THE COLONIST. NELSON FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 1861.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 382, 21 June 1861, Page 2

THE COLONIST. NELSON FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 1861.

The Provincial Council terminated its session on Tuesday last, when the Superintendent, after a brief address, relieved the honorable members of their important labors.

His Honor, in calling attention to sundry acts and projects by which the time and energies of that body had been engaged, did not omit a reference to the subjects of immigration, and the attempted imposition ot heavy taxes on this city for certain overcostly waterworks. On both topics his remarks were explicit, and conveyed a correct judgment of each case, and of the light in which each should be considered. The public will unquestionably agree mainly with his opinion so clearly delivered in their favor, and manifestly springing from his own good sense. Singular enough, but we believe it to be a fact, his Honor's speeches have been almost the only ones—notwithstanding a cartload of parliamentary oratory —the manly and leisurely enouncement of which has mastered the tantalising echoes of the new hall, so as to be wholly heard out side the bar. It was listened to attentively by a large proportion of our leading men, and closed amidst a round of applause. Had the Provincial Secretary, now at the General Assembly, been left behind in any kind of duplicate, the public might have been presented with a summary of governmental improvements during the term of office of our lawgivers. Few willing men are more prepared for such a task than that gifted and experienced gentleman. But we cannot understand why the Council should not be required, under the direction of the Speaker, to submit to the whole constituency, at the probable conclusion of its representative duties, a synopsis of its doings, in the shape of a concise index. A correct thing of that kind would surpass all talkment infinitely. It would represent the last four blue-books generally, and be an instructive guide to the comparative merits of each member, and not less so to the studies and proceedings oi future electors. Surely, if we are to be blessed with dear laws, and their enthralling protection, we should at least be able to wrap their iron yoke with paper lists of the titles of legal instruments of torture by which the angels of authority are to torment us.

There are two prominent themes suggested by the Superintendent's statements at which we desire to glance. The foremost of these relates to unsuccessful supplies of nature's beverage, most kindly intended for an ungrateful opposition by a little party of the humane. To this we shall chiefly allude jus!; now, for it closely affects our public safety as much as our domestic comfort. Gratefully do we all acknowledge the providential exemption hitherto of this expanding city from the fearful ravages of fire. Unhappy occurrences of this class have, it is true, lately inflicted mischief in our country parts, causing heavy losses to fellow-settlers, and many expressions of neighborly regret. Intelligence also of extensive injury, by similar means, in Christchurch and Wanganui has roused more than local concern. These disasters cannot but be admonitory. They are well calculated to induce all who truly desire general security and advancement, to wisely prevent and provide for such alarming events, to the best of their ability. Late efforts in Council have not been unproductive of sterling interest in this important line. The result, it is to be hoped, will be effectually experienced in sensible measures of preservation from one of the direst calamities. It is matter of daily thankfulness that Nelson, in common with the entire province, is plenteously furnished with stores of water even in the most dfoughty

seasons.

This circumstance however, if we remam indifferent or supine, may lull us into a delusive apathy, from which devouring flames might startle us when too late to escape. To avert such improvidence and its evils, our prudent compatfjots do well to devise methods of securing their wives, children, and property with sage precaution and business-like forethought and economy. Whether the recent exertions of some of the Council and others answer to this character may be slightly doubted. For ourselves, we feel it proper to affirm that the plan, or what should have been one in reality, now discarded, was too formidable, too onerous as to outlay, too liable to admit of the vulgar selfishness of jobbery, in a word, too inconsiderate and faulty to prosper, or obtain general permanence and satisfaction. The unceremonious fashion in which it to coerce those who need no help irom waterworks, and who are by far the most numerous of our householders, awoke hostility too strong for a defective policy that offered water not wanted in one hand, and an oppressive bill for payment for it in the other* En-

croachment upon the liberty of the subject and natural right in this attitude could not but be felt as unmanly and unconstitutional. Such forceful and unfair systems of acting cannot but ever meet, from an enlightened people, with repudiation and disgust. Voluntary association, on the part of the dwellers in Bridge-street, Trafalgar-street, and their nearer connexions might be, and probably would be, in the first instance, a suitable commencement for the, provision of the aquatic element in greater purity in those localities. By and by, the port and other branches of the town might be included in a paying system of extraordinary and superior supply. After adequate experience as to the healthfulness, utility, and economy of an undertaking in this more limited manner, then a more uniform demand would possibly arise, confidence would be developed, and finally the principal sections and thoroughfares of the place might submit to a water rate according to consumption as denoted by correct hydrometers, as European management usually arranges. Ultimately, even caution being employed, the Nelson water works, supplying the necessities of a large population, may issuo a great profit with their abundant streams to almost every

house

Sincerely do we respond to the sentiments on this subject, so opportunely uttered in the closing speech of his Honor; yet we cannot but wish that our Superintendent had emphatically challenged the province to improve its wells generally, not only to lessen insurance per centage, but as the fittest prevalent guarantee against worse horrors than any of our earthquakes are ever likely to occasion. At the same time we fully coincide in hints given by himself, that if a conflagration is to be deprecated and avoided, by every provident movement, the employment of despotic measures, at an almost ruinous cost, is a remedy most appalling; for while the former sweeps away many a nuisance, the latter, like slavery itself, is ever fretting our necks with its iron bondage, pressing us in downward degradation. Some of our readers will perhaps recollect that wo recorded our thoughts on topics of this kind at some length, soon after the fire in Auckland, in 1858. Our columns about that time exhibited, at considerable length, our opinion as to the value of aquatic provision against fire, &c. We also represented the quarter whence copious supplies might be easily acquired from a source sufficiently elevated. Our notions on the matters then detailed remain unaltered. From the Brook-street current, to say nothing of ampler Maitai, .we can have all that is now essential. The principal thing to be thoroughly examined is the question of mode and expense. A sum not exceeding one-tenth of that lately announced as demanded for the contemplated enterprise, or according to others about one-sixth of that, is regarded by moderate men as equal to our more immediate requirements. Be this as it may, we purpose resuming this interesting subject at an early date, when wo hope to place before our readers more exact calculations and items of cost than have as yet been published here. In doing this, however, wo shall endeavor to keep distinctly in sight the desirableness that any works, to be erected at any approaching period, should be confined in their play to the more populated parts of Nelson, leaving other portions to present resources, without adding offensively to their pecuniary outlay.

We are glad to see that they are making a move in the right direction in the Province of Wellington. We gather the following particulars from a Wellington paper. In the Wairavapa there are 14,000 acres of land to let in farms of 500 acres and upwards. The rent to be charged is only sufficient to pay interest on the money paid by the original purchaser to the Government, and the tenant will have a right of purchase extending over five or seven years, at 55., 10s., and 15s. per acre. This arrangement is preferable to purchasing direct from the Government or becoming a landowner on borrowed capital; for the great drawback to persons occupying land hitherto has been that the capital required to commence farming operations has to be swallowed up in the outset by the purchase money of the land; but by this arrangement the small capitalist would have nearly the whole of his capital to work upon, and time given to accumulate the fee simple.

The nomination of a candidate for the representation of the Suburbs of Nelson in the House of Representatives took place yesterday, at the Schoolhouse, Suburbansouth. Mr. Wells, the only candidate present, was proposed by Mr. Pollock, seconded by Mr. Nicholson, and declared duly elected. Mr. Wells, we belieye, will support the Stafford ministry, except on minor Provincial matters.