The Lyttelton Times.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XI, Issue 671, 13 April 1859, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times.

Wednesday, April 13. The increased immigration which has set into our shores, and the influx of capital which accompanies it, give fair hope of developing the resources of the country far eai'lier then at first would have been deemed possible. We are justified more and more every day in looking on such improvements as steam navigation and railways, not as luxuries, but as necessities of life. The most sanguine among us will probably prove to be the truest prophets as to our position in a very few } rears.

But while we do our utmost to secure such great advantages as would be afforded by a good system of railway communication, we must not forget the humble but vital necessities which lie at our very doors. Every ship load of new-comers must pass through our two chief towns, and a certain number of them always settle for a time in one or other of them. Hence the very large increase of town population, in Christchurch especially. We cannot look forward without dread to the future of these towns, unless some immediate sanitary provisions be adopted. Lyttelton is naturally so destitute of water in the dry weather that immediate steps are necessary to make it permanently healthy, even with its present population. As the commerce of the place increases, the want will become more pressing. There is great hope that in future the springs opened in boring the tunnel may give an ample supply of water for both town and shipping. In Christchurch the supply of water from the river will soon not be so pure as it has hitherto been, unless a proper system of sewerage and drainage be adopted; while the wells are in many cases tainted for want of this provision.

Every one remembers the late of the Sewerage and Drainage Bill introduced by the Provincial CJovernment during1 the last session. Hon. members have probably very good reasons for differing1 from the Government as to the manner in which provision for town necessities is to be made, but they are hound, in case of their objecting- to a scheme proposed for remedying an .evil, to propose a substitute—so at least their constituents generally think. Lyttelton, which has hitherto suffered worst from want of drainage and sewerage complained loudly of the neg-lect of the Council; Christchurcb, with its wide expanse and clear river, was more apathetic; it had not yet felt the evil. Before the evil is seriously felt we should strongly recommend Chrisfclmrch to save its beautiful river from pollution, and to provide for the health of a population which is increasing so rapidly. In a young community like this, where the towns represent' so large a proportion of the population, and when the current revenue is sufficient to cover most of the pressing wants of the day, the claim of those towns on the public purse is certainly a very strong one. Whatever occupation a,man may follow, he derives a large advantage from the towns, probably directly, certainly indirectly. It is to the interest of the whole province that the health of. the towns should be ■ attended to. Now, while we allow that the maintenance of local works should be left•■ eventually to the towns, yet the first and most expensive works should bo initiated by the province. Aslong as public works are not neglected elsewhere, it is right that the centres should not be neglected. We hope that this subject will be discussed before it is too late, and that at the next session of the Council the sewerage and drain-

ago of towns will be taken into consideration. A vote sufficient for initiating- the work might fairly be nccompnnied by an ordimmoe for making' future maintenance and management a local charge.