Poverty Bay Standard. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY' AND SATURDAY MORNINGS. TUESDAY MAY 2, 1882.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1068, 2 May 1882, Page 2

Poverty Bay Standard. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY' AND SATURDAY MORNINGS. TUESDAY MAY 2, 1882.

Within the past week two narrow escapes have been experienced in Gisborne from destruction by fire of two large and valuable buildings and their contents. We allude to the Albion Club Hotel, where the fire originated doubtless in careless accident; and to the Herald office where we regret to say there seems but little doubt that the cowardly hand of a malicious incendiary was the direct and immediate origin of the disaster. In neither of these two cases has there been actually any serious loss of property, the damage in neither instance extending beyond what a small sum of £lO or £l5 will cover, But will anyone say what the damage might have been ? Let any sensible man look in at the charred walls of the bed-room in the Albion Hotel, or the burned lining of the Herald office, and say that the escape from utter destruction has not been almost miraculous. Those burned and charred walls speak to common sense with a loudly warning emphasis that none but a fool or a madman can neglect Listen to what they say—what they almost thrust in your faces—what thej beg of you all in pleading, warning tones, to listen to, and act upon. They say “Water, water, water; bring “ water, and plenty of it, or we’ll burn “ your houses and your property; we’ll “ endanger the lives of your wives and “children, and we’ll break the limbs “ and burn the flesh of your fathers “ and husbands and brothers, and we’ll “ hold you up to the sight of the whole “ Colony as a parcel of dunder headed “ fools who neglected warning after “ warning which we have given you, “ and who are penny wise and pound “ foolish, and whom we would burn

“ too if we could only catch.” That’s what the charred walls say; and not far away stands their near relative—Disease—laughing and clapping his hands, and saying, “ Brave “ work, my good brother Eire; burn “ merrily, destroy property, and, above “ all, kill men if you can. I’m near “ you, brother; its partnership work, “ we’ll burn, destroy and kill, sparing “ no one—man, woman, or little child, “ father and husband, wife and mother; “ take them all, for its brave sport, “good brother, and those besotted “ fools are doing their best to help us.” So between disease and fire, and the ignorant folly that leads to the neglect of constant warning we surrender our manhood and give our lives and property over to the two destroying fiends that threaten us here from day to day, and night to night, without that faint struggle which might tend to relieve as from the imputation cast upon us of cowardly folly. Whose duty is it to see to this matter? We say emphatically and without hesitation, it is the undeniable duty of the

Borough Council. Two months ago, when we drew especial notice to this great necessity in our midst, we were told that water had been sent for analysis and had not yet been reported upon. We are not aware that there is any alteration in matters yet, and this was tivo months ago. In other words, the lapse of time has been sufficient to allow of the water being sent to Melbourne and back twice if necessary and reported on ; and yet we are unable to obtain a report from Wellington which is not 300 miles away from us. Away with all such humbug. It is too bad, gentlemen of the Borough Council. There are plenty of you, gentlemen, and you are all shrewd men of business, whose aptitude is guaranteed by the mercantile positions you have made for yourselves in your own respective businesses. Introduce, gentlemen, into those respective businesses, one half of the apathy aud neglect with which this serious question of water supply has been treated in your Council, and we will guarantee you all ruined men in less than twelve months from date. You are all merciful men, gentlemen; all men who would help the weak, and alleviate suffering so far as in your power lays, and you would shrink from being called cruel, and said to be capable of doing injury to your fellow mortals. What then, gentlemen of the Borough Council, if we tell you that for every human life that succumbs to the injuries inflicted by the want of water in this town, for all human misery that Jis inflicted by it, for every tear you shall wring from widow, orphan, or ruined man by your stupid, wilful, and wicked apathy, you are as much morally responsible as if you committed a murder or a robbery. Pooh-pooh it if you like gentlemen, but it is a solemn truth nevertheless. When some one is killed, as must doubtless be the case in some of these fires, or dies from disease induced bv want of wholesome water, a coroner’s inquest will be held, and you will say, “ Poor fellow, so sorry” 111 and doubtless subscribe handsomely for the widow and children. But, gentlemen, can you restore the dead clay to life ? Can you give back the breadwinner to those who miss and mourn him ? Can you give back the little waxen image lying there cold and inanimate before you, to the loving mother who is breaking her heart? Can you undo by any known means the natural consequence of your own bumbleheaded apathy ? The coroner here gives his verdict, and acquits you of blame. But how about the inquest up above, gentlemen, when a Greater Coroner shall demand of you what share you had in this one’s death, in that one’s misery ? What shall be your answer, then, gentlemen ? Will you say you were “ waiting for a report," or that you “ hadn’t the money,” or what manner of excuse will you offer ? Offer any, offer all, but none shall avail you. Of that death, if such occurs, you shall be as surely guilty as if you had done the deed with knife or pistol. Lay no flattering unction to your soul that it “ is not your business.” It IS your business, Gentlemen of the Borough Council, and every moment’s delay heaps up the responsibility upon you. Look to it, and quickly, or the burden may become greater than you can bear. There are many willing and able to support you in your duty if you will only do it. It is no favor we ask, but simply the immediate fulfilment of an onerous and imperative duty. In the name of common sense, cleanliness, and safety to life and property, let us have water in Gisborne without any more of the shallow, frivolous, and vexatious delay that has hitherto been attendant on this vitally important subject. Money can be no impediment, and we know it. It simply needs energy and application, both of which every Councillor possesses to an eminent degree in his every day matters of life, and which, if used with a prodigal hand in the Municipal Council, would give us almost immunity from fire and disease in a very short time.