THE GLOBE. MONDAY, JULY 14, 1879.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1684, 14 July 1879, Page 2

THE GLOBE. MONDAY, JULY 14, 1879.

A meeting of the Kaitangata fund subscribers of Dunedin was bold in that cityon Friday last, to consider one of the articles of the scheme of investment. After considerable debate, Mr Gillies and others succeeded in amending the scheme so as to prevent any diversion of the fund as long as there remain any claims upon it by sufferers by the accident, and then its future appropriation is to be determined by a meeting of subscribers, presumably Dunedin subscribers. Mr. Fish and others, however, tried hard to obtain an adjournment, with the view of getting an expression of opinion from subscribers generally, but wore unsuccessful. Now, although Mr. Gillies .has managed to somewhat modify the objectionable features of the scheme of relief as propounded by the Central Committee, yet wo hold that things are not yet as they should bo. Mr. Gillies has apparently succeeded in leaving the final decision as to the destination of the fund in the hands of the Dunedin subscribers, and should these subscribers be aware of the general feeling on the subject througkthe colony, no doubt the formation of a National Provident Fund will fall through. But still it would not only have been more courteous, but more satisfactory to have remitted the whole question for the consideration of the subscribers all over the colony. And the more so because the papers in the various provinces do not hold exactly the same views with regard to the disposal of the balance left after the absolute wants of tho sufferers have been seen to, and sidy through an appeal to the subscribers themselves could tho real colonial feeling on tho matter bo ascertained. For instance, one of our Christchurch contemporaries considers that the entire sum should be paid over to tho sufferers, while other papers—amongthemthe Wellington “Post” —hold, like ourselves, the view that, when the widows and orphans are provided for as well as they would have been had their parents and fathers lived, not a penny more should bo expended on them; and that, inasmuch as people did not subscribe to provide luxuries for them, the balance should revert to tho donors in proportion to their subscriptions, to bo dealt with by them, or their opinion should be asked as to how that sum should bo expended. But matters as they at present stand, oven after tho passing of Mr. Gillies’ resolution, are not satisfactoiy. Sufficient

deference has not been shewn towards the people who, in all parts of the colony, came forward, and when £IO,OOO was asked for, handed nearly £16,000 over to the central committee. “What about the water supply?” is a question which is becoming somewhat stereotyped in the mouths of the citizens of Christchurch. The longest headed find •their corelrla development quite unequal to the task of solving this groat riddle. So many points have to be taken into consideration —such as the inherent faults of the present scheme, the apparent determination of City Councillors to stand by it at all risks, the high probability that tho ratepayers at largo would not sanction the expenditure of an enormous sum to carry it into practical effect—these considerations and so many others have to be taken into account, that not only is tbo “ Man in the Street ” utterly bewildered, but the wily merchant, the shrewd shopkeeper, and oven that creme do la creme of civic life—that noble body of ox-Mayors, ex-Councillors, and ex-clty-solicitora, who so worthily illustrate the past splendors of our municipality—are totally abroad on tho subject. And as if to make obseurily doubly obscure a sort of mysterious twilight bangs over the movements of tbo individuals who are conducting tho experiment. Tho apparatus, when last hoard of with any certainty, was lying, partly on tho spot destined as tho scone of the great experiment, partly on the beach among the frost-fish, and Mr. White was stated as about to proceed in person to the place of combat —as if it wore at all to ho expected that any other general would have tho nerve to lead the forlorn hope. This is tho state of affairs after about two years of brain work expended on the subject. And what is to follow ? Are tho citizens of Christchurch to he asked, oven if tho experiment of this particular cylinder turns out well, to adopt the idea as applicable to the whole of their water supply ? It is time that the City Council looked tho matter in tho face. The affair is too serious to be trifled witb. The present dilettante method of doing business is making a farce of tho whole concern. A water supply is necessary, and that at once. If the City Council do not seo their way to obtaining what is wanted, lot them resign tho task they have undertaken, and pass it on to more competent hands. Their candor in acknowledging that they have failed will ho more appreciated by the public than their adhesion to a course of action which is not orly making tho Council ridiculous, but is inflicting a grave injury on the ratepayers at largo