The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1877.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5167, 13 October 1877, Page 2

The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1877.

The long talked of scheme of drainage of this city is a long time in being carried into effect, and from what took place at the meeting of the City Council on Thursday evening it would seem as if there is. likely to be still further delay in the matter. ' The Council some time ago resolved that the opinion of the Consulting Engineer, Mr. Napier Bell, should be taken upon the scheme propounded by Mr. Climie, about which so much has been said and written -pro and con, and concerning the merits of which only a skilled engineer is competent to give a reliable opinion. Unfortunately "experts" will differ; therefore it' is most difficult indeed for the general public to arrive at any satisfactory conclusion on a question of this kind. Probably Mr. Bell is as well qualified as any other engineer, whose services can be obtained for the purpose, to give an opinion on the subject, "which is of ,110 little importance, as upon it practically depends whether or not the Climie scheme, is to be finally adopted. When the Council sent for Mr. Bell from Christchurch, and that gentleman, came up in response to the call, it was generally" supposed that he would be able to say to the Council " aye" or " no" as to the desirability of carryiug out Mr. Climie's notions ; but it appears he is quite unable to do so at present, as he requires, not unreasonably, to be furnished with copies of all sections and plans taken by Mr. Climie, together with other information specified inhisletterread at the Council meeting. Now, we should very much like to know why all this very necessary information has, not been prepared long ago. Mr. Climie has been in the receipt for some time past of the by no means poor salary of £BOO a year, and the return for it which the ratepayers have so far received is small. Mr. Bell ought not to have been delayed a moment owing to the non-preparation of plans and full information as to details. The fact that he has had to go back to Christchurch about as wise as when he came as to the particulars of the Climie scheme, looks to the uninitiated ratepayer as if there was something unsatisfactory about the whole affair. The scheme may or may not be an excellent one ; but it is clear that it is likely to be a very costly one, and chat all these delays add to the expense. Moreover, it is necessary in the interests of the public health that this large and daily increasing city should be properly drained at the very earliest possible date; and until it is delinitely decided whether or not Mr. Climie's plans are to be adopted, nothing will be done. Mr. Bell in the letter referred to says that as soon as he receives the information asked for he will prepare and submit his report on the scheme. Therefore there ought certainly to be no more time lost over the matter. The ratepayers have been very patient and long suffering over it for,many months. They are paying au engineer liberally for the special purpose of having a comprehensive system of drainage carried out, and month after month goes by and nothing is done. How long it is since Mr. Ciimie first commenced to take the levels we do not exactly remember, but it is certainly a considerable time ago; so far, however, as any practical result has yet been attained from the taking of those levels, the good'city of Wellington might just as well have dispensed with that undertaking. Let us hope that Mr. Climie's preliminary work will yet fructify to the benefit of the citizens ; or at all events, .that if unfortunately the reverse should be the case, the public will be made acquainted with the fact, and other plans may be adopted. We look forward to the receipt of Mr. Bell's report on the Climie drainage scheme with much interest.