graharne has been unanimously elected in his stead. The Hutt monthly market, held yesterday, was largely attended by many people from town and the surrounding districts. Mr. J. 11. Homer effected some excellent sales, but, on the whole, the bidding was not so spirited as last month. Mr. J. H. Wallace sold a mixed lot of 468 sheep at the rate of 16s per head, about 20 heif j rs, steers, and cows, from JE3 to £5 7s 6d per head ; horses sold from £9 to .£24. An elector of Farnell suggests in a letter to the Southern Cross that Mr. Manning, the author of " Old New Zealand, 1 ' and " Hem's War," should be asked to represent the district in the place of Mr. Reader Wood, who has resigned. We have now the programme of the first performance at the Theatre Royal before us, which is to take place at' the Odd Fellows' Hall on next Monday night. The entertainment is a liberal one, commencing with " The Daughter of the Regiment," introdecing in the in interlude singing a id dancing, and concluding with the farce of " Whitebait

at Gieenwich." The lessees have had the greatest consideration for the pockets of the Wellingtonians, and have made the entrance money judiciously low. The scenic artist, Mr. C. Massey, is well known for his skill ; and among the other members of the company we recognise many stars well known to the theatrical world. We have visited the theatre, and seen the alterations that have been effected, and must acknowledge that the transformation is great.