The Evening Post. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1865.

Evening Post, Issue 190, 16 September 1865, Page 2

The Evening Post. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1865.

Repeatedly the attention of the authorities has been directed to the sanitary condition of this city by events which fully demonstrated the necessity of initiating such measures as would at least tend to preserve the health of the citizens and visitors to Wellington. But as yet nothing has been done, and notwithstanding the emergency of the question no satisfactory reason has been given for the neglect on the part of those who are not only the trustees of the public affairs of the city, but of the public health. The truth is, no satisfactory reason can be given, therefore silence is their best policy. The City Board of Commissioners have no money, and can only talk about it, and the Provincial Government has too much else to attend to. At present many of the back streets and premises are in such a state of filth that it becomes a wonder how human beings can live from day to day in such localities. The pestilential odours which rise from the stagnant water and decomposing vegetable and animal matter, will speedily convince one that for stinks Wellington can vie with any city in the colony. During the past season the filth that would otherwise have lain festering in the sun, polluting the atmosphere and destroying health, was to a great extent washed away by the heavy falls of rain, and the evil therefore

was not so much felt. But still all was not washed away, and the remaining decomposed matter has infected the atmosphere to a degree thai many constitutions could not bear with impunity, and which has proved death to many. Sickness, attributable to this cause, prevails to a considerable extent all over the city, and the number of freshly made graves in the cemetery is painful evidence of the fact. Let this truth be known, and perhaps the careless will be aroused to the necessity of initiating measures for sani- ! tary improvements. It generally happens | that mortality is considerably lessened by i the appearance of some special unmistakeable form of disease. The people, aware of present danger, study the laws of health, become more cleanly, and are thus enabled to avoid it. But when the malady conceals its power under the ordinary forms of disorder, as at present, the people are sometimes thrown off their guard, and remain quiescent, ignoring the existence of greater peril. The bill of mortality is increased without making any other impression but that death is the common lot of man, and that of the march of life not one-half are destined to cross the stage of childhood. Any one curious enough to visit the Te Aro fiat cannot fail to observe the numbers of sickly looking people and children who reside there — a state of things that can only be attributed to the disregard of sanitary laws. In the country, which certainly embraces most conditions of health, any evidence of existing malaria implies a degree of neglect on the part of the authorities more or less culpable. If a health commission were appointed to inquire into and report upon the state of the city in this respect, we are certain that its report would reveal a tale of horrors of which few have the faintest idea. The result of this neglect is, that there are three times as many deaths in the lower parts of the city, where these life-destroy-ing influences are at work, than in the higher parts of the city, where Banitarj' improvements are not so much required. But perhaps the question whether the evil shall be remedied is one of who shall do it. At once we say that the Provincial Government is bound to see that it is done. There is nothing to prevent the City Board of Commissioners being the appointed agency of the Government in carrying out the work. Its members are fresh in office, and no doubt anxious for an opportunity of distinguishing themselves as wise councillors. The city is well adapted for drainage ; there are no engineering difficulties ; sewers converging to the bay might soon be constructed at a small cost, and of sufficient width to carry I off the accumulations of which we complain. The main sewage once completed and found efficient, the owners of property would soon discover the utility of constructing proper house drains leading to the main sewers, and other conveniences necessary to health and decency. J

la the House of Representatives, yesterday, it was resolved that on Tuesday next the ' House should resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to consider the propriety of imposing Stamp duties. The measure is of Ministerial origin, but is not popular in the House, and is therefore Ukely to meet with considerable opposition. It is reported thai Ministers hare resolved to stand or fall by it. In the report of the Joint Committee on the Gold Fields Act, it is stated that the committee have hud under their consideration the bill to limit the liability of mining companies ; and having examined into its provisions, they are of opinion that the bill should receive the sanction of Parliament. A printed return has been laid on the table of the House of Representatives showing the amounts charged against the provinces of the N wthern island of the amount expended of the £3,000,000 loan to the 30th of June last. The following is a summary of the various items : — Against Auckland — Public works, £52,588 18b 6d ; surveys, £42,807 17s Id ; introduction and location of settlers, £93,235 Its lid ; total, £188,632 7s 6d. Against Taranaki— Public works, £84,858 17s 9d ; surveys, £1,844 16s 3d; introduction of settlers, £3,275 17s 3d j total, £39,979 Ils3dA portion of the sum expended in the intro- | duction of settlers is chargeable against

Auckland and Taranaki. Against Welling, ton— Public works, £14,841 8s lOd. Against Hawke's Bay— Public works, £2,295 15s 2d ; surveys, £432 Is 9d j total, £2,727 16s lidmaking a grand total of £246,181 149 6d expended for public works in this island. It will be pleasing to the friends of Gerald Fitzmorris, convicted at the late criminal sittings of the Supreme Court for selling firearms without ft licence, &n* sentenced to three years' penal servitude, to learn that his Excellency, with the advice of the Executive Couucil, has been pleased to commute his sentence to six months' imprisonment with hard labour. The steamer Wanganui was placed in the hands of Mr. Borthwlck, of Wellington, last week, who has given her a complete overhaul. Her bottom has been cleaned and coated with Borthwick's anti-fouling composition, and her deck work regrained. Her forecabin has been materially altered and improved, and several improvements have been carried out in her saloon, all of which no doubt will meet with the approval of traders between Wanganui and this port, by duly patronising the vessel, V We observe at the shop of Mr. Linley, ,*green grocer, Lambton quay, a number of English singing birds, comprising thrushes, l/irks, and blackbirds, brought to Australia by the steamer London, and thence to Wellington by the Albion. The Acclimatisation Society of Melbourne some years ago imported a variety of English feathered songsters. Tli y have since rapidly increased in number, become thoroughly acolimatised,and are now found all over the colony. When will the Acclimatisation Society of New Zealand do likewise ? *^( The steamer Wonga Wonga, now under the command of Captain Seymour, was laid up some time ago, and has since undergone a complete overhaul. Extensive repairs have been made to her engines, making them almost new, and new boilers have been put in. Entirely new decks have been laid down, and new plates put into her sides and bottom. The forecabin has been considerably enlarged and made comfortable ; the saloon has been redecorated and thoroughly refitted ; and the ladies' cabin has undergone a similar change. The engineering work has been carried out by Mr. Seager, the shipwright work by Mr. Thuokwell, and the decorations have been executed by Mr. Thurston in a very creditable manner.