THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1878.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2798, 1 February 1878, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1878.

At the fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council last night, Councillor Ehrenfried invited attention to two matters which, were made the subjects of comment in •thesecolumns —one some months ago, on more than one occasion; the other, the daj after the late flood in the WaiofcaH Creek. We have ho wish to detract from the credit due to Councillor Ehreofried for brinjuog these matters before the in saying tUafc we have previously done so ; we are pleased to see that our suggestions have been followed j that the bread cast upon the waters is likely to bring forth fruit after many days. The firsfcfn the order of procedure last night of the two matters we have referred to was (he imminent danger threatening should

a collapse of iho tunnel which runs under the Caledonian tip tako placo in time of flood. In our issue of January 17th wo wrote: "If some night during a flood a collapse of fiuming should tako placo in ■ Moauatairi, and the creek get damme! i up until the weight of water becomes 100 j strong for the dam, the consequences wi!! be serious. The burial of a few houses and batteries at the mouth of the creel:, and the flooding of the United Pumping Association shaft, are, we have been assured, not only possibilities but within the bounds of probability." Councillor Ehrenfried adduced similar reasons last night for urgent attention being given to the matter, and although the Foreman of Works did not coincide to the extent of apprehending danger to the big pump shaft, he concurred in so far as to admit that tho fluming was totally inadequate to support the weight to which it was submitted, and also, that in the event of a collapse the consequences must be serious; However, we would urge upon the Works Committee—to whom the matter has been relegated to report thereon—that this is not a question so much for opinions as for precautionary measures. There is not a shadow of doubt that if the collapse occurred in time of flood the water would be dammed up to a very large extent; and there is scarcely less doubt that when the water did break through it would be disastrous in its course to the level of the flat; so that it will be well to remember that " prevention is better than cure." With reference to the second matter brought forward by Cr Ehrenfried—the last of, the Council busi. ness for the evening—a public bath, we months ago urged this upon the attention of the local bodies, and indicated how much valuable water now running to waste might be utilised. We have no de3ire to go into the matter again in detail, but would stimulate the Borough to give it an intelligent consideration on the next occasion it shall come before them, and to dismiss from their minds the idea that such an undertaking must be gone into in an expensive or extensive way at first going off. We shall be content to see a small beginning in this direction. *