THE HAWKE’S BAY TIMES. NAPIER, THURSDAY, JULY 11, 1861.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume I, Issue 2, 11 July 1861, Page 2

THE HAWKE’S BAY TIMES. NAPIER, THURSDAY, JULY 11, 1861.

One of the most important and primary duties of those who are placed by the suffrages of a people in authority over them, is to effect such measures for the protection of the public health and life as may from time to time become apparent to them. That this is now universally acknowledged to be true by all civilized nations is proved by the fact that much greater attention has been paid of late years to the sanatory condition of cities and states than formerly, and this with the most beneficial results, amounting, in certain cases, to a saying of life fully to fifty per cent., and the prevention of sickness and suffering to an extent altogether incalculable. Not that perfection has been reached even on this point in our own mother country, but such progress has been made in the right direction as fills the heart of the philanthropist with gratitude for what has been done, and the most pleasing hope for the future. It is only reasonable that the duty we have referred to should be performed by rulers and governors, while we have it declared, on the highest possible authority, that the life is more than meat, and the body more than raiment; and all must admit that they who legislate and wield the sword of justice for the protection of a people’s property, should certainly do the same or more for the preservation of their health and life. These remarks are called from us on considering the sanatory condition of our town, and more particularly of that portion in its Southern direction where, as is well known, there exists a fertile source of disease, suffering, and death, in the form of noxious vapors and gasses evolved from the swamps ; and where we find an amount of sickness which, considering that it is now the depth of winter, raises serious apprehensions in reference to what may be expected as the spring and summer advances, and, by the increasing heat, add more powerful stimulus to the process of petrifaction and its consequences. The deadly influence of the poisonous exhalations constantly emitted from decaying organised substances are too well known to need any extensive remarks from us. These vapors have one peculiarity over most other evils by which we may be surrounded, and this is their abominable and sometimes unbearable odors as they affect the olfactory nerves, which is as if nature cried aloud in a voice not to be mistaken —beware; here is an enemy of the most destructive nature, invisible to the eye indeed, but none the less manifest to sense.

Some six months ago, the attention of the

Government was called to this subject in a valuable report by the Provincial Surgeon in these words —“ South of the Island, and in its immediate vicinity, is a large extent of morass and shallow salt water. Lagoons of from one to two feet in depth, which exposes at low tide a large surface of mud flat, from which arises a variety of noxious and pestilential gasses, at times excessively foetid, and almost intolerable. Napier Town proper is situated on a shingly flat, which is nearly on the sea level. * * * * * The exhalations from this porous crust can scarcely be considered compatible with the preservation of health—neither is it so, and when the town has increased, considerable apprehension may be entertained that they will prove a fertile source of fevers, agues, diarrhea, and rheumatism.” How well this report describes the state of things as at present existing we need not say, as the painful truth

Ims been so recently bruUybt borne to the bosoms of so many of our fellow-townsfolk,

in some cases by the toss of tnose near anil dear to them, and in other cases by sickness and afflictions which may probably lead to a like loss. There is something extremely

painful in the idea, that any of our fellows are enduring needless suffering, or that any life has been prematurely lost to us. Yet that such is the fact cannot be denied ; and it cannot be too strongly impressed on our minds that the poisonous vapors which are continually inhaled into the delicate structure ' or tne lungs are not less fatal in their effects than the more palpable poisons taken into the stomach. We have alluded in a general way to the fact that these exhalations give warning of their presence by their effect on the olfactory nerves. This is most especially tne case with those to which we now refer, and which the Provincial Surgeon has declared to be “ excessively foetid” and “ intolerable.” But those of our townsmen who reside in their vicinity men not be told this, and our object is to direct the attention of those who, although they may not suffer the jr inconveniencies and bereavements occasioned t thereby, have yet the power to remedy so great an evil. Until the last few weeks, we did entertain the idea that this would be done, as the subject was discussed in Council, when it was resolved to apply to the General Assembly for an act giving power to purchase the lands in question, and to fill up and reclaim them; hut we have been given to understand that this is not likely to be done —at least at present, on account of the expense which would be incurred as compared with the probable return, Now, in regard to the question of economy, our readers may rest assured that we will not yield to any one in our advocacy of the most strict fidelity to the public in the expenditure of the revenue ; but we must not permit ourselves to be deceived by the sound of words; because one certain undertaking would cost more than ■ another, it by no - means follows that it would be economy to neglect this and perform that. Economy must be measured by, first, the necessity or public utility of the work, and secondly, by the sum actually expended upon it with what it ought to cost—not so much on the*sum spent, as on the manner in which it is spent. There may be greater extravagance in spend- <£ ing .£I,OOO on a bridge where a ford only is required than £14,000 on a work which is imperatively called for by the public health, provided only that the money is honestly applied to the execution of the work, and not wasted by ignorance, carelessness, or favoritism. However, there is a still greater economy than that of £s. d.; there is that of health and life, to which the other is altogether subservient, and indeed for which it is to he exercised. It is in vain our property is spared if our lives are sacrificed—our treasury closed if our health must suffer from this cause. True economy will always teach us to yield the less for the good of the greater need. It is, of course, quite possible that a sum twice or thrice that necessary to perform this work efficiently may he spent upon it, as has been done upon others; .but there are those duty it is to see that this shall not he, as indeed it need not. It is hardly necessary at this day to refer to an objection raised by some as to the legality of purchases of freehold land without or against me consent of the proprietors j but as the objection has been raised, we would just remark that the mother country , is now covered with a network of railways ¥ which run through and across freeholds without number, in thousands of cases against the will and consent of the owner ; that when streets are to he widened, public buildings to be erected, or other great works performed, the rights of property are often sadly interfered with ; and the principle is quite as applicable here as in any of the cases enumerated —that individual privileges must always be accounted subservient to the public benefit.