The Puapeka Times. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1870. "Measures, not Men."

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 147, 1 December 1870, Page 5

The Puapeka Times. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1870. "Measures, not Men."

A very opportune and sensible letter of Mr J. L. S. Keen's appeared in a recent issue of this journal, recommending the formation of a Fire Brigade in Lawrence. The necessity for such a brigade is admitted on all hands, and yet no steps have been taken to initiate one. The same remarks were applied to the formation of a Volunteer Corps, some months ago, but were not followed up until a few weeks past two or three gentlemen canvassed the township with a most successful result. All that is required to get§many willing hands to join in this movement, is the adoption of a similar course. Let two or three gentiementake the matter in hand, and we are confident 20 or 30 energetic men would be found in readiness to form themselves into a Fire Brigade for the protection of the town, and such a force well organised, would be better than a thousand panic-stricken people, in the case of a fire. The necessity for this movement has become greater lately, owing to the additional number of substantial buildings which have been erected in the township, and the proximity which now exists of one building to another. We forbear from drawing a picture of the misery and mayhap loss of life which a devastating fire would create in Lawrence — the many families which such a catastrophe would reduce to abject poverty, and the complete paralysis which would overtake our commercial prosperity. In the event of a fire originating to-day in Peel street, with a strong sou-wester blowing, we do not lay claim to any prophetic vision when we predict that not a vestige of that street and Ross Place would be left to-morrow morning, unless more vigilance were shewn by those who are now supposed to have the management of our water-works than we give them credit for. Although Lawrence has been peculiarly exempt from fire in the past, we

must not imagine that we inherit this immunity, for any trivial accident or case of carelessness may reduce our fair township to a heap of ashes. We have not been without notes of warning lately from Timaru and Lyttelton, sufficient to arouse us to a sense of our duty, and when we consider the abundant supply of water at our command, it behoves us as a community to adapt our resources to the greatest emergency which could possibly overtake us. This can be easily done at a small outlay for additional piping, an extra hose, and some of the necessary appliances for a well organised Fire Brigade. We shall be glad to see this important matter taken in hand by some of our public spirited residents, and we are certain of its complete success.

The motion made by Mr Reid, Provincial Secretary, which will be found in another column, was one of great importance to the countiy, and we are pleased that, with an addition to it in favor of financial separation, the Council adopted it by a large majority. There can be no question that Mr Vogel's scheme is one which involves the giving in of our adhesion to a system which has for its object the confiscation of the waste lands of the province for General Government purposes. The real, although not the ostensible object of the Yogel bubble, as it was justly characterised by Mr Cracroft Wilson, is to borrow money to be expended mainly in the North Island. We should have liked had Mr Reid's motion embodied a distinct reference to the particulars of this scheme, which, in itself, may be said to be a-cceptable, but which, in its details, are most objectionable. For instance, we want to know how how much of the guaranteed million loan is to be expended upon public works in the Middle Island. We also want to know, supposing it is possible — which we do not believe it is — that the General Government are able to raise four millions of money, how much of it is to be expended for our benefit. Having regard to the tax-paying population of each Island, the sum to be expended on account or public works, for which preliminary surveys arc already being made in the North Island, would amount to a large sum ; indeed, we may say that for LI which would be spent in the Middle Island there would be about L 3 spent in the North Island. The question naturally arises — In how far is any Provnicial Government called upon to give support to such a scheme ? We have before us the plain fact that the expenditure will not be for our own benefit ; we have also before us another undoubted fact, that except the one million loan, the sum to be derived from the four million loan may be said to be

problematical. Would it not then have been better, before submitting the resolution to the Council to have attached to it a rider to this effect :

— " That the Council was of opinion that the scheme was impracticable ; that, apart trom the fear which we justly have, of the appropriation of our Land Fund, strong condemnation should have been expressed of Mr Vogel's visionary project, which only had in view the aggrandisement of the North Island at our expense." The South Island has suffered too much already in consequence of the partnership which has existed between the two islands. We remember that some years ago, when a former representative of the goldfields of this province asked the Government why all reference to the discovery of gold was omitted from the vice-regal speech, he was met with a contemptuous intimation that the matter was not considered worthy of notice. At that time three millions of money were voted by members of the North, and South, in the hope that the Maori war would be brought to an end. Instead of this, it may be truly said that it was thrown in the streets of Auckland to be scrambled for, and so in like manner would the money under the proposed loan be squandered. Unfortunately, the South, and Otago especially, would have to pay the piper. The merchants of ! Auckland received the benefit of the first loan, and who will say they will not receive the benefit of the second, if it is ever raised. While agreeing in the main with the resolution proposed by Mr Keid, we think it might have been more explicit; and although it left the matter an open question for the electors at the general election, still it would have been well to have placed on record the fact that it was particularly intended to benefit Auckland, to which place Mr Yogel has removed himself. This would have been to the point, and would have shewn how utterly fallacious were the hopes held out by that

gentlemen. Public works are no doubt much wanted, and we, who have suffered for so many years through bad ) oads, might well hail with delight the chance of the construction of a rail way from Lawrence to Dunedin, did we believe that the scheme of the Colonial Treasurer could be carried out. As it is, we shall have empty promises, which we may as well discard at once, and buckle to the work of helping ourselves. We trust that our members in the Provincial Council will see that this and the other goldfields districts obtain a fair share of the provincial revenue to complete the roads ; a more sure source of income than any likely to be derived from loans under' Mr Vogel's scheme.