The Globe. FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 1878.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1203, 11 January 1878, Page 2

The Globe. FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 1878.

It is not often that our contemporary the LtfUeltoii Times descends from its high pedestal as a director of public opinion to notice purely local matters. When it does so, however, the same method is applied that is so successfully carried out regarding subjects of a wider range. The particular idea to be proved having first been settled, our contemporary experienced little difficulty in finding the necessary feet*. In a recent issue the alleged shortcoming*; of iha City Council in regard to side .cb.auneii.s formed the subject of remark, The City Council were advised whilst asking for (he powers of the Board of Health to he restored to to consider the many points in vegfrl'ti t° san itary matters which had been negfolteu b^ them ' our colltomporary then to bring a series of charges against 4tf City Council. The first of these is thai ftp provision exists for flushing the ffyffi channels, and secondly that the Council does not sufficient energy, with the means at their in the matter of keeping the channels .dear >,f obstructions. It is asserted in the usual way af proving the arguments adduced that only four men «p to very recently were employed for fifty miles of streets, and that the sweeping of the channels i~ done in ,a most slovenly and imperfect maimer. We are aleo led to believe, by thafc

the sweepings of the channels are allowed to remain in the street to spread disease. If there is one thing - in which the Council can claim to have done good service to the city, it is as regards sanitary matters. Although divested of the powers of the Board of Health, they have willingly undertaken work respecting the health of the city which should properly have been performed by a, Board of Health. It is, therefore, only fair to them that the charges made against them should receive; refutation. A letter signed by Mr. Ick, the chairman of the works committee, appears in this morning's issue of the Lyttclton Times. This shews most completely that the City Council are doing their utmost —and with success —to conserve the public health. The writer of the article suggested as a great improvement that eight men should be employed instead of four. Well, Mr. Ick points out that this has been done for two months past. Then, as regards the mode, the city being divided into four quarters, with two men to each quarter,it follows that none of the channels can, as asserted by our contemporary, be left for more than a week untouched. The point made that the sweepings are left to poison the air is disposed of by Mr. Ick's statement as to the instructions given to the surveyor to have the sweepings removed as speedily as possible. As a matter of fact we hear that this is done, and that only a very short time elapses from the channels being swept to the removal of the accumulation. Now, as to Hushing the side channels. It is asserted that no provision has has been made by the City Council for this. But what are the facts ? Why, that the Council have endeavoured to obtain a supply for the purpose of flushing the side channels, but have not been able through circumstances over which they have no control to do so. This being the fact, though fully alive to the necessities the case, the Council could do no more. They could not go in for an elaborate scheme of water supply without first consulting the ratepayers. Bat what could be done by them to meet the case has been done. In those parts of the city where the artesian well supply has failed to flush the side channels, the Council have had them done by means of the water carts. Where then is the blame to be attached to them, as alleged by our contemporary? As pointed out by Mr. Ick, in his letter, the City Council are doing their best with the means at their disposal, though, unfortunately, they are somewhat limited. Now that a project for a water supply is under consideration, no doubt the flushing of the side channels will form part of the scheme. Until then we hope our contemporary will give the Council credit—which is undoubtedly their due—for doing their best to preserve the health of the city.