The Standard AND PEOPLE'S ADVOCATE. (PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY.) WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1876.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 424, 1 November 1876, Page 2

The Standard AND PEOPLE'S ADVOCATE. (PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY.)

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1876.

“ We shall sell to no mini justice or right: We shall deny to no man justice or right: We shall defer to no man justice or right.”

The return of the summer solstice vouchsafes another opportunity for us to bring forward our periodical reminder of the sanatory condition of our good little town of Gisborne. The Road Board, we observe, is taking commendable precaution, as far as its means will allow, by keeping the drains and water courses clear, and otherwise lessening the means by which fevers, and other “ ills that flesh “ is heir to,” are created and fed ; but there are many other things to, be done, individually 7 and collectively, by the community, for, in the present condition, and somewhat limited powers, of our local institutions, it is impossible to put the machinery in motion which is requisite, having a due regard to the laws of health. They are not sufficiently comprehensive ; but such as they are it is of the first importance that they be not lost sight of. In a small town like Gisborne, there is necessarily, we may say by common consent, a certain amount of laxity, in carrying all the laws on the statute book into effect, simply because they are law's ; indeed the operation of many of them —-the Impounding Act and Dog Nuisance Act for instance — involves more trouble and worry, where private individuals have to take the initiative, than the results are worth. But the same excuse, if we may call it so, does not exist with regard to sanatory measures, on the active maintenance of which, hangs our very existence. And we are bound to say that preparation for the coming season demands that this laxity, where it has existed, should exist no longer. Already there are effluvia of various kinds impregnating the atmosphere with their noxious presence, and reminding us of our duty, each one of which may, with a little careless neglect, be the means of laying a large per centage of the population prostrate. A walk round the back premises of many of the houses in the more thickly peopled parts of the town, will prove the wisdom of following up our caution by peremptory action. We must not be held to be unneigbborly, or unduly interfering with a man’s right to do what he likes on his own premises ; for it must be distinctly borne in mind that there are laws to meet all these things, and which must have the force of lawful authority to put down nuisances that are held to be dangerous to health and the commonweal. “ The greatest good of the “ greatest number”—the community before individuals—is an axiom, the correct principle of which none can deny. We make these remarks, not so much from what has come under our ow 7 n observation, as from reports which have reached us from time to time. Pig sties are said to be foul; backyards to be reeking and festering with filth in the almost tropical heat ; closets and cess pits in such close proximity to the water which is commonly drunk, as to impart an impurity to the latter,’equal, in its effect, to the most virulent poison ; while, in some instances, (let us charitably hope they are few) the contents of the common family privy are to be seen oozing their pestilential contents on to the footpath. If these things, or any portion of them, are true, it is high Jtime that Mr Sanatory took his walks abroad, and put a stop to a state of things that must end in grief to a large number of people, if allowed to continue. A supply of pure water is, undeniably, the question yw excellence, upon which all the others, in a measure, are hinged. With that article at the ready command of every inhabitant, many of the evils, arising from the causes we have enumerated, would be obviated or lessened. But if we go

on with a knowledge that the water we drink conveys to our system a certain quantity of noxious matter, animalculm hideous to behold—we maintain a suicidal course, which is blameworthy in the extreme. \\ e have pointed out, on several occasions, that, taking the porous nature of the soil in this township, into consideration, it is highly dangerous to health to drink of the water drawn from the holes, which, in most cases, are only a few feet in depth. And even allowing that they are of great depth, aud reach a pure spring, contamination is unavoidable, on account of the liquid putrefaction that is filtered into them, from the continuance of that most detestable of all detestable alternatives —the sunken water closet. Independently of the necessity for a plentiful supply of water for health’s sake, it is absolutely essential for the prevention of fire ; and, unfortunately we have none which would avail us in time of need. While the rains descend with tolerable regularity, and fill the tanks with which most bouses are furnished, all goes well, and we take no heed of the morrow ; but, if we wish to avoid an incipient plague, and to possess the means of modifying the no less alarming consequences of fire; if we, in a word, desire to live the lives of sensible men, let us look ahead, and be prepared for the future 'There is every appearance of a hot and dry summer being experienced ; if so it will be impossible to obtain supplies of water from the ordinary fountains, and to persist in drinking, in any form or state, the feetid, stagnant, stuff that will then be obtained, cannot but be productive of ill-health, long doctors’ bills, and heavy funeral expenses. There is but one remedy that we knaw of at present, and that is an artesian well. Let the Road Board initiate the matter, and we feel convinced the common sense of the community will give a hearty active response to their efforts.

We. should not again refer to the “ Commissioner Wilson’s Report ” business, did not the Herald wilfully or blindly make such immensely rash assertions. Shortly, then, the Editor of that journal is as wrong in saying we insinuate that he has prejudiced the case now before the Commissioners by “ referring ” to Mr Wilson’s report, as he was in stating that the report was laid “ before the House ” (sic) by that gentleman himself. He also misquotes what we have said about the publication of “ the pith,” of this document. We have no where accused the Herald of “an undesirable act,” in publishing or referring to this report. On the contrary, we know that the force of argument used to get it placed before the public was such as the too facile temperament of the Editor could not withstand. We know that he did not “ refer ” to it of his own accord : and we have no where said that he did. Neither have we said that his “action in the matter was adopted with a view of prejudicing the merits of the question therefore the “ base falsehood ” finds its own perch. The whole question of the Editor’s hostility to public reprobation, for the commission of certain prejudicial acts and deeds, of which he has been the too pliant tool, turns on his eagerness—expressed through the ready facility of his columns—to take the rod, intended for others, out of the pickle tub, and administer chastisement on himself. Passionate vindictiveness, spiced "with personal malice, blinds him so intensely with prejudices that he is unaware when he is prejudiced ; it detracts from his power of conducting the business of life in a becoming manner, and renders it a difficult task for anyone to discuss public questions with him, and disagree the while, without the possibility of endangering the mutual relations of journalistic and personal friendliness. We should have said nothing further on this subject till the sitting of the Commission had closed, had we not been forced into it by the letter of G. Ames, and the remarks of the Herald.. Nothing from our contemporary will, till then, draw from us any further reply or comment.