IN NEED OF MONEY.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 444, 8 February 1890, Page 3

IN NEED OF MONEY.

Condition of the City of Rome. ' Rome just now is passing through a crisis which, unless the Government comes to its aid, may prove disastrous. A few years ago a laudable desire to emulate Caesar Augustus in building a new and more magnificent Rome took possession of the city fathers, who,without sufficiently counting the cost, laid out miles of streets and squares of splendid palaces and edifices for which whole districts of buildings had to be bought up and cleared away. The Ghetto, though not upon the unhealthy list, was thus entirely swept away, and six new bridges were also begun. Only one of the latter, the Ponte Garibaldi, has been finished. To prosecute these immense works thousands of masons, bricklayers, painters and carpenters were induced to come to Rome, and all went on merrily till the funds began to fail. Then one by one the different works came to a standstill. Workmen were thrown out of employment, and discontent set in, which culminated in the disorder of February Bth last. The authorities were roused to do something and arrested a number of men, whom they designated as ringleaders, and who, by the way, have not yet been brought to trial. There is no habeas corpus in Italy. Others were sent by the Government to their homes in various parts of the kingdom with injunctions not to return to Rome, unless they should first be appointed to work here, under penalty of imprisonment. Another large loan was contracted, and several of the interrupted works recommenced, and Jthe discontent for a time. The alarming fact now comes to light that the municipality has thrown its last stake ; that it is utterly impossible to go on without pecuniary help from the Government, and that such help must be given at once, before winter sets in. The King has ordered a commission of inquiry into .this state of affairs. Doubtless some way out of the difficulty will be arrived at, but the Government is not overburdened with money. The misery and distress prevailing all over Italy do not warrant any increased taxation. What is to be done nobody seems to know.