THE PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, MARCH 13, 1871.

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 819, 13 March 1871, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, MARCH 13, 1871.

The Borough Council of Greymouth has been a very useful body. Considering the means placed at its disposal and the pressure of circumstances to which it^has been subjected, its performances 'will bear similar comparison with those of any similar body in the Colony. It has not been the fault of the Council that most of its efforts and the largest proportion of its revenues have been expended upon one particular work, which, however necessary and valuable, is somewhat outside the class of undertakings usually undertaken by Municipal bodies. The protection of the town from the incursions of the river and the preservation of the navigation of thej river itself, have undoubtedly, from their great and pressing necessity, been objects that have absorbed the lion's share of the general taxation of the borough which, under ordinary circumstances, should have been applied to works of a more general character. The improvement of the streets, the extension of roadways to property which, although equally rated with that which enjoys the advantages of good streets and roads, is still without these essentials, have had to give way to the great consideration of river protection. So far the ratepayers have suffered this alienation of taxation without grumbling, but it is clearly the duty of the Council at the first opportunity to expend a more generous share of the taxation on on the general improvement of the town. It is to be hoped that the negotiations now proceeding between the Borough Council and the General Government will result in the expensive duty of maintaining the protective works, and the improvement of the navigation of the port being shifted from the Borough Council in its municipal character, and devolved upon a separate administration endowed with a sufficient revenue for the purpose. Although the outward aspect of the streets of Greymouth has materially improved during the existence of the Corporation, it must be admitted that this town is far behind in this respect to the neighboring Borough of Hokitika. We are aware that the Corporation of the latter town have enjoyed an exceptional advantage in the fact that the great bulk of the cost of river works and wharves was originally defrayed out of the general revenues of the County. But apart from this the Hokitika Borough Council has achieved a really wonderful extent of work in the shape of street formation and general municipal improvements. It is fully time that the Greymouth Corporation should devote a little more attention to what are by right considered the primary duties of such a body. Those who have paid and continue to pay their rates without receiving any equivalent, except that which is of a general rather than a local kind, have some reason to expect that at least a fair portion of their taxation shall be applied to purposes more immediately affecting their own properties. The back streets of the town, although much improved since their original conditon, are still in need of extensive amendment. But by far the most urgently required improvement that the Borough Council should pay special attention to is one affecting the sanitary state of the town. Nothing has yet been done in Greymouth with respect to that most important question — drainage. We need not quote any authorities as to the vital importance of this question. It is a wellestablished fact that efficient drainage is necessary to the health not alone to urban communities but to the inmates of isolated houses. Besides, scientific research and observation have established the fact that bad drainage is not only the means of spreading and intensifying disease, but is also the parent of deadly disorders. During the prevalence of great epidemics, it has always been found that the death rate has been highest in badly-drained localities, whilst those where greater sanitary provisions existed have escaped almost scathless. The town of Greymouth is naturally healthy. Its site, although low, is, from its proximity to the river and sea, and from its exposure to cold invigorating breezes from the hills, favorable to health. But it is doubtful whether these natural advantages are not more than counteracted by the disease-producing elements that are manufactured in the town. It is not too much to say that not a single dwelling in Greymouth is properly drained. In the majority of cases there is an utter absence of drainage. The facilities for getting rid of surface deposits of a noxious kind are so great that most persons content themselves by digging a hole to the gravel, filling it up with the filth that has to be got rid of, and then sinking another. At the same time those who think they are doing a very useful thing in putting their sewage out of sight, forget that they use the water from wells in the same open strata, into which no doubt there is an extensive drainage of everything that is filthy and

abominable. Few towns could be more easily drained than Greymouth. A good main drain down Richmond and Mawhera Quays, with outlets into the river, would cost little, and would afford excellent facilities for house-occupiers to connect their house-drains with them. The drains being subject to the tide, would be continually flushed and kept clean, and the proximity of the river, at the town, to the sea, would prevent any permanent polution of the river itself. At a time when epidemic and "epidermic diseases of a serious character have made their appearance in the colony, and are spreading, it becomes a most serious thing for inhabitants of every town to see to their drainage. Forewarned is forearmed in some cases, and the warning we have of the fate of ill-drained towns in time of epidemic should not be without effect on ourselves.