The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1877.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5202, 23 November 1877, Page 2

The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1877.

A curious feature in connection with the proposed drainage scheme is this ; for a long while Mr. Napier Bell was cried up as the one man in the colony who could thoroughly and satisfactorily criticise Mr. Climib’s scheme ; accordingly the Council decided to take his advice. Mr. Bell drew up a calmly worded, carefully thought out report, which was dead against the general principle of Mr. Climib’s scheme, and handled most severely many of its details. Every one was astonished. Mr. Olimie then drew up a criticism on Mr. Bell’s report, with which, strange to say, many people agree, and therefore condemn Mr. Bell’s essay. We fail, however, to see that Mr. Bell is so much at fault. He certainly points out error after error, and oversight after oversight ; he shows mistakes in the cost, and flaws in construction. The Town Council, utterly bewildered by the contradictions of their umpires, Bell and Climib, have agreed to call in a referee and await his decision. Suppose Mr. Clarke’s opinion agrees with that of Bell or Climie, is it certain that one will be wrong or the other right I Suppose he agrees with neither, and that all three difler, what then 1 Suppose the Council agrees to adopt any particular plan, the difficulties will still be very numerous, because any system of sewerage requires that the utmost care and skill should be directed to every detail, other wise innumerable disasters must follow, and the scheme, unless moat carefully carried out, be worse than useless. No town should allow so important a work as its sewerage to be managed by one man alone, unless he be a man renowned for his skill in that particular branch of his profession. People often think that because a man is an engineer, therefore he knows how to drain a city, but the fact is that sewerage is a special and distinct branch of a very wide profession. One engineer may be most skilful in railway matters, another in tunnel-driving, a' third in building breakwaters or erecting bridges, and so on. Many of them may be very renowned in their special branches, and yet know nothing whatever about sewerage works. Any of them may be able to devise the general plan of a system of sewerage, and yet have no full and accurate knowledge or practical acquaintance with the details of the work. After a general plan of sewerage has been decided upon, a host of difficulties still check progress, e.g., water supply, ventilation, construction, subsoil drainage, storm water, bouse connections, &c.; each one with a crowd of minor difficulties peculiar to itself. Suppose that a certain scheme is chosen, the details should not be left entirely in the hands of one man. Mark how opposite are Bell’s and Climie’s opinions on a few of these questions. Climib plumes himself on the small size of his sowers. Bell says they are ridiculously and hurtfully large. Bell says sewers absorb subsoil water ; Climib says they will not. Sanitary authorities prove that you must drain the subsoil, otherwise the town will be unhealthy. Climib wholly ignores the subject, makes no provision for it in his report. Bell says the city must have a system of pipes for the rain water, another for the sewage. Climib says never mind the storm-water. Bell says the pumps will now and then be closed. Climib denies it. Bell cries out for more plans. Climie retorts, “You have all that are necessary.” If these two men, both of whom are believed to be great authorities in sewage matters,-hold such opposite views on these few things, how could they agree about water-supply, about water junctions, about the pipes, the stuff of which they are made, their lengths, formation of bed, angles at which they should join, &a. In the matter of ventilation how flatly they would contradict each other. Many parts of Climib’s scheme, of which Bell’s report does not treat, contain opinions not held by the great sanitary authorities at Home. In many cases Mr. Climie recommends things that experience has shown to bo absolutely hurtful, and passes over in silence other safeguards that are insisted on by high authorities. Over and over again and again it has been proved that the neglect of certain details causes outbreaks of typhoid and other fevers. Times without number has it been shown that sickness and death have been the direct offspring of flaws in sewage connections, yet . does Mr. Climie ignore these warnings and repeat old blunders. It is therefore certain that oven if Mr. Clarke approve generally of Mr. Climie’s scheme, and agree as to the general plan, ho or someone else who is really an authority in such matters should bo appointed to consult with Mr. Climie, and when needful to check his errors. It cannot bo too strongly impressed on the ratepayers that a badly carried out system of aowerage would more seriously en-

