The Globe. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1877.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1065, 26 November 1877, Page 2

The Globe. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1877.

It is now some five months since the question of the drainage of the city was remitted to the decision of Mr. Clarke. This conclusion, it will be remembered, was arrived at as a sort of compromise between a committee of the ratepayers and the Drainage Board. But when this was settled, it Avas never expected that so long a delay would occur. It was anticipated that Mr. Clarke would be able to visit us and report upon the plans in a mouth or two at the outside, and that, should his report bo favorable, operations might by this time have been in full swing. If, on the contrary, his opinion was adverse to the plans submitted, then there would be ample time to have fresh ones prepared before the tine weather had come to an end. But such has proved not to be the case. So far from Mr. Clarke visiting us in two or even three months, as we have pointed out, five months have elapsed. That is, the Board has had to pass five months of inactivity as regards the main point of their duties —the efficient drainage of the city and suburbs. The favorable season of the year is fast slipping away, and yet we are compelled to stand idle. This, however, is not the end. At the last meeting of the Drainage Board, a letter was read from Mr. Clarke stating that lie had been requested to proceed to Goulburn to report on the water supply there, which would involve a delay of another month. That is, we shall be well into winter again before we are in a position even to commence the works, should Mr Clarke's opinion bo favorable. But if not then, a still further delay will occur, and all hope of beginning the drainage scheme until next spring will have to be abandoned. In former articles upon this subject we have urged the necessity that exists for some temporary measures being taken to prevent the spread of disease amongst us. Now, the further delay which will take place seems to us to strengthen this argument very considerably. It cannot surely be contended that the city and suburbs are to be left during another winter without the menus of drainage. Even if we pass through the present summer without an epidemic breaking out, how are we to face the winter without any provision for taking away the storm water ? This is a very serious question, and one Avhich both the Board and the committee of ratepayers will do well to ponder over. By the execution of some temporary works, which will give the relief required, no injury will, be done or money wasted, even if they are not all available when the permanent scheme comes to be carried out. At any rate it will be better than allowing the residents to be decimated by fever during the summer, and Hooded Otyt in the winter. Another view of the question is that tljo surrounding circumstances have so altered since | the compact between the Board and the committee was entered into that it would l)e well that a consultation should lake place as to the advisableness of abandoning the original agreement. It was never

contemplated that tho visit of Mr. Clarke should bo postponed for au indefinite time, which appears to he tho caso now: nor was it intended that tho commencement of the works should bo so delayed Hence it appears to us that it would b< much better, under the altered circumstances, for the committee and the Board to meet again, aad toy to arrange come.

tilling which will put an end to the present state of inaction. Were the Board free to act in this matter we feel sure that they would at once say to Mr. Clarke that his services were not required unless they were available within a reasonable time. But they feel that they ;ire hound by the agreement, and. until it is dissolved by mutual consent, they must await Mr Clarke's arrival. Under these circumstances there appears to be two courses open to the Board. The first is to construct such temporary works as will, in the opinion of their engineer, prevent the possibility of disease during the hot months, or floods during those of winter. Secondly, to confer with the committee as to tlio advisableness of consulting another engineer. Either of these are open to acceptance, and. would prove far more beneficial to the general body of ratepayers than the present enforced inaction on the part of the Board.

•'History repeats itself," wo are told, and no more striking proof of this can he adduced than the letter rpioted below. Marcus Clirtius sprang into a gulf to save Rome, and tin; gentleman who signs the epistle referred to makes the sacrifice of giving up the Globe in vindication of tin; insulted honor of certain ratepayers. Both the ancient and the modern citizen deserve commendation —the modern one perhaps the most. Curtius ended his troubles in the gulf, but the champion of Christchurch ratepayers still lives on. and yet, with noble self-sacrifice, refuses to avail himself of the immense advantage modern civilisation has placed within his reach in the shape of—The Globe. When next Christchurch erects a statue to her worthiest citizen, let not the Colombo street patriot bo forgotten. Meanwhile we will give his words the advantage of being read by our thousands of expectant i - eaders. Colombo street, Nov. 26th, 1877. To the Proprietor of the Globe. Sie, - Please be good enough to tell your Colombo street runner not to leave me any more copies of your paper, as I consider your sub-leader of Saturday a decided insult to the ratepayers ; assuming, as it does, that wo are not able to select a Mayor without being told who to vote for by the writer of that celebrated article above referred to. Yours, &c,