The Evening Star. SATURDAY, JULY 17, 1875.

Evening Star, Issue 3868, 17 July 1875, Page 2

The Evening Star. SATURDAY, JULY 17, 1875.

It is very difficult to understand the opposition raised to the rating clause of the proposed Waterworks Extension Bill on the part of one of our morning contemporaries. It may not be a very popular doctrine, although true, to hold that all property in a town should be liable to a Abater rate, whether the proprietor chooses to avail himself of the supply or not. We may be at once met with the question, “ Is it not a very hard case that 1, who never use the water, should be expected to pay for itThis sounds very well, and is clearly applicable to all articles of merely private utility. It would be very hard, for instance, to expect one man to pay his share towards the cost of another’s gas \ yet it would be very wrong to exempt property from the payment of a rate required for lighting the streets. But there is no analogy between a gas and a water rate beyond what we have stated. The water rate is not merely neeessary for providing a supply for domestic or manufacturing purposes. With proper appliances private reservoirs might be used for collecting rainfall sufficient for household purposes, with the assistance of the numerous natural springs that abound in the neighborhood. Some eight or nine years since those were the only resources. The inconveniences and injury to public health through polluted streams, and the improvidence of those who grudged the cost of proper tanks formed urgent reasons for securing a constant and full supply from a source affording sufficient pressure for the water to reach every house. But had these been the sole reasons for constructing waterworks, very possibly they might have been in embiyo to this day. So little are unseen benefits valued, that they weigh as nothing against the paltry coin that is passed in payment for them. As a sanitaiy blessing the man who reluctantly hands over his pound or thirty shillings for waterrate never reflects that his ability to earn it may have been secured through immunity from illness consequent upon a water supply. But unfortunately the precautionary advantages of abundance of water are frequently forced upon public attention when fire threatens whole blocks of buildings with destruction. A water supply is one of the cheapest and most effectual forms of insurance against fire. Before tho waterworks were constructed the whole town was jeopardised by a single fire, and the loss of property when one occurred was equal in value to more than the cost of the works. No one could feel safe, and tho rates of insurance formed a heavy tax upon property, beside the difficulty of inducing companies to risk so much as to cover a possible loss. The fate of Chicago should warn every owner of property against grudging a water rate. No city could have arranged for a

fuller supply. Its waterworks were fully equal to what was needed, but unfortunately they were out of order—the supply main was choked. Just at that unlucky time a fire broke out, and Chicago was in ruins, Now, whether a person uses water or not, if it is there, it is available to save his property in case of fire. If he has no building upon the ground, should lie feel inclined to sell its value has been increased through the water supply to a much greater extent than his water rate. That rate has reduced cost of insurance against fire on every building and its content# jwhere water can be used; it# amount is a very small common insurance fund on the whole of the City property, and as water is available for those who do and those who do not use it, no one should be excused paying his share on the plea of non-consump-tion, Our contemporary this morning appear# to be advocating another strange doctrine regarding public and private rights. How can the Corporation promise water supply unless empowered to acquire the necessary watershed ? What were now suburbs may at no distant day be part of the City, and, however situated, the blessings of cheap and abundant water tend to health and to increase the value of the property.

W B are not surprised at the course taken by the Fire Brigade, aud regret that the imprudent remarks of Councillor Fish should have led to their determination to resign. Beally, the Corporation has nothing to do with the Insurance Companies, and to try to bully them into increased contributions on threat of withdrawing public support from a body of men who sacrifice so much to secure the Uvea and property of their fellow citizens, is as ungrateful to them as it is indecorous in itself. If the Insurance Companies do not contribute one sixpence, the duty of the Corporation to provide or support a body of trained firemen remains unchanged. We grant that the interest of the Companies is that a fire-brigade shall be always ready to save property that would otherwise be burnt, and we have no sympathy with their niggardliness : but that is not the question. The Volunteer Fire Brigade has ever shown equal skill, promptitude, and determination to—perhaps greater than—that of a paid body. They deserve the warmest thanks of the City for their self-denying Watchfulness We ask if in future a fire brigade has to be paid—and the City isnot safe without on?—what will Cr Fish's attempt at coercing the insurance companies cost ? It is a pity that Councillor’s lonj; expeneaco in public matters has not taught him when to speak aud when to hold his tongue.