danger lives than, does the present system? Under the present system very many houses are now perfectly healthy, which, when connected with a badlyarranged ■ sewerage and badly-made sewers, would become perfect charnel houses. The City Council must really bestir itself and do' something. Suppose it adopts the general principle of Climib’s scheme, the details must be altered. It certainly seems absurd that the whole of the sewage should sink to eleven feet below low-water mark. Surely an engineer could devise a scheme whereby the sewage of the hills should be discharged without the necessity of pumping. As the population increases the hills will be covered with houses at heights sufficiently great to allow of discharge by simple gravitation. Bell’s report did not criticise every detail, and. so far it was defective. Any new consulting engineer should bo ordered to draw up a report on the general principle, and another treating of every detail. Before a single contract is made, the Council should have decided on a scheme, every detail of which should be carefully scanned and approved by sanitary authorities, otherwise money will be squandered and lives lost.

The case of Calder and Duff, which was before the Appeal Court on Wednesday, was resumed again yesterday, and further argued, but was not concluded when the Court rose. It will be proceeded with to-day, and probably be brought to a conclusion so far as the arguments are concerned, after which the case of Galloway v. Galloway will be taken. The tramway people set an example to the City Council. It is the custom of the City Council to dig a pit half a mile long up the centre of a street, and to notify the same by means of a tallow candle (generally not alight) in a glass bottle at either end. The tramway works, on the other hand, are lit up up all night by a row of good lamps, and such as meet with accidents over them must have themselves or potations to blame. Intelligence reached town last evening that a sad accident had befallen JVIr. Corbett, a brother of Mr. «T. H. Corbett, the Hutt Agricultural and Pastoral Society’s secretary. Our informant stated that Mr. Corbett was thrown from his horse in attempting to make it leap a hurdle. He was picked up insensible, and immediately conveyed to Dr. Wilford’s, and attended to. The unfortunate gentleman had not recovered his senses up to the time of our informant leaving the Hutt. It will he remembered that two men were committed for trial the other day for assaulting Mr, Overton, accountant, and robbing him of a gold watch. At that time the stolen property had not been traced, but it has subsequently been discovered by Detective Farrell, and will be produced on the trial. It seems that an accomplice of the prisoners sold the gold watch, for £2 and a silver one, to a barman in town, into whose possession it was traced by the vigilant officer above referred to. At St. George's Hall last evening Byron’s operatic burlesque of “ Little Don Giovanni ” was performed again most satisfactorily. Tonight the burlesque will be repeated, preceded by the amusing farce “ Odd or Even.” On Saturday evening a double bill will be given, comprising ; for the first time, “ The Daughter of the Begiment,” and a burlesque. The new company, the Alleen Troupe, commence their season next Monday. Weregret thatMr.Finnimore’sadvertisement of the sale by auction of the township of Beaconsfield was accidentally omitted fromourissue of yesterday. We have already called attention to this important sale of valuable freehold property, most eligibly situated. It will be seen by advertisement that the terms have been added to the previous announcement, and are most liberal. The sale takes place on the 30th inst. It would seem that in the old country it is not an uncommon thing for freehold property to go begging for want of an heir-at-law. A rather curious case is that of Lennox Lodge, Hayling Island, a snug little property on the Hants coast, and of which a gentleman in this city is the sole trustee, and ready to, hand it over, through bis solicitor in London, to whoever can legally establish a claim. Advices just received by him by Suez mail, state that two women who have been living among the Mormons at Utah have put in a claim. There was a fair attendance at the exhibition of Clifford’s Mirror of the World last evening at the Odd Fellows’ Hall. To-night there will be another change of programme. The views will comprise scenes on the Biver Thames from its source to London. The classic city of Oxford, Windsor, Kichmond, and other of those landscapes which for tranquil beauty are unequalled in the world, will be placed in review before the audience. The statuary, which is exhibited to great perfection and the feats of the Dancing Skeleton, combine to make a very attractive programme for tonight. A cricket match was played on the Basin Keserve yesterday afternoon between the Boyal Oak Club (which club is said to be merely a resuscitation of the old “ crack” Victoria Club) and the Telegraph Club, which resulted in a victory for the former on the first innings. Play was to have commenced at 1.30, and, considering the general tardiness of Wellington cricketers to “rollup” at the appointed hour, the wickets were pitched very punctu dly. The Boyal Oak team went to the wickets first, and succeeded in running up a score of over three figures before they were disposed of, not that the bowling of their adversaries was indifferent, but they had sinew and muscle in their favor. The telegraphists were very much overweighted, notably in bowling, although they played a steady up hill game for the 60 odd they obtained, showing a great improvement on their last season’s exhibition. Tne fielding on both sides was decidedly above the average,- especially the long-stopping of Crowther and Lambert and the wicket-keeping of Dodsworth ; and the battingof LambertandPlattfor the Royal Oaks, and Sunley and Sampson for the Telegraph club, was deserving of especial mention. A neat catch was made by Gannaway for the Telegraphists in the slips, while Olaridge secured Henry's wicket for the Boyal Oaks by a really good catch square leg. Mr. G. Dixon was so kind as to stand umpire for the Boyal Oaks. The season has openedunderfavorable auspices, a very noticeable impetus having been given to cricket since last year, and it is to be hoped that public interest, which seems to have once more become awakened in this sport, may not be allowed to flag and die out as it has done gradually of late years. The general meeting of the Wellington Amateur Athletic Club was held at the Pier Hotel last night. There were about twenty members present—not many considering the number of members in the club, something over 70. Mr. Harrison occupied the chair. The business was opened by the secretary, Mr, Harrison, reading a statement of the expenditure and proceeds of the athletic meetings and swimming matches hold during the present year, whereby the club were losers by about £SO, leaving the club now about £lO in debt; but when tire subscriptions for the ensuing year are paid up the club will have a good balance in hand Mr. Campbell, as Secretary of the Athletic Football Club, presented a report to the meeting, which showed it to bo in a very flourishing state. Mr. Harrison then stated that owing to private business ho was unable to give sufficient attention to his duties as secretary, and therefore resigned that office. His resignation was very reluctantly accepted. Mr. Major then proposed as members of the club Messrs. Butcher, Cooper, Bishop, Welch, Davy, Fitzgerald, Shappere, Labman, and Perkins, who were all elected members. Anew comm ttee was then formed for general management consisting of nine members—viz., Messrs. Webb C,, Harrison F., Campbell A., Thompson J;, Shappere, Welch, Cooper, Fisher G., and Major O.; and also a committee consisting of Messrs. Webb C., Campbell, and Major 0., to revise and arrange tiro existing rules. Mr. Thompson then proposed, and Mr.

Webb seconded, Mr. Campbell as secretary for the next year. No one else being proposed Mr. Campbell was duly elected. Mr. Major then proposed that an athletic meeting should be held on the 18th of December, but was overruled. A properly organised athletic club should have at least four meetings during the year. The club plead want of funds, but if they go at it with a will and work energetically they will probably overcome that very pressing want. Honorary members are also a little slow in coming forward.—The Wanganui Athletic Club are progressing very well, and hold a meeting once a month.—A club was started in Auckland some short time ago, holding sports on Saturday last, when they passed off with the greatest success. At the Theatre Boyal last evening there was the largest house we remember ever having seen there. The whole of the available seats in every division of the house were occupied, and many had to be turned away from the stalls and pit. The Signora Majeroni may feel herself herself highly honored by the numerous and respectable attendance on the night of her benefit. The manner in which the play was put on and brought out reflected great credit on all concerned, and the high favor in which the Majeronis have hitherto been held has not lost by the last night’s performance. The Signora performed her part as Marie Antionette throughout in a most graceful and telling manner. The rendering of the parting scene between the Queen and Louis the Sixteenth (Mr. H. Stoneham) has not been surpassed in New Zealand, and it was performed with much effect, and with so much of nature in it as to bring tears into the eyes of some of the audience. Miss Adelaide Stoneham appeared to advantage in the part of the Princesse Eoyale. Taking the whole performance, it was one of the most creditable ever produced in New Zealand. “ Marie Antoinette ” will be repeated this evening, when his Excellency the Governor will honor the Theatre Boyal with his presence. We would recommend those who desire to secure seats to make early application to Air. Jackson. “ Camille ” will be played on Saturdav evening.