THE GLOBE. MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1879.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1815, 15 December 1879, Page 2

THE GLOBE. MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1879.

The report that appears in another column of the meeting hold at tho Temperance Hall on Saturday evening, in which tho plans of the individuals who are anxious to settle on tho Waimate Plains were further developed, is, in one respect at all events, somewhat amusing. Tho extreme hrusquoness of their telegrams to head quarters should either betoken tho most tremendous v Igour or a certain want of tact that amounts to the ridiculous. “ Let Rolleston introduce Waimate Plains Bill. Ministry full power to deal with company, who will absord constables, do works and settle eight thousand souls on the Plains: can pass both Houses in two days. Whitaker and Atkinson sold 88,500 acres Piako to oblige tho rich; can’t they do this to oblige workmen ?” So runs tho first telegram. Tho vent, vidi, vici stylo of tho message is delightful. The thing is settled off. Eight thousand souls are straining in tho leash, ready to start for the happy hunting grounds. The Bill can be rushed through by a Ministry (who are bound to have such full confidence in the gentlemen managing the undertaking) in two days, and the whole thing is done. And then tho request is seasoned in a manner which is not generally in vogue when making a request. It is not the usual thing on such occasions to inform the person requested that his ways are as the ways of a heathen Chinee and that you beg leave to tell him that ho is a decidedly shady character. But tho telegram deals in this manner by Messrs. Whitaker and Atkinson, and asks them if they cannot do the same sort of thing to oblige the workmen. It is all very primitive and charming. And then in the last telegram the meeting is made “ to protest against any equivocation concerning our petition, and pledges itself to hold the present Government responsible for any further expenditure on the Waimate difficulty.” The 1 eadiug spirits in tho meeting had evidently made up their minds that that tho Ministry would equivocate and it tells them so. • Again what charming candour! Whatever may ho the prospects of success of this Waimate Plains project, it was surely not necessary to forward such ridiculous telegrams. To wait to within a few days of tho end of the session, and then to order the Houses to pass a Bill in two days, to accuse Ministers of malpractices by way of flavouring tho request, and to determine to hold the Government responsible for any future expenditure that may be made in carrying out the project, does not argue well for tho success of tho undertaking. Plans in general must bo carried out iu a rational manner, and be governed by the rules that guide ordinary individuals in the ordinary transactions of life.

A petition addressed to the Lyttelton Borough Council has lately been circulated for signatures, asking tho Council to have public baths erected. We trust that the Borough authorities will see their way to getting such put up. Their last venture in this direction was not a success, although it is difficult to give the reason why. It may ho that at the time when admission was charged, tho arrangements were not such as might bo expected under such circumstances and that afterwards, when they were, as we htliove, thrown open to tho public, the whole affair became considerably dilapidated. But whatever may have been the reason, tho baths were not patronised to any considerable extent. There is no doubt, kowevor, that proper sea-water baths would be a decided boon, not only to the residents of Lyttelton but to tho Christchurch public. Living within such an easy distance of the sea, many whoso health would be much bonofitted by a dip, would make use of them. At present no facilities for sea bathing of any sort exist. Bathing at Sumner, except in the early morning, is impossible, and the seeker after robust health has either to remain in Sumner all night, and got up with the lark in tho morning, or to seek tho most sequestered spots round headlands whore, with one eye cast landwards and another seawards, iu the look out for sharks, ho takes his pleasure in fear and trembling. Taking the bathing iu Port as it at present exists, no person with a moderate regard for his own life would think of venturing out into tho deep water. The presence of sharks in tho bay prevents all but tbo most reckless from indulging iu a good swim, and unfortunately those carnivorous fish make their stay iu tho harbour during the very time when saltwater bathing is most desirable. If bathing is to bo carried on at all in Lyttelton harbour, well-protected swimming baths are a necessity. Should a thoroughly desirable structure be erected there is no doubt but that, in more ways than one, the borough of Lyttelton would be the gainer. The number of persons

coming' through tho tunnel for the sole purpose of a dip would in the hot weather be, no doubt, considerable, andit is far from improbable that many would temporarily take up their residence in Port should their health require it. But unless the matter is well carried out.it had better not bo started. Tho Borough Council have the warning of the old baths before them to point tho moral that people will not frequent baths whore things are not carried on in a satisfactory manner, and whore tho site is not a desirable one. Of course there is great difficultyin a limited space crowded with shipping to find a suitable place. It is probable that floating baths would be found to answer requirements more thoroughly than any other description. It is possible too that a lecale might be found on the west side of tho west wing of tho breakwater, which would have tho advantage of being well out of tho way of tho shipping, although it might certainly, when tho wind was in a certain quarter, be somewhat exposed. Tho matter of position would have to be well considered, but it can hardly bo an insuperable difficulty, The baths might at stated hours bo open to tho public, admission during other hours being gained by ticket. Wo trust that tho Borough Council will take tho matter into their favourable consideration. Tho baths would bo a groat public convenience, and bo thoroughly appreciated.