We hear that Mr Alexander M ‘Gregor, of the Biitish Hotel, will offer himself as a candidate for th« representation of Bell Ward in the City Council. Raupo wharea are being built o» the block at Catikati, Tavnanga, for the special settlers now on th-ir way out from Ireland. The North Otago Turf Club appears, like the Dunedin Joekey Club, to be in a flourishing condition, its half-yearly report jest published showing a cash balance in hand of Ll5O 6s Id. It will be seen by our telegraphic columns that 11. M. g.s. Dido, about the safety of which some fears had beew entertained, has arrived at Wellington all well, after having experienced some very heavy weather. The ‘ N. Z. Gazette’ of the 6th iust. contains a nstifio&tiou that his Excellency the Governor has been pleased to accept the resignation of the commission held by Major John Bathgate, No. 1 Battalion, Otago Bide Volunteers.

.Recently, the ‘ Age ’ having exhausted the stock of paper adapted for its machine, the ‘Argus’ printed its contemporary till the difficulty was tided over. It is needless to gay the favor was as handsomely acknowledged as it was freely accorded. After all tho recent wranglingand discussion it appears that Edwards has consented to walk IScott a match of seven miles against time, at the Drill-shed, for LSO a-si-ie. September 7 is fixed for the event, tdwards is to start first—that arrangement having been come to by tossing a coin. Football on Sunday afternoon is a new phase of the Sabbath observance question, and the credit or discredit of this innovation is to be given to the inhabitants of Timaru. “ A Townsman ” informs the ‘ South Canterbury Times’ that he saw several men engaged in this game in tho open streets of that town last Sunday. A very successful entertainment wfs given at the Lunatic A sylum last night, by the members of the Artillery Band. The hall was crowded, and the various items of the programme given were highly apprecited. The Artillery Band played some capital dance music, which the patients seemed to enjoy immensely.

“ Psychoscope ” again constituted the programme at tho Pi incess’a last night, and it is to be repeated this followed by “Toodles. ” The pedestrian Scott walked a mile on the stage in nine and ahalf minutes, and was afterwards presented, through Mr Keogh, with a silver cup and a watch and chain in appreciation of bis recent great feat. Mr C. S. Reeves, M.P.C., introduced a deputation from settlers in Green Island to his Honor the Superintendent, this morning, with a petition in favor of tho district being formed into a municipality, flis Honor expressed his readiness to support the proposition, provided that after inquiry itfwas found the necessary quota of ratepayers were in its favor.

The Taranaki lunatics recently transferred bo the Welliugton Asylum are beginning (says the ‘ Cross ’) to appreciate the benefits of proper quarters and careful attention. Mr W. F. Hursthouse, one of the transferees, still declaims against the ingratitude of a country for which he has done so much as a coloniser, but the bitterness of his invective is gradually softening under the kindly influences adopted and brought to boar by the superintendent of the asylum. A special meeting of 'he Dunedin-School Committee was held last evening; present— Mr Livingstone (chairman), and Messrs Stout, Fish. Gillies, and Wright. Mr Park, of the South School, wrote, staling that the cost of additions would be L 320 ; and, on the suggestion of Mr Stout, the matter was referred to the Works Committee to report on. The Oommitte expressed its regret that Messrs Park and ■■’tewart had not paid attention to a letter sent them by ’he Secretary re mid-winter holidays. Tho Torch School was at sorted to he in an overcrowded condition —no less than 030 pupils attending it.

During the terrific gala that blow at Auckland for nine boun cm the night o' the 4th hist., the anemomete ■ showed that the wind travelled 732 miles, or an average velocity o£ over eighty-one miles per hour. TLe * Cross ’ adds to this that wheu it is remem-

that during the oontinuanoe of the gale the wind was somewhat intermittent, at tunes moderatin ' a little, and at other times blowing with a fierceness as if everything were to be swept before it, we may safely conjecture that during some of those fierce gusts the wind was travelling at the rate ol about 10J miles an hour, A gentleman in New South Wa;cs write to a friend in Melbourne, respecting lb Laimer diggings, thus:—“ The enornu . yields at the Palmer diggings drew w'many miners from New South Wales, bu. now the Chinese are arriving them in thou sands. We hear of thirty thousand being ontaoirway. Twelve thousand oucoes ot gold per week will draw half China, and Cnmamen with capital are now investing largdy In town (Cooktown) property, and buying it of European-bred m n at enormous pricer. Their undertakings surprise all, butyet they make them pay. The white people cannot stand the climate there : it seems impossible for them to work iu the sun.”

The first number of the ‘ Saturday Ad vertifC!' is before us, and we con :ratnlate the proprietors on the liberal support is seems likely to receive. So crowded is it with advertisements that the reading matter is not equal in quantity to wbat we were led to anticipate. This will most probably be remedied next week, as it is announced the number of pages will be increased. The time-table is a most useful page. The information is full, and well-arranged. The heading is well designed and fairly cut, aud there is in this number a well-executed portrait of Mr Disraeli, no doubt as he was some thirty years ago. Ho is more venerable now. We have not bad time to digest the literary articles, but, judging by the cursory glance we have given them, they appear fairly written. The paper and printing are good, and the undertaking a-eras likely to succeed. It has oar best wishes

We understand that Mr Caldwell, governor ofj the gaol, has received warrants of pardon signed, by his Excellency the Governor and countersigned by the bon* the Minister of Justice, for the discharge of the three men—Thomas Mee, Eobsrt Fergusou, and Frank Gawn—who were convicted at the Police Court ou the JOfch ultimo, by Messrs Ward and Fiexmau, J. P.’s., of assaulting a constable, and sentenced to one month’s impris .r.ment with hard labor, without the option of paying a fine. Prisoners were liberated this day. It appears that immediately after the conviction of the prisoners, a petition, signed by a large number of merchants and others, and with a special recommendation from ihe convicting magistrates, was forwarded through his Honor the Superintendent to the hou. the Minister of Justice, requesting a fine to be substituted iu lieu of imprisonment, owing to the very great respectability and good character of the prisoners.

i ho Volunteer Fire Brigade held a special meetin; at the ongine-staticn, .i at tray street, last evening—Captain Wain in the chair—with a view of considering a resolution pai-s d by the City Council on the 17th March last, namely That the united insurance companies be informed that unless they raise their annual subscription in aid of supporting the Fire Brigade to 1.,300 per amuim, the Council will discontinue supporting the Brigade.” The matter having been fully discussed by the members of the Brigade, the following resolution was carried without dissent : —‘’That, in co;.side ,, atioa of the apparent dissatisfaction of members of the City Council, aud likewise the ap.th displayed by the various insurance com panic-; towards the Dunedin Volunteer Fire Brigade, we, th± Brigade, do resign, according to the terms of agreement with the Council, viz., three mouths’ notice from date; and that the same be forwarded to the Council forthwith.”

vnderstarding that some of our farmers an-1 squatters are intending to import Wi. ase’-s for the purpose of destroying rabbits, tie *T. O. Times ’ says if they do this, they will certainly be jumping out of the fryingpan into the fire. Destructive as rabbits

I'-ay be, they are not nearly so ohjoct.i--.HaUe as weasels, and, if once introduced, th n re will be no getting rid of thorn. We are informed that on one estate in the midland counties of England, so destructive are the weasels that no less than fifteen men are employed snaring and killing them. There will not be the slightest chance of acclimatising pheasants or any birds that build their nests on the ground, in districts where the weasel is introduced. glance into any Kn cyclopaedia will show that they are the natural enemies of birds which the Colony is spending large sums to introduce. They devour young birds of all kinds, suck eggs, and are regular slaughterers in the poultryyards ; and walls are no obstacles in their way, for they can climb them and trees with agility. •fit the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Port Chalmers, this morning, before Mr T. A. Mansford, R.M., Henry X el son, for being drunk and disorderly, was fined ss, or in default, to be imprisoned for twenty-four hours. Samuel Bolglaise was charged, on the. information of Constable Coffey, with indecency on the Dunedin and PortChalmers road, and pleaded not guilty. Sergeant Neil stated that complainls of the prisoner’s conduct had been made to him by some respectable females, and he immediately detailed Constable Coffey to make inquiry into the matter. That officer promptly arrested the prisoner, but since then he feared the witnesses had been tampered with, as they had not appeared in answer to their subpoena. He therefor*? requested his Worship to adjourn the case till Tuesday. His Worship stated that had the witnesses been subpoenaed at an earlier date than this morning he would have at once issued warrants for their arrest, but he would, however, postpone the case until Tuesday, and would give bail in two sureties of L 25 each, if prisoner could procure them. '1 he Court then adjourned. The Port Chalmers Choral Union gave their second entertainment of the season in the Masonic Hall last evening. The attendance was exceedingly good, and his Worship the Mayor presided. Mr Charles Sykes played a brilliant pianoforte solo, and the members of the company commenced their part of the entertainment by singing the opening chorus “To Rome, Immortal Loader.” This was followed by songs, duets, and concerted pieces, and a pianoforte sol* by Miss Stewart. The litst past of the propiamrae was brought to a close hv the chorus, “Lonely Vale of Stieima.” A.’er the usual interval, the company rendered the charming glee, “Come, Let’s he Gav,” which was followed by several well rendered rongs aud part pieces, the moat noticeable of which were the duet, “Kathleen mo i,” and the song “ 1 Strive to Forget TheaJ” Loth of which were sung with considerable eff .ct by lady members of the Union. Nor must we fail to render due praise to Iho gentleman who sang the final song, 'M aud, Mo.” The concert was finally brought to a dose by the whole of the comp.my sirginv the well known duet ami ehoiu “ All’s Well,” folio-ved by the 'National . nidn ra. A deputation waited on the Supei i tondeat to-day from the Road Hoard Conference, that body being represented by Messrs W. Hooper,. R. Rutherford, aud It. Ko.suotham (secretary). The object was to get the present Loacl Board Ordinance repealed, and provision made for several mailers in a new Ordinance. These matters ir.eludid roquets that I 'iatrict Boards should have charge of pounds ; that the chairman of each Board

should be made a Justice of the Peace to adjudicate upon oases arising out of breaches of the bye-iaws, or other matters under the control of Boards ; that all flues arising from breaches of the Ordinance or bye laws should -O to the funds of the Board; that Boards be empowered to provide for the eradication of thistles by bye-laws ; that all revenue arising from the. dog tax and the slaughter* men’s and publicans’ licenses bo paid to the Boards ; and that police assistance should bo granted to District Boards. IBs Honor said bat some of the subjects the Provincial Council had power to deal with, but that certain of thu powers asked for could net bo granted. There would bo no difficulty about tbo poundr, for the keeper could be appointed aud the fees would go to him. The question of fines would require an Act of the Assembly, but that retorting to thistle eradication could easily be arranged. He thought the Chairmen of Road Boards would have to be placed iu the same category as the Mayors of corporate towns and and made Justices of the Peace ; but as to the request for police assistance to tbo Boards there would be a difficulty, as it would involve an entire change iu the present police system. His Honor observed in conclus on that he was much iu favor of making Road Board districts, which were too email at present, into counties, but the country’ was scarcely ripe enough for that yofc. A great result to the labors of the Conference would be to get the present Ordinance simplified and short* ened He would give the deputation’s request every consideration.

The Wakari District Ploughing Match will bo held m Mr Bunting’s Paddock on Friday next.

Mr Reeves will address the electors of Bell Ward at tbe Oddfellows* Hall on Monday evening at 7.30.

Hie usual fortnightly meeting of the Coim mere.:,l Building Society will be held on Monday evsu; mr. The annual iucC'.oe of the Roslyn and Kalkorai Institute will L-e nci.l on Tuesday even* ing, at eight o’clock. A meeting of members of the Loyal Orange Institution will be held in the Lodge-room on Monday evening at 7.30. The annual social meeting of Knox Church Young Men’s Society will be held in the Classroom on Wednesday evening at 6.30. „-Mr Walter will address the electors of Leith Ward this evening in White’s Hotel, Albany street, at 9 30. On Monday evening, Mr Walter will meet the electors at the Mission House at 7.30, aud at the Caledonia Hotel, King street, at 8.30.