The Globe. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1878.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1421, 4 September 1878, Page 2

The Globe. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1878.

Some little time back we called attention to the desirableness of establishing a public abattoir for Christchurch. Of tho necessity for such a step being taken there is, wo think, little doubt, aud wo notice that tho Daily Times has recently been advocating tho same point in Dunedin. With tho extension of the railway lines in every direction, tho establishment of an abattoir becomes more aud more practicable and desirable. Wo have now in and around Christchurch a perfect swarm of slaughter-houses, which, however clean they may bo kept, can hardly bo considered desirable in close contiguity to populous neighbourhoods. This multiplication of slaughter-houses has another drawback. Tho County Council have an Inspector, whose duty it is to supervise these slaughter-houses. Scattered as they are throughout tho i district, it is a matter of impossibility

for tho Inspector to exorcise over tho proprietors of these yards that rigid supervision which is so essential to tho conservation of the*public health in their locality. By the establishment of an abattoir, remote from populous districts, yet contiguous to tho railway, and easily accessible from all parts, tho whole of the slaughtering would ho concentrated in one place, and the Inspector could thou see that tho provisions of tho law were rigidly carried out. Tho proposed change would interfere with no vested interests; indeed wo believe tho butchers would ho gainers by tho establishment of an abattoir, as they would ho relieved from tho necessity of keeping up a largo staff aud going to tho exponao of erecting slaughterhouses, &c. So far as tho general public are concerned, the alteration would be a groat benefit to them. Population is now spreading so rapidly that there is scarcely a point in tho district where a slaughter-house does not come close to tho township. As we have said, even if slaughter-houses are kept scrupulously clean, it is still unpleasant for many reasons to tho residents in their immediate vicinity. By tho establishment of public abattoirs, at a point remote from population but still within easy distance by rail, all this would bo avoided. The railway deparraout would, no doubt, make special arrangements as to early moat trains, Ac., and both tho butchers and tho public would, wo feel sure, be gainers by the change. Wo trust that this subject will ho taken up by some member of the County Council, and discussed, so that tho arguments for and against may be heard. It seems to ns such a public necessity, that no further time ought to he lost in putting a scheme for tho establishment of abattoirs into practical execution.

The annual report of tho Canterbury Chamber of Commerce presented at the recent yearly mooting deserves more than passing notice. The record of tho year’s work of an institution such as tho Chamber of Commerce, intimately bound up as its interests are with tho prosperity of the provincial district, cannot but he interesting to the general body of the public as marking our progress. It is, therefore, very satisfactory to find that tho prosperity which has attended all other branches of industry during the year has also been extended to commerce. Tho largo increase in the purchases of land which has taken place will load naturally to an increased area of cultivation, and consequently to increase of exports, Heuco it is a matter for congratulation on more grounds than tho actual opening up of tho country for settlement. Another noticeable point in the report is that onr trade is extending. Hitherto wo have to a great extent at least. confined our export of grain to England, but during last year a new market has been opened—viz., in South Africa, tho shipments to which appear to have been remunerative. Once wo can establish what wo may call an outside trade like this for onr produce, its extension will bo only a matter of time, and ore long wo shall see vessels leaving our ports laden with produce for markets in which it is now unknown. From tho remarks of tho President —which wo are hound to say seem to bo borne out by past experience—it appears that it is probable the sum ’ stock ordered by the Government, even if all received in time for next season, will fall short of the requirements. This arises from the fact that since the order was given—based to a great extent upon the then requirements of the trade —lines in various parts of the district have been opened, in many cases tapping largo agricultural districts. It is therefore obvious that with extensions of the lino into parts which are bound to become exporters when brought into close connection with a market, the carrying trade must bo largely increased. Now wo agree with the President, that the Government had not allowed sufficient margin in their calculations for the increase, even supposing that all tho rolling stock comes to hand in time for next season. This is a subject of the greatest importance, not alone to the farmers and grain merchants, but to the public generally. Anything that impedes the quick loading and unloading of vessels arriving at our port tends to damage it in the eyes of homo shippers. The Harbor Board have done all in their power to render the port one of tho best in tho colony, but if obstacles are placed in the way of the expeditious transmission of goods oi produce their efforts are to a great extent rendered nugatory. This being so, wo hope tho Chamber will not lose sight of this fact, hut will urge upon tho Government the necessity of making renewed efforts to overtake the trade aud to provide largely increased accommodation for its effective despatch. Several other points touched upon in tho report are of interest to tho public, but they are matters which have yet to bo gone into and discussed before any definite conclusion is arrived at. One thing is certain that during tho past year in all departments of trade there has been very great activity aud prosperity, and now that communication is opened between the two great commercial centres of the South we may look forward to still greater results in this direction.