New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) TUESDAY, MAY 1, 1877.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5024, 1 May 1877, Page 2

New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) TUESDAY, MAY 1, 1877.

The Russo-Turkish war is. still, so 'far as its ultimate result, a matter of uncertainty.' ■To be sure yesterday forenoon telegrams : were received in town which caused some people to run about "saying that it was “all up with Turkey.” Late in the after- | noon, about 5 o’clock, a further telegram ;was received, the purport of• which we ;published in an “Extra.” This telegram [completely reversed ..former statements. Not only were the Turks not defeated, but they- had gained, some substantial successes. However, so far as the victory of Russian or Turk is concerned, we do not care to criticise until we know that the news which mentions the one or the other is-accurate. The ;telegraph, system throughout Europe and Asia is .now so “mixed,” to use an American: expression, that reports favorable to either side in the present war may reach us at any moment, the' truth of which it is impossible to determine, until really authentic intelligence shall have i been sent. Thus, for instance; it will be Iseen that one portion of our news by j telegraph from Europe, published - this (morning, quite reverses the purport of 'another. ' ,[f we are to believe our latest advices, th 6 Crescent has triumphed over : the pseudo Cross of the Slav. That the war cloud is lowering over Europe is, i however, pretty evident from the fact , that English 1 consols, the political barometer of the political atmosphere of Europe, are quoted at 94, whilst already i colonial bonds have lowered 1 per cent. iOne remark may be permitted on the present events. History is apparently repeating itself. Every war between 1 Russia and Turkey has commenced pretty much as the present has done, and has ended without apparent advantage to either, yet with 'substantial gain to the Turk, by a further tenure of what may be called his heathenish leasehold in a continent professing Christianity.

It was with feelings of mingled regret and disappointment that we recorded in a recent issue the debate in the City Council on the drainage scheme, which resulted in the further postponement of that important measure for an indefinite period. The scheme has now been nearly four months before the public, and the citizens have had ample opportunity to' express their. opinions thereon. ' During this time no objection worthy of serious consideration has been made to it. We may therefore take it as an established fact that the intelligent part of the community at least have given in their adhesion to it. The report of the so-called Medical Society is simply absurd. First, because that society does not represent the medical profession of this city, but only an insignificant part of it; and, second, ; the report itself demonstrates the utter ignorance of the members of the society with the subject upon which they presumed to pass an authoritative opinion. The Council would, therefore, have been fully justified in passing the measure

withoutffurther delay, .taking the almost universal silence of the citizens as : presumptive evidence o£ their consent. In fact, we are' ina position to know that considerable' surprise'and disappointment is felt'in many' quarters at tlfe action of the Council, and the consequent unnecessary, delay. , When we , heard, some months ago, that the preparation of a scheme of city. sewage was committed to Mr. Climie, we were confident (from our previous knowledge of that gentleman’s great abilities and extensive experience), a scheme would be propounded in strict accordance with the most approved scientificprinciples and opinions of theday. Believing this, we have consistently advocated the adoption of the scheme. We are;of opinion that the Council should have proceeded with the, work long ago, and secured the. services of Mr. Cumie to carry it out. It is clear that the’matter has been postponed from time to time, especially of late, principally through the action of the Mayor. In the name’tof common sense what does his Worship want 1 It appears to us very much like another “ bath” affair. He surely must have an antipathy to cleanliness. But if that be so, the opinions of others, and the good sense of the community, should be respected. While this important subject is being thus tampered with, the city is permeated with noxious cesspools, and the air is tainted with offensive smells, which, however grateful they 'may be to the olfactory nerves of Mr. Huirciilson, are in the highest degree displeasing and dangerous to the community. The citizens have now the momentous question of city. drainage in their own hanclsi' As will have been seen from our advertising columns, a public meeting, is called for the 15th inst. to consider the matter. We do not object to this course in the abstract. The inhabitants of the city should have every opportunity of expressing their views on a subject in which they are so ’immediately concerned. But an appeal to the, ratepayers could as well have been made four months ago as how, ahid.all; this time saved). It must not be forgotten that the necessary funds for carrying, out ,a system of drainage were borrowed 1 some time since- For this interest at-6, per-cent. Js now.aecruing. Should: the matter be postponed for a period of six months from the time of the acceptance of the debentures, which is most likely in the aspect of affairs, it will result.in a clear loss to the city of £ISOO. For this the ratepayers will have to thank those obstructive members of the Council, whose action has occasioned the loss. We cannot impress too strongly upon the citizens tfie fact that the money is already borrowed, and interest is going on. We. have incurred the liability, whether the drainage scheme goes on or not, and the interest must be paid. Should thisscheme ultimately fall through, through any, unforeseen circumstances, or combination of circumstances—an event which we do not anticipate—the money will probably' be frittered away by the Council for purposes other than that for which it was obtained,., leaving the great question of drainage to be dealt with at some future time, for which additional burdens would ! have to be imposed. In, the discharge of our' duty to the public, we,have endeavored to put the case thus clearly before them. We are' not insensible of the fact that certain interested parties are,: in a clandestine way, doing their utmost to bring about a revolution ‘ of public feeling against the drainage scheme, and that all will be done that can be done by these ravenous creatures, to prevent its consummation, But; we are aware of their tactics, and are determined that they shall, if necessary, be dragged’before the public gaze, and exposed to, the light of daiy. We 1 have the fullest confidence in the good sense of the major part of the citizens, and are quite sure their intelligence willdead; them to a correct conclusion, if they have not already made up ; their minds. .But there is a moiety of , every community who , do, not trouble to think) for . themselves, and. who are consequently at the mercy l of every interested; demagogue and moborator who desires to impose upon them. We sometimes : hear complaints from the 'laboring classes of want of work ; the season,of, the year is,approaching when this want will be felt, if felt at jail;'; It Would have been of immense importance .tothe laboring classes in this city to have a work in progress which [would necessarily find profitable employment for a large number of first-class [laborers. Should the work meet with the approval- of the citizens, and Mr. Climie be entrusted with the management; the whole of the' money would be spent-in the cityj in the employment of skilled )abor. , [Unlike a railway, there 'would be no expenditure for material, rolling stock, &p..,, which have to be .ink, ported at ~ great cost from the mother country. These are matters to which the working-men of this city will do wall !to attend. If our opinions be correct as to the cause of this appeal to the ratejpayers, and: we have: pretty good data to igo upon, it was the last and only resource 'left to the opponents of the scheme. They knew full well that , any attempt at absolute • rejection by the Council would have resulted in signal failure. We purpose in a future article to draw attention .to the , comparative expense of Mr. Olimie’s ■ 'drainage scheme, - as compared with,the present system as carried put in [this, city.,' We have no doubt we shall succeed in showing that even in point of annual cost the improved system is immeasurably superior to, and much cheaper .than, the old method. We trust the 'citizens will, be alive to their own interests, and to the health and cleanliness and ■ well-being of ' the city. - For should a [malignant epidemic, break; out in our I midst while, the town is in its present unsatisfactory state, many will live to regret the apathy they manifested’at this important crisis. t: