A New Borough.

Patea Mail, 8 February 1882, Page 3

A New Borough.

(from our correspondent.) Norman hy. Referring again to the important works which the new borough of Hawera will have to carry out at an early date, it will be conceded that drainage is probably the most urgent, having regard: to the health of the population, and the fouling of well-water with surface drainage. The sources of pollution are increasing. Already a local factory is planted in its centre, and the erection of a woollen one is confidently spoken of. Other industries arc sure to follow, and in the meantime numerous buildings and places of business are-developing their stately proportions in every direction. In a few years the now comparatively small town of Hawera may become a city in size, if not in name. How important, therefore, it is that the new Mayor and his colleagues should devise and carry out a sanitary scheme of drainage which shall be commensurate with its industries, its anticipated inhabitants, and metropolitan dimensions. Borrowing money at once is an inevitable necessity, but this—as I could prove from many similar instances—will be repaid a thousand fold in the future. Remedial and improving measures are always a [tractive, and even if nothing more were expected, the prevention of the death of a single citizen would of itself be ample repayment. The enaction of sanitary and sumptuary laws is no longer optional, if the fair fame of this growing town is to be maintained, and disease and death are not to decimate its population. The erection of an hospital is another consideration, and this is nearly as needful as the other. Recent events have shown us that casual cases of sickness, resulting in death for want of medical skill and attendance, may be expected in the future. Our ; humanity revolts at the bare idea ol a fellow brother being abandoned in his necessities, for want of funds, to languish and to die. It is not every one who can be surrounded by troops of sympathising friends, and but for our hospitals we should hear of cases heartrending in (he extreme. A poor man, for instance, without any comrade and without means, is living in a tent; sickness or an accident in the bush disables him, and he is carried or crawls to his humble home. Is he to be left unattended and to die ?—to have none of the charities of home and of family, with no eye to pity him and no mother to weep over him. Happily for the district, the elected Mayor is a gentleman of large and generous sympathies, and having attained to office, Hawera may rest assured that his first consideration will be (ho welfare of the human family with which Providence has entrusted him.