THE GLOBE. TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1882. THE MAYOR ON THE FUTURE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2422, 10 January 1882, Page 3

THE GLOBE. TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1882. THE MAYOR ON THE FUTURE.

On the occasion of his first presiding at a business meeting of the Council last evening, the Mayor took the opportunity of making a presentment as to his hopes for the year of his Mayoralty, and it is pleasant to see that ho by no means wishes to be a King Log, but is desirous of seeing his year of office signalized by material improvement in the city where ho has been elected Chief Officer. “If we are to maintain,” says Mr. Rnddenklau, “ the prestige and reputation of ono of the chief cities in New Zealand, we must make Christchurch healthy and attractive in order to court population.” But the Mayor is practical, and is aware

that the rates in Christchurch are by no means light, while the late commercial depression has not entirely disappeared, hence those works which would be reproductive principally commend themselves to him, such as a market, abattoirs, and a water supply. With regard to the erection of a permanent market, and of abattoirs we have throughout steadily upheld the policy of building them. The market would very soon pay for the cost of its construction, and it would be strange if it would not. The City Council have a valuable site we may say for nothing, and we should like to know what private individual or firm, being in such a position, would not erect buildings on such site, the rent of which would bring in a handsome return on the money expended. So that, setting aside altogether the question of convenience to the citizens, from purely business considerations only the erection of a permanent market would seem advisable. Then as to abattoirs, there can be no doubt that Christchurch has grown to such a size that private slaughterhouses, however strictly they may be supervised, should no longer be permitted. The health of the citizens demands that the slaughtering of animals should be placed entirely under official control. But when the Mayor treats of the water supply question wo do not quite follow him through with the same readiness as before. Indeed, he appears to mix the issues connected with that question in a manner which might cause trouble if it was brought before the citizens. He appears to look upon the water supply scheme as the complement of the .drainage scheme, and places in the forefront of the advantages to bo gained by a water supply the fact that the excreta may be sent into the drains and flushed on to the Sandhills. Now we would like to call the Mayor’s attention to the phases through which this water supply business has passed, and |we will leave it to him to say whether it would be judicious for any well wisher of the scheme to link it with the drainage scheme. A water supply scheme in one of its forms was placed before the ratepayers linked with other schemes which wore not desirable, and it fell, partly because that form of the scheme was thought to be extravagant, partly because the linked schemes brought forward at the same time did not commend themselves to the citizens. Again, quite lately, a much more judicious and less costly form of water supply scheme was placed before the ratepayers, and it also fell, partly because, as is now generally acknowledged, of the ill-judged parsimony of some short-sighted individuals, and partly because it was not comprehensive enough. Probably if the last scheme was brought forward under better auspices it would find favor with the majority of the citizens. But to connect it with the drainage scheme, and to advocate through the water supply scheme the conveyance of solid excreta to the sandhills, would be to raise up against the water supply scheme a host of fresh enemies. The Mayor must know very well what happened when the late Drainage Board tried to smuggle in certain provisions int® an Act for “allowing” householders to connect with tho main sewers for the purpose of con-

veying away solid excreta. The citizens had not made np their mind on this vital subject, and they had no wish to see their hand forced by the Drainage Board. And we are not aware that public opinion is one hit more advanced now on this point than it was then. The scientific intelligence that is borne to us from Europe and America is so conflicting that some say the balance is decidedly against the conveyance of solid excreta in sewers, while others say the contrary. We have no wish to take any part in such a controversy. Wo should like to see a committee of experts collecting intelligence, so that the public might have some reliable data on which to found a sound public opinion. But what wo want to do is to remind his Worship the Mayor as to the state of public feeling on this question, and to warn him that, if lie throws his heart into an endeavour to get a judicious water supply scheme carried out during his term of office, he had better drop his drainage theories, or he will find that ho has placed on the back of the water supply scheme an old man of the sea that will

not easily be got rid of. The advantages connected with a water supply are numerous enough without trenching on such dangerous ground. The Hushing of our channels would benefit the public health to a great extent: the existence of mains would render tho watering of the streets cheap and thorough : tho numborberless uses to which the water power might be placed for manufacturing purposes would increase trade facilities; and the fair distribution of water over a largo area would reduce fire insurance premiums. These, and other advantages wo might name, are surely enough to make out a distinct claim for a water supply scheme. The scheme is one that will stand on its own merits, and it had far batter be dissociated from dangerous neighbours. Magisterial. —lt is reported that Mr Beetham will take the Resident Magistracy of Christchurch, Mr Beswiok succeeding him at Timaru. Mr John Ollivier will conduct the Court business at the fort.