THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1880.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1864, 13 February 1880, Page 2

THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1880.

The ratepayers of Christchurch hardly seem to recognise the fact that, by various operations, their streets, upon which a largo amount of public money has been expended, are being seriously damaged. It is, of course, necessary that drainage and other works of public utility should bo carried on, and that every facility should bo afforded to the bodies entrusted with the work to do so. But, on the other hand, it is only right and fair that whore the public streets are cut up for the purposes alluded to they should be restored as nearly as possible to the same condition they wore in before. As wo have pointed out, to got the streets to their present state has oost

tho ratepayers a large amount of money. It has been a slow process of wbat may bo termed building up with metal, which, as any one having experience in the matter knows full well, is an exceedingly costly process. Now wo find that some of the streets have been left in a state which will entail a large expenditure on tho city to make them at all passable in winter. There is a notable instance of this in Madras street, at the crossing of Armagh street. The contractor for the drainage works in that street has left it in anything but a good condition. The street is full of holes now filled with dust several inches deep, but which in winter will bo full of liquid mud unless, apparently, the ratepayers again put their hands in their pockets and repair the damage. This part of the city—and others as well—should be commended to the careful inspection of the works committee. They have tho power to compel the contractor to restore the street to its original condition, a power which we trust to see exercised. The ratepayers are taxed quite heavily enough now without adding still further to their burthens unnecessarily. No one would wish to impede tho work of a useful public body like the Drainage Board, but when a palpable wrong is perpetrated on the citizens by the contractor, it is time for their representatives to take action.

At the last meeting of the City Council the Mayor announced his intention of bringing the question of the loan for municipal buildings and the water supply before the citizens at the earliest possible date. In the wisdom and propriety of this step all will agree. The sooner tho question is decided one way or tho other the hotter. After this declaration from the Mayoral chair it might have been expected that steps would have been taken at that meeting to put the machinery of file Act with regard to taking tho votes of the ratepayers on the loan, in motion. As wo pointed out a day or two hack, it is necessary to give four weeks’ notice, and then ten days at least must elapse between tne last notice and the meeting. Surely if his Worship—and we presume the Councillors felt such anxiety to get this matter pushed on, they might have passed the necessary formal resolution at tho meeting referred to. There is nothing like saving time in such matters, and apparently there is no reason for delay. Let the matter ho put before the ratepayers at once, and their decision obtained, unless, indeed, the Council are of opinion that some absolute gain would accrue by putting the decision off.

The establishment at Sumner of a Deaf and Dumb Institution marks yet another era in the progress of education amongst us. Up to the present time those so unfortunately afflicted have had to grow up in ignorance, from the fact of there being no institution here wherein they might ho taught. Now, happily, this difficulty is removed, and those suffering from so severe a calamity will be enabled to —so far as their infirmity will allow—take their place in the ranks of the world’s army. The circular issued by the Minister of Education places graphically before us the objects of the school. These, briefly stated, are to overcome, so far as science and teaching can, the disadvantages under which deaf mutes labor, and fit them to earn, in some degree at least, their own living. For this purpose the Government have secured the services of Mr. Van Asch, who brings with him high testimonials, besides having a thorough knowledge of what is known as the German system, a system which it is universally admitted is the most perfect yet invented. Another point to which attention may he directed is that from the circular of the Government it may he inferred that where the parents of children so afflicted are unable to pay all the fees, applications for remission of part or all will be favorably considered. By this provision all are enabled to take advantage of the institution, whatever may he their position in life. Judging from the almost miraculous results obtained by Mr. Van Asch, as detailed in the Parliamentary papers on the subject, we look forward with both interest and confidence to tho working of the institution as likely to prove a boon of no ordinary character.