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Sat 3 Nov 1883 - Nepean Times (Penrith, NSW : 1882 - 1962)
Page 2 - The Nepean Times,
PublNhcJ cvory Saturday Morning.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER, 8.
ON Thursday, .there was again no meeting
of the-Municipal Council, and judging from
what lias been stated by some members out
side of the Chamber, it is likely that the
same thing will often occur during the re
mainder of the present municipal year. For
our own part, wo do not see the utility of
holding meetings when there is really no
money to spend, especially .with the Council
as at present constituted, the majority of
which are spending men. There is this
advantage in their being a less number of
meetings, the scenes that have been enacted
there by some members of the Council have
beon a disgrace to the district and they aro
likely to be for the present, at any rate,
dispensed with. Thb office of Mayor in the
Penrith Municipal Council of late has been
anything but a " bod of roses," and we dooply
sympathise with his Worship, who by-tlio
bye, is a worthy citizen. As wo are not
likely to have any other motions brought
forward during the year for the expenditure
of money, it would bo well for our civic
fathers to do something else. The objects
of a municipality, wo take it, are not only to
have the supervision of roads and- bridges,
and the expenditure of money, in gravel and
kerb and gutter, but it is intended that they
shall take charge to a certain extent of our
moral, social, and sanitary condition.
" Promises aro liko pio crnsts," so runs tho
old adage, and tho mauy promises mado by
our municipal candidates have been liko tho
crusts-broken. Amongst other matters
promised, candidates liavo expressed thom
selvcs in favor of a nioro comprohonsivo
system of drainage, and the amendment of
tlio Bye-laws in many particulars ; but so
far no.movo has beon made in any of these
matters.
Tho question of drainage is tho most im
portant of all, and tho Boonor something is
done tho better. We are of opinion that
thoro is no Municipality in the colony so
easily drained as Penrith, but up to the pre
sent there soems to have been such an
amount of "pitchy patchy" work that itwould
bo well if a thoroughly qualified man wero
appointed if only for Bix months, to lay
down permanent lovels for a thorough sys
tem of draiuage, and let that bo carried, out
to tho strict letter. The drainage in vari
ous parts of tho district as laid down by one
Works Committo lias been altered as soon
as another lot came into powor. This is
not only an undesirable state of things, but
certainly is, a great waste of tho public
money, and tho laying down of permanent
lovols would certainly remedy the evil. Tho
fow amendments suggested in tho byo-laws
aro worthy of consideration. The one to
compel all drivors of vehicles to carry a
light after dark is ccrtainly ono that should
have beon carried long ago, and wo should
congratulate ouraolvoa upon our good luck
that there have not boon many serious and
fatal accidents. A good deal lias been said
with reference to a Water Supply, and yot
110 action has been taken, and the chances
are that nothing less than a long drought
or a number of fires will cause our civic
dignitaries to see tho necessity of this very
lioodful measuro. Our sanitary matters
want a good deal of attention, and we would
recommend tho Council to take this matter
into their earnest consideration. Wo aro
satisfied that thoro are a number of privato
residences in tho town that aro badly
drained, and a quantity of refuse is allowed
tcj accumulate for months. Tho closet sys
tom in Penrith is about tho worst in tho
colony i.e. if there's any system at all.
Evory person appears to erect what lie
likes and to dispose of night soil as ho j
dooms lit. Of courso a byo-law is in force
Bubjocting porsons to penaltios for allowing
it to ovorflow, and a clauso in tho Towns'
Polico Act inflicts imprisonment for sucli
ofl'onco. But according to tho nature of
tho soil in Ponritli and tho dofectivo drain
age, this in many instances cannot bo
avoided. Of courso wo aro much freer
from tlioso abominations than wo wero,
nud wo liavo to thank the Sorgoant of Polico
and tho Inspector of Nuisances for many
improvements. A dry oarth systom with
carts under tho control of tho Council would
bo a very grent benofit, ftnd wo trust that
somotliing will soon bo dono in tho matter.
Penrith is likely to bo ,before long, thickly
.populated, and somo provision should bo
niado at onco for tho Iromoval and disposal
of liousb refuse and night soil.. Many of our
readers will possibly think t'int this artiolo
10 somewhat rambling and disconncotod. Bo
it ist but our objoct lins boon to introduce as
much as possible in our limitod space. Our
councillors wo hopo may profit by our litllo
vagaries, aud at their future meetings they
will do something as we have previously
suggested towards our sanitary matters, and
instead of talking continually about roads
and bridges, when at the present time a
number don't care about spendiug money
they could well fill in their time at the meet
ings by discussing the subjects wo have
mentioned. Whatever little assistance we
can render them is always at their disposal.