THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1881. THE “PRESS” ON THE RAMPAGE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2179, 18 February 1881, Page 2

THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1881. THE “PRESS” ON THE RAMPAGE.

It is not often that our venerable and decorous contemporary the “ Press” deigns to leave tho lofty fields of the discussion of European politics and tho weighty matters which now agitate the political world, and descends to paltry subjects of local or social- interest. On the rare occasions that it does so, perhaps from tho fact that tho ground is now, or that, as Aminadab Sleek observes, “ it is not at all in our way,” tho “ Press” usually makes some startling discovery, unearths some piece of intelligence, which bears unmistakeable evidence of antiquity, and blazons it forth in all tho glory of leading article type. This morning “ Tho Press ” discovers that “ the City Council has decided to set to work on the question of the water supply once more.” If our venerable and respected contemporary had commenced an article as follows:—“ It is with tho deepest possible regret that we announce to our readers the decease of her Majesty Queen Anne,” it could scarcely have been more behind the time than this statement about tho water supply. Tho fact is, a water supply committee has been appointed for some months, and as a matter of fact, very little interregnum has elapsed in its sittings. Why our contemporary should suddenly dash into tho sea of social subjects in this reckless manner, it is hard to imagine. Having thus prepared tho minds of its readers by giving way to this generous burst of confidence, and revealing a long-cherished secret (apparently known only to itself) as to tho existence of this body, “ The Press ” proceeds to deal with tho question of water supply in general. A sort of resume is given of what has already taken place, coupled with some pareutal advice to tho Council, and then wo are gravely told, “ The first, thing to bo settled—indeed, the fundamental point, of all—is this : —ls a water supply for tho City of Christchurch require,!; and if so, for what purpose is it wanted ?” This to ordinary minds would appear to be a perfectly self-evident proposition, which as the French say, would go without saying. Bat the “ Press” thinks differently, as it devotes considerable space to an elaborate building up of an argument to prove what it drives at, viz.,

that there is no need to discuss this point. Having proved this to its entire satisfaction, our contemporary goes on gravely to propound the theory, that nothing is wanted in the shapo of a water supply but such as is necessary to flush the side channels and underground sewers. Had not our contemporary, like Rip Van Winkle, been asleep for a lengthened period, as regards those subjects of social interest, it must have been aware that flushing arrangements form part of the scheme of Mr. Clark for the drainage of the city, and that, therefore, one point of the scheme so ardently advocated,|falls to the ground. On the subject of the necessity of increased supply for fire prevention purposes, the “ Press ” speaks with—for it —much decision, though wo confess we are at a loss to understand how our contemporary can reconcile their statements made with the views advanced. First, the article states that which wo all know, and therefore about which there is no dispute, viz., that an expensive system of high pressure all over the city is, for financial reasons, out of our roach. If it has taken our friend months of cogitation and doliberation to arrive at this result, there could bo no better illustration of one spending his strength for nought. Passing on, the article announces another startling fact, viz., that “ provided the apparatus of the Fire Brigade is sufficient and in good order, plenty of water can be obtained from the Avon! !” Now there is not one single individual, we feel sure, who would be bold enough to stand forward and contradict this statement, so that our contemporary is perfectly safe in making it. But cui bono ? What is the use of telling us what wo already know. The flushing of channels may bo, and doubtless is, a very necessary sanitary work; but to say that it can be. compared for one moment with the importance of an increased supply for fire prevention is simply absurd. As we pointed out in a recent article on this subject, the household supply is a luxury beyond our reach. What is not a luxury, but a stern and positive necessity, is more power to cope with fires. Not alone would this if supplied, give us additional protection for life and property, but it would put large sums into the pockets of the ratepayers in the shape of savings on insurances. The suggestions of the “Press” about these underground .tanks is all very well in its way, but the cost of those in the aggregate would far exceed that of a scheme to utilise the water of the Avon by pumping into a reservoir and distributing it for fire purposes only through the city. Besides, it would be found that these tanks would prove insufficient in case of a fire. The large ones now in use are miserably so. What, then, would bo the use of putting down a lot of little waterholes at great cost. The question to be faced, and faced boldly, is this, we must have an improved supply for fire extinction, and as we have pointed out. the greater part, if not all, of the cost will be recouped by reduction in the rates of insurance. Before our contemporary once more relapses into slumber, we would invito his consideration of the subject from the point of view wo have presented it